These Helens are among hundreds of costumed fans who have cheerfully invaded bars and social centers across the country in recent weeks. From West Seattle, Wash., to North Little Rock, Ar., from Front Royal, Va., to Topeka, Kan., these outings, better known as Mrs. Roper Romps, are organized nationally on social media.
The Ypsilanti Helens say they're paying homage to a rare, unconventional older female character on television, who pre-dated The Golden Girls, but delivered similar verve and humor.
In the TikTok videos, I didn't see any African American Helens, she explains. So I said to my cousins, we're just going to go out there and represent. I don't know if we'll be the only three melanin people there, but we're going to have fun.
She was comfortable. She was her own woman, says Renea Wright, appreciatively. She's wearing a pink and blue caftan that evokes the dawn of a tropical day, and big yellow earrings.
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