I find myself in the position of having to describe Robert Johnson. Just go with it. Based off the best known photograph of him. I'd insert it, but I don't know how without making a mess. The link goes to the Wiki. I'm particularly interested in what type of hat that is, as that seems to be the most distinctive part. Is that a trilby? Originally, I used Lemmy, who is a lot easier to describe, but in context, Robert Johnson is the only right choice. It's basically a throw-away gag again, but I would like one or two readers to know who it is before I tell them. Also, the description starts with "young black man". Is "black" still okay to say? I don't want to get overly PC, but I'd like to avoid blatantly racist as well, obviously.
The height and broad band make me wonder if it isn't a Homburg with the brim kind of flattened. I am not a hat expert, though. 'Black' is stil OK to say. Can you just refer to the pic instead of trying to describe it or inserting it. I think that's the pic everyone knows, kind of like if you describe someone as looking like Lemmy everyone will know what you mean.
You mean in the book itself? Because in that case, no. My MC is in an elevator with a friend and a couple of floors up this young black man with a guitar case gets on. In the context of the story, that should already be more than enough, really. But the scene is from the point of view of the friend, who's not into blues at all.
I would call that a fedora. A lot of cowboys wore those. My maternal grandfather had two: one for working on his farm (sweaty & dirty) and another for dress occasions like church or weddings or funerals. BTW, I have always associated Trilbys and Homburgs with Europe more than the US. And that's where Johnson lived.
Yeah, he's from Hazlehurst, Mississippi. If there was a way for my character to just see where someone is from, I'd write that. There'd be no question about it then. My hat-based knowledge doesn't really go beyond "hey, I saw that one in Red Dead Redemption" so I'll believe any suggestion on the origin of a hat, but in this case it could still be a Homburg, right? A lot of Europeans brought over their typical things. Though I have already ruled out it being a trilby. Those look more like tiny fedoras, as far as I can tell. The Homburg is starting to look pretty good. Now that I think about it... It's been a while, but I think Dutch Vanderlinde wears a homburg? I'll be in Google if you need me.
Homburgs were definitely worn here. Ike wore them, for example, though we’re talking a bit later than Johnson. But, @Bakkerbaard, I think your take on this is as good as any.
I did not know fedoras came in "tall". I thought they just came in "gangster" and "blues brother", but I suppose I can take the word of someone called Earp when it comes to hats. ;o)
