Hoodies & Black Teens & Generation Y Youth

[Rivers]

Re: Hoodies & Black Teens & Generation Y Youth

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tropicana</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChineseJamaican</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I don't think my son will either. If he hasn't this is similar to men blaming rape victims for wearing sexy clothes </div></div>

I agree but trust me, if I had a daughter, I would definitely advise her not to go out <span style="font-weight: bold">wearing sexy clothing</span>. </div></div>

why or maybe you
mean not revealing

[Rivers]

Re: Hoodies &amp; Black Teens &amp; Generation Y Youth

my dad wears hoodies
he is a white male in
his fifties, my sister
and I(teens) my brother
early twenties wear hoodies
just fashion,my grandmother
jamaican late sixties wear
hoodies, signifies relaxation
for us or when we are just
hanging not a formal attire
my mom jamaican does not
wear a hoodie that's just not
her

[Tropicana]

Re: Hoodies &amp; Black Teens &amp; Generation Y Youth

My Mom has a hoodie. No one is going to judge her as a gansta or gang banger when she wears it. My son has so many hoodies I can't count. Here is the scoop. If a white person of any age goes out wearing a hoodie, no one judges them or makes assumptions that they are tough. If a young Black male goes out wearing a dark coloured hoodie, particularly at night, whether or not we like it, people do judge them. As a mother, I do not want my son becoming a target for some whack jobs who have been drinking.

Also, there is the matter of being targeted by cops. Yesterday I was a few blocks from my house and I saw a Black young person from the side. Same build as my son (slim), wearing a red hoodie very much like one my son owns, jeans, and a Blue Jays cap. Honestly, <span style="font-weight: bold">even as his mother I had to get really close to see it wasn't my son</span> (who happens to be out of town at school). So imagine if that kid committed some crime, trust me, my son would have been hauled in for questioning.

Better to pass on the hoodie, get home at a reasonable hour and stay safe.

Re: a young lady wearing sexy, revealing clothing. Again, whether or not we like it, guys do make assumptions that she will be easy and quick to drop baggy. I would not want a daughter (or granddaughter if I eventually have them) being a target for this type of disrespect). Better to dress modestly and reduce being hit on by players.

Maybe we shouldn't dress people by their dress but we all do it to one extent or another. I'll tell you another story.

When my son was a teen, he was one of 3 kids invited to audition to play 50 Cent as a teen in the 50 Cent movie. To tell you the truth, when the script arrived I didn't have a clue who 50 Cent was. (Turned out, they were shooting the next day and he had his production for his school drama class so he couldn't do it.) I dropped him off at the audition and came back later to pick him up. He was talking to another teen while he was waiting for me. When he got into the car I said &quot;Who was that really rough looking kid and why were you talking to him?&quot; Turns out, it was another one of the teen actors trying out for the same part, dressed up in a hoodie and baggy pants (just like my son was) as they were both trying out for the same part. At the time my son only owned one hoodie that he had been given as a gift....you can always count on the cousins to give gifts like that.

Like it or not, the way one dresses does create an impression and people do make assumptions. Everyone has to make their own choices but would rather avoid the hassle. Once young people reach a certain age, they do have to make their own decisions about dress. That's just the way it is and every parent has to come to that realization sooner or later.

It will be interesting to hear what my son has to say about all of this when he comes home this week.

[RichD]

Re: Hoodies &amp; Black Teens &amp; Generation Y Youth

i think the hoodie discussion is just a distraction.

if no hoodies its baggy pants..if not baggy pants it hairstyle...if not hairstyle then its the music they were listening to.

the narrative has been sold that black men are threatening..the only way things will change is if the narrative changes.

[CeaBee]

Re: Hoodies &amp; Black Teens &amp; Generation Y Youth

I don't particularly like them either (because of how people perceive them), but i agree with Chinese Jamaican and RichD.

After u make yourself over to be &quot;non-threatening&quot; (no baggy clothes, hoodie, afro, dreads or cornrow) there's still that one thing left , which is what they really fear.

[Diplomat]

Re: Hoodies &amp; Black Teens &amp; Generation Y Youth

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RichD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i think the hoodie discussion is just a distraction.

if no hoodies its baggy pants..if not baggy pants it hairstyle...if not hairstyle then its the music they were listening to.

the narrative has been sold that black men are threatening..the only way things will change is if the narrative changes. </div></div>
Good point...

[Tropicana]

Re: Hoodies &amp; Black Teens &amp; Generation Y Youth

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CeaBee</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't particularly like them either (because of how people perceive them), but i agree with Chinese Jamaican and RichD.

After u make yourself over to be &quot;non-threatening&quot; (no baggy clothes, hoodie, afro, dreads or cornrow) there's still that one thing left , which is what they really fear. </div></div>

True.

Having said that do you advise teens or young adults to modify their style of dress or hairstyles to reduce the liklihood that they will be a target. Do you encourage young people to get home early? (Remember that Black kid who was at a party in an upscale Scarborough neighbourhood who got gunned done for no reason a couple of years ago?) Do you advise yourng people to avoid congregating in large groups after dark?

[kia027]

Re: Hoodies &amp; Black Teens &amp; Generation Y Youth

No but then again my son was voted best dressed in middle school

I do talk about the baggy pants telling him its prison origins. He wears hoodies like all the boys his age.


His fav outfit is this one though

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Click to reveal.. <input type="button" class="form-button" value="Show me!" onclick="toggle_spoiler(this, 'Yikes, my eyes!', 'Show me!')" /></div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div style="display: none;"> </div></div></div>

[Stormmey]

Re: Hoodies &amp; Black Teens &amp; Generation Y Youth

Kia your son do fencing eh, little bro used to do it until him discover girls hope your son continues.

[kia027]

Re: Hoodies &amp; Black Teens &amp; Generation Y Youth

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MrsStormmey1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Kia your son do fencing eh, little bro used to do it until him discover girls hope your son continues. </div></div>

He is seriously into fencing.. He is looking forward to fencing scholarships and perfecting his technique.

If he chooses a girl it will probably be a fencer

[Tropicana]

Re: Hoodies &amp; Black Teens &amp; Generation Y Youth

It's great to encourage young people to be involved in constructive activities. My son is hockey and soccer mad and he has also tried rugby, basketball (which I have always discouraged), and of course riding when he was younger.

[Tropicana]

Re: Hoodies &amp; Black Teens &amp; Generation Y Youth

Well, there was a switch. When my son came in he was wearing a dark brown hoodie but he had the hood down and he wore a red zippered track suit jacket over it. He had heard about the Trayvon Martin case before I e-mailed him about it. Also, when I told him about the young person who I could have sworn was him he found it amusing.....and he got the point.

He will read just about anything so I left a copy of People Magazine with Trayvon on he cover in his room. Other than that and the e-mail I sent cautioning him about the image he conveys by his dress, I'll give him a break and let him relax and enjoy his time at home for the holidays.

At least he never discovered those red, gold and green belts that I absolutely dislike. There are also no tattoos or earrings to worry about. Counting my blessings.

[Tropicana]

Re: Hoodies &amp; Black Teens &amp; Generation Y Youth

Excellent advice for black male teens and youth:

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