cotton curtain
n.— «When the cotton curtain stood between us, and people were hateful and mean, I was here. When we didn’t have public accommodations, I was here. When the doors of opportunity had never been opened, I was here. When it was time to get the right to vote, I was here.» —“Reporter’s Notebook: Jackson In South” by Fay S. Joyce in Atlanta, Georgia New York Times Mar. 12, 1984. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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The word filibuster has a long and colorful history, going back to the days when pirates roamed the high seas. Today it refers to hijacking a piece of legislation. Plus, the language of yoga teachers: When doing a guided meditation, you may hear...