Quote:
Originally Posted by DBlack
I love it when people ask the opinions of others before they give their own....[sarcasam].
That would depend on where one's priorities are in life. If clothes are a high priority, over other things then I can see where a person would put a lot of stock in what they wear. For me, I'm more concerned with my physical composition than clothes. I hate feeling out of shape and overweight; no quality of clothing will change that. I understand that many of us put a huge amount of value in clothing. Not my money and I respect the fact that others have a strong affinity for clothing.
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You know what, Black? There is some basis of truth to what you are stating. For example, I recal reading a quote by Congresswoman Maxine Waters that her mother told her to, "always buy quality clothing, especiall your shoes for that is the the first thing that "they" (WTF?) will be looking at." And yep, Maxine is known for dressing upscale.
Moving on, one of the things about our people that I find disconcerting is that a LOT of us want to "visually" show others our "net worth" if you follow me. For example, my dad has garnered wealth. However, looking at him? Unless it is a formal gathering, etc? He "dresses down." Countless times he was VIEWED as "Joe Blow" because he did not "dress up" or adhere to someone else's standard. And my dad would only laugh--he finds it amusing because he tells me to "always keep 'em guessing." And I find that he is right.
From our zip codes to area codes to the type of vehicle that we drive, we ARE judged. Based on blind ignorance about individuality and character, sadly this is a fact of life, thus there are many people that set the tone and dictum of this mind-set in "judging" others. Another great example, I recall as a teen to pre-teen when "french braids" became popular again and then morphed into "individual braids" and so forth. Now? Everybody and their mama has cornered the market on hair-braiding." Many of our people dress in Afro-centric attire--yet are still judged as "menacing" or rejecting "mainstream" idealisms and THEIR "culture." Odd that there are many other cultures in this country in addition to OUR culture, yet these other cultures are not disparaged, viewed or judged in the same manner that OUR culture has been.
Same thing for RAP---rap WAS seen as a "menace to society," as "black" music and yep, as black people we were "judged" for it. But what you have to understand is that rap was either putting one's thoughts or experiences out there to share or, "a converation in the 'hood between two people or more, so to speak". Post it's early stages, when it became known that there was a profit-turn in rap and "their kids" were listening to rap, THEN the industry seriously began to look at Rap. And, years ago? The category of Rap would never have been entered as a contender at the "American" Music Awards. Go figure.
