DC By the Book

Excerpt: The tour is mostly DCPS kids and the group feels out of place on Howard campus. I realize that though Softee and me are considered relatively fly among the senior class, we're just high school girls. We still make sure our sneakers, earrings and belts are the same color and get our hair pressed once a week at the Bennett School of Cosmetology. Some of these Howard kids hail from New York or California our tour guide tells us. Some were even what I would call Black American Princesses from Atlanta. We ain't never been out of DC.

Excerpt: "Where do you want to go?" "Gallery place, I guess." This is where I've spent time with boys before, sneaking into movies or else profiling in the Chinatown Urban Outfitters, where everyone helps themselves to the five finger discount. Except me, of course.

Excerpt: I point to the sign that says "Howard University" and turn into campus. "Let's find the administration building." We pass an older woman in a pants suit. Probably a professor, I figure. She tells us where to go. It feels like a different world, and I don't mean the TV show, although it does seem a bit like that. The Howard girls can't be ignored: brown skinned beauties with immaculate weaves hanging down their backs, or else moisturized afros that reflect the sun. Some of them are wearing heels, others fresh sneakers. They walk to class with designer purses on their arms and iced coffee in hand.