Hoochie History with Zorine Truly
⤏ HOOCHIE HISTORIAN, ZORINE TRULY, ON THE BEGINNINGS OF HOOCHIE CULTURE, THE ORIGINAL TRENDSETTERS AND HOOCHIE FEMINISM
JUNIOR HIGH: You’ve obviously loved Hoochies forever but when did you become a Hoochie historian?
ZORINE TRULY: I became a self-certified Hoochie Historian the moment I saw a need for one. I started to notice that, like other nuances of blackness, Hoochie fashion, slang, and styles were being replicated without proper accreditation. The styles that I grew up with were being gentrified and called something different. Things that were a part of beauty trends where I'm from — things like like baby hair, gold teeth, complex updos, and long acrylic nails — started to be called by different names and credited to people outside of the culture. I knew the best way to honor those who gave so much to popular culture was to establish Hoochies as pioneers in everything.
JH: What is a Hoochie?
ZT: Hoochies are multidimensional. Hoochies are the Black women of the past and future who have and continue to pioneer trends in fashion, beauty, music, sexuality, and feminism with deep roots in Hip-Hop and blues.
JH: Where does the word Hoochie come from?
ZT: There are lots of answers to that question. Some of the earliest records of the word vary in definition, but where I first heard the word popularized was in blues music. Notably in the legendary blues record Hoochie Coochie Man by Muddy Waters.
JH: What is Hoochie culture and where did it start?
ZT: Well, let's think of what the definition of culture is, it's usually defined by the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or collective. Hoochie culture is layered, but the social impact and achievements are easy to pinpoint in the 1980s and 1990s. Where did it start? I believe in the South, as early as 1950. On the heels of the Black is Beautiful movement of the 1960s, Hoochie style embraced the uniqueness of Black hair and Black beauty during an era where Black women were still dealing heavily with respectability politics. Black women, especially to those of a certain economic background, have been told for centuries that their form of beauty was ugly or tacky. Hoochie Culture helped to push forward hair, fashion, and beauty innovations. Hoochies became the muses for music, and even popularized dances that were unique to certain regions.
JH: Who were the big trail blazers or trendsetters in 90s Hoochie culture?
ZT: That's the thing I love about Hoochie culture: the trailblazers are the girls in the neighborhood. But, the popularity of music videos and movies helped celebrate and shape the culture, too. Black musicians from the 70s were opening doors for Hoochies to embrace their sexuality fearlessly. People like Millie Jackson, Betty Wright, Gangsta Boo, LA Chat, Lil Kim, and Foxy Brown gave us the soundtrack. Actresses like Natalie Desselle Reid and Halle Berry in BAPS, Tracy Camilla Jones as Uniqua in New Jack City, Jade Pickett as Peaches in A Low Down Dirty Shame, Khandi Alexander as Sissy in CB4, Paula Jai Parker in Friday, and Chrystale Wilson as Ronnie in Players Club.
JH: What separates Hoochie culture from the current comeback of 90s and Y2K aesthetics?
ZT: Hoochie Culture defined the look of the 1990s so I think its resurgence makes sense. Peak Hoochie fashion, in my opinion, came from the late 1980s and 90s. Y2K is more of a focus on futurism so I don't see a huge connection.
JH: Why has being called a Hoochie been seen negatively when most of our beauty, art, and fashion standards today come from Hoochie culture?
ZT: I think it's easy to understand why. Just like Hip-Hop, blues, and rock ‘n’ roll were seen as negative, it’s because these genres are based in Black culture, Hoochie culture faces the same hurdles being a subculture of Black communities.
JH: What is Hoochie feminism or ghetto feminism?
ZT: Hood Feminism and Hoochie Feminism share similarities in their focus on non-traditional feminism. Rather than solely improving the lives of white women, these ideologies aim to uplift all women. I think the difference is that Hoochie Feminism leans more toward the extremes of sexual expression, and is more geared toward the empowerment of Black women.
Side note: if you want to know more about Hood Feminism please read Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women White Feminists Forgot by Mikki Kendall.
JH: How is Hoochie feminism different from mainstream feminism?
ZT: Hoochie feminism is different from mainstream feminism in the sense that Hoochie feminism is solely about Black women and how they experience the freedom of self-expression. There are elements of self-expression that are obviously unique to the African American experience.
JH: Is there any intersection between Black queer culture and Hoochie culture?
ZT: I think so. Both are fighting systematic hurdles. I think Black queer culture and Hoochie culture influence each other and are not mutually exclusive. You can be a Black queer Hoochie. I know because I am one. [Laughs].
JH: Where can we learn more about Hoochie culture and the Hoochie movement?
ZT: If you want to learn more about the Hoochie movement follow my socials for my Hoochie History series. And come to Hoochie Con this weekend!