Wearing Purple - Tapa dura

Four African-American women share their thoughts, memories, experiences, and friendship in a collection of letters that spans forty years, from 1954 and their arrival at Talladega College to the present day. 17,500 first printing.

Forty years ago, four black women met at Talladega College and began an enduring friendship that has sustained them through the tumultuous social events of the past four decades and the personal events that fill their private lives. Nearly eight years ago, these women--Mildred, Otis, Marilyn, and Lydia--though they all lived in different parts of the country, decided to form a "working circle" friendship and write letters to each other. In these letters, the women explore thoughts and feelings about their current and future life experiences.

Wearing Purple is a compilation of these heartfelt letters, revealing the joy, sadness, laughter, and fears of four friends approaching middle age. Sharing these experiences, which range from raising children to approaching retirement to discussing sex and race issues, has helped these women find a truer, deeper meaning in their lives.