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Central & Centennial High School students dispel stereotypes of young black males by showing the world swag includes suits and ties.
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In today’s world, when you say the words “young black male” some people may envision a picture of a teenager dressed in what they call gangster or hood attire. It’s not the clothing by itself, but instead the stereotype that has been cast upon many youth coupled with the way their style that makes some think their choice of clothing instantly deems them as a bad seed.
Like many parents of young black males, I’ve made sure to show my sons the versatility and importance of being a well dressed man in a suit and tie while wearing the nice pair of Stacey Adams dress shoes to top it all off. They also know how to dress casually when hanging out with friends whether talking about the most popular track on the radio or studying the analytics behind the latest social media trends. Students at Central High and Centennial High Schools banded together to show this same mindset to the world in what they called a counter-narrative on black male students at a Black History Month Celebration. These young brothers take swag to a whole new level!
Seth You make a solid point.Both my sons sagged and both were outstanding student athletes.I gave them shit about and was concerned how people,especially police, recieved them.But every young generation wears clothing and hairstyles their parents hate.I worn a huge afro and dressed like a hippie for a time.Besides,I wore dreads that hung down to my rear.Many make the same assumptions about dreads that they do about sagging.Perhaps black women should stop straightening their hair with toxic chemicals attempting to look white,creating false expectations whites apply to all blacks.
Malcolm X wore a suit.
I wish suits and ties were not the only criteria in our society for sophistication, considering the style is western and white in origin. We use a style of dress associated with white people as the standard of success. Why can’t a young black male walk into a job interview wearing a hat, and sagging jeans and be taken seriously? Why can’t people wear whatever they want and not be judged? This is institutionalized racism.