They were giving us these incredible bear hugs, and my ribs are still aching from all of those bear hugs,

It was so beautiful, because I knew they weren't just embracing what we had done. They were embracing us as men. And they appreciated the fact that we, as black men, had done something to elevate black women.

Observing the tradition from the outside, it looks like it's about looking fine in a big fancy hat. But it's about more than that.

There were no criteria at all except that a woman wear a hat or enjoy wearing hats.

He went out and showed everybody. We were out there crying and giving each other hugs. I knew he had it inside him.

Hand in hand they whispered for a while. The girl nodded and the bear laughed. Together, they made their way down the corridor and to the foot of the stairs.