The Evolution of Crimson. Jerry Aldridge

tried to keep her from being informed. Oh they’d talked about Civil Rights a lot, but when Winifred came in the room, they changed the subject. What was this all about? Winifred decided it was time to find out.

      The University of Alabama

      October 26, 1963

      Gil took Winifred to the Beta Theta Psi Fraternity Halloween Party on the Saturday before Halloween. Beta Theta Psi was the most open fraternity when it came to inviting non-members to parties. In fact, they had a somewhat ingenious plan for financing their parties. They would invite non-members if they agreed to bring a substantial amount of booze. Of course, Jembo and Matty went to the event. Jembo contributed an enormous amount of rum and vodka for the party as well as some homemade moonshine from the stills of Winston County. Jembo, at Matty’s insistence, had enlisted one of his Paty Hall cronies to be Cupcake’s date. Winifred was already tired of being around Jembo and Matty but she liked Gil, sort of, and tolerated his affiliation with Jembo.

      Angie did not go out that much but told Winifred she didn’t want to miss the Halloween bash. Winifred offered to find her a date but Angie insisted she would rather go alone. Everyone attending the party was required to wear a costume. Winifred and Angie spent some time discussing who they would go as. Winifred was tired of being compared to Elizabeth Taylor and decided to go as the Italian actress, Gina Lollobrigida. But, determining how she could be recognized as Lollobrigida was puzzling to Winifred. The Italian actress had been dubbed as the most beautiful woman in the world, but what made her distinguishable, in dress, from others? Winifred found a picture of Gina from the movie “Solomon and Sheba” and designed a replica of the costume. The costume was exceptionally revealing but the weather was cool enough that week to wear a sweater. If Winifred became too self conscious, she decided she could keep her sweater on. Angie wasn’t sure about her costume. Since Winifred was taking History of Costume, she suggested Angie go as the Egyptian goddess, Isis. Using Winifred’s textbook, they prepared a costume based on sketches of Isis.

      Since Angie didn’t have a date, Winifred convinced Gil that she and Angie would walk to the party and he could meet them at the fraternity house. Gil was waiting for them when they arrived, dressed as a pirate with the typical eye patch, fake sword, and plastic parrot attached to his shoulder. The three entered together and the first people to greet them were Matty and Jembo. Matty had on a long dress, covered with a white apron. A scarf was tied around her head. Her face and hands were covered in brown shoe polish. Jembo stood next to her, dressed in overalls and wearing a straw hat. “Hey, ya’ll!” shouted Matty. “Can ya’ll guess who we are?” And before anyone could say a thing, she blurted, “I’m Aunt Jemima and Jembo is Uncle Remus!” Winifred and Angie rolled their eyes at each other and discreetly moved on.