Regina Taylor’s gospel musical opened Off-Broadway in 2002. It was inspired by the 2000 book “Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats” with photographs by Michael Cunningham and text by Craig Marberry. And that book in turn was inspired by African-American women whose hats speak to so much more than fashion – the triumphs and tragedies that beget the strength and dignity they possess and pass down to succeeding generations.

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