Summary

Jerkins recalls her cousin Mia asking whether she was scared to go to school once her breasts had grown to C cups, because the guys in school would pinch the girl's breasts (59). She notes that they would only pinch the Latina and black girls, but not the white girls, who she posits were considered the most beautiful and popular (59). Jerkins wondered when she would be considered attractive enough to be slapped on the rear, particularly by Juan, a Puerto Rican classmate who she liked (60). One day, she wore a jersey dress and got slapped by Juan. She feigned offense, although she was flattered. Jerkins contemplates the nature of the phrase "fast-tailed girl," used to describe young black women who were "potentially promiscuous" (64). A black girl cannot simply be "presentable," but she must be "acceptable," not only "conservative," but actually "closed...