I'll be the first to admit that I've never truly been into hip-hop and urban fashions. Color me a conservative sista with flavorful shoes. I'll be that. My own fashion faux pas leads to much of my disdain for the saggy pants fad. When will it fade away. I thought with the "skinny leg" tight look I wouldn't be subjected to scrungy-looking boxers and briefs in public anymore. I couldn't have been more wrong.
I have recently viewed young men wearing what can only be termed as a baby tee with boxers and tight jeans pulled down up under the butt (and yes I have camera phone pictures for my personal giggling pleasures). What exactly is the purpose of this? It was always my thought that in order to wear these "styles" you must not carry a wallet. What message does that send?
I have been judgmental -- and I like me that way. While I am not stuffy enough to ignore you, I do have some direct questions to ask. I'm dissatisfied with the "I'm expressing my individuality" response because the look is so widespread we could start another We Are the World movement. In an effort to do more than just talk, I ask young men why they feel the need to wear it. Some of you are so influenced by the media that you think everyone who dresses that way is some sort of criminal and is ready to murder and maim. That's not the case and most of the gentlemen I've spoken with have been rendered speechless and entered into deep thought. Great! Mission Accomplished.
However, our black males are so used to being scrutinized by women and they sometimes ignore it. So, we need our brothers to step it up. That said, those of you who wear your pants like Urkel may not wish to speak up unless you have skin as tough as steel. But there are so many others of you with jobs and families and children of your own who can set a better example and say something more profound than all the women in the world using all the words in the world. In the meantime, I heard a picture is worth 1000 words.
Here are 3000 to start you off.
