Image is everything. I've heard recently that the "inside is what counts." A more accurate phrase would be "the inside is part of what counts." If you were injured, an ambulance is called and all of the paramedics jump out wearing Rocawear outfits, doo-rags and Timbs would you think twice about putting your life in their hands? If you needed your car repaired and went to Goodyear would you feel comfortable leaving your car in the hands of mechanics wearing pink ballet outfits and satin slippers? An honest person's answers would be no to both questions.
So logically, we can safely assume those opinions and judgments of humans and their talents, character, abilities, etc. is initially based on their outward appearance. I don't think any of us would allow a "policeman" dressed in capri pants and an Old Navy t-shirt to search our vehicle, especially if he was driving a money-green cutlass with a mural of his naked sisters spray painted on the hood.
What doesn't make sense is that we judge others based on appearance but in some situations we want people to overlook our appearance and not practice the exact same thing that we do.
Example. Why do black men get angry when they are driving a candy-coated '92 Caprice on 26-inch spinners, blasting Chamillionaire's "Ridin' Dirty" from jet black tinted windows, smoke is coming out of these same windows, and a police cruiser pulls right in behind them and pulls them over? They ask you to get out the car and your attire is baggy jeans, a long white tee, retro J's and sporting an Afghan beard. They ask if you are carrying guns or drug paraphernalia and you immediately get irate and belligerent. From the description of the car and the clothes, we can honestly say that from our days in "the hood" that is similar to the vehicles and clothing of friends, family members, associates, etc. that are involved in criminal activities. So the young men in the car may be investment bankers who graduated from Stanford, but they have chosen to appear, not as business men but street thugs. And I don't think I can honestly say if I were the policeman, I would not believe that these men were up to no good.
Now the argument will rise, that because I dress a certain way doesn't mean anything. But the problem is this argument comes from the same humans that would strangle the minister of their wedding if he arrived to perform the ceremony wearing leather chaps and an indian headdress. He is the same minister, but he is not DRESSED as a minister. So your argument bears no merit because you too are influenced by appearance.
But what kind of climax am I building? What conclusion is drawing nigh? For my Black brothers we must understand that we are constantly being watched and challenged. Yes we may have the "freedom" to dress like thugs, but at what cost? The scrutiny will not stop. So we must learn to use whatever advantage we can find and appearance is one way. To be taken seriously, one must outwardly appear serious. You gain nothing by expressing yourself through platinum chains and not getting the job. You are no better off if by your appearance people are not willing to help you. Learn to dress for the occasion. We as Black men have a problem with that. We want to do what we want to do and the hell with the world. The problem is we don't control the world and we struggle and strain, banging our heads against a wall because of our stubbornness. My mother once told me, "Dress for success to get the job, then wear your baggy jeans and earrings after you get hired."
For my Black women the same advice would apply. Yes, it is your prerogative to use handkerchiefs as skirts and dental floss as shirts, but the message you are sending may not be what you truly are. There is a difference between tasteful and trashy. Don't opt for trashy and be surprised if trashy respect is what you gain. If it walks like a stripper, dresses like a stripper, twerks in the club like a stripper, it is logical that the conclusion is "treat her like a stripper."
I believe that in some situations the "outside" is as important as the inside. Simply a word from The Phoenix.
So logically, we can safely assume those opinions and judgments of humans and their talents, character, abilities, etc. is initially based on their outward appearance. I don't think any of us would allow a "policeman" dressed in capri pants and an Old Navy t-shirt to search our vehicle, especially if he was driving a money-green cutlass with a mural of his naked sisters spray painted on the hood.
What doesn't make sense is that we judge others based on appearance but in some situations we want people to overlook our appearance and not practice the exact same thing that we do.
Example. Why do black men get angry when they are driving a candy-coated '92 Caprice on 26-inch spinners, blasting Chamillionaire's "Ridin' Dirty" from jet black tinted windows, smoke is coming out of these same windows, and a police cruiser pulls right in behind them and pulls them over? They ask you to get out the car and your attire is baggy jeans, a long white tee, retro J's and sporting an Afghan beard. They ask if you are carrying guns or drug paraphernalia and you immediately get irate and belligerent. From the description of the car and the clothes, we can honestly say that from our days in "the hood" that is similar to the vehicles and clothing of friends, family members, associates, etc. that are involved in criminal activities. So the young men in the car may be investment bankers who graduated from Stanford, but they have chosen to appear, not as business men but street thugs. And I don't think I can honestly say if I were the policeman, I would not believe that these men were up to no good.
Now the argument will rise, that because I dress a certain way doesn't mean anything. But the problem is this argument comes from the same humans that would strangle the minister of their wedding if he arrived to perform the ceremony wearing leather chaps and an indian headdress. He is the same minister, but he is not DRESSED as a minister. So your argument bears no merit because you too are influenced by appearance.
But what kind of climax am I building? What conclusion is drawing nigh? For my Black brothers we must understand that we are constantly being watched and challenged. Yes we may have the "freedom" to dress like thugs, but at what cost? The scrutiny will not stop. So we must learn to use whatever advantage we can find and appearance is one way. To be taken seriously, one must outwardly appear serious. You gain nothing by expressing yourself through platinum chains and not getting the job. You are no better off if by your appearance people are not willing to help you. Learn to dress for the occasion. We as Black men have a problem with that. We want to do what we want to do and the hell with the world. The problem is we don't control the world and we struggle and strain, banging our heads against a wall because of our stubbornness. My mother once told me, "Dress for success to get the job, then wear your baggy jeans and earrings after you get hired."
For my Black women the same advice would apply. Yes, it is your prerogative to use handkerchiefs as skirts and dental floss as shirts, but the message you are sending may not be what you truly are. There is a difference between tasteful and trashy. Don't opt for trashy and be surprised if trashy respect is what you gain. If it walks like a stripper, dresses like a stripper, twerks in the club like a stripper, it is logical that the conclusion is "treat her like a stripper."
I believe that in some situations the "outside" is as important as the inside. Simply a word from The Phoenix.
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