by Larry Williams

Created on: October 26, 2009

Certain parts of the United States are statutorily telling people to pull their pants up or face a penalty. I understand people have different opinions about how someone should dress but this is just ridicules. What's next? Every generation have had some form of rebellion, from popped butterfly collars shirts to marine uniforms shirts and bell bottoms to sagging/baggy pants. Why are people who are holding a little power so harsh on a fashion statement that has been around for over two decades?

People always say, If young people knew where this fad came from; they wound not sag their pants. Early 2008, a Florida lawmaker said When prisoners wore their pants in this fashion it was an indication to the other inmates that they are available for the night. He also said that young people are sending the wrong message and that they should know the history of this trend. Judge Mathis was one of the first to make this point clear in the early 90's but no one seemed to care then and no one cares now. Young people nonchalant attitude says to me 'Just because those prisoners were gay does not mean that everyone who sag their pants is gay.

If you name off any hip hop mogul in the industry at random and almost all of them either started their career wearing baggy pants and stopped as they got older or still continue to wear their pants below their waist. Jay-Z who is infamous for his 30 is the new twenty theme is an example of the older you get the further you pull you pants up phenomenon.

Sean puffy Combs is also under this spectrum of artists/entrepreneur who has strayed away from wearing baggy pants but yet both him and Jay-Z has continue to make clothing that promotes this style that sends the wrong message. Opponents of this youthful craze says that if you look at this argument objectively and see that the artist may present themselves one way in the videos and commercials but outside of that they are presenting themselves with integrity and dignity. Where is the integrity? If you are an artist that is seen by millions of young adults who wants to imitate you and you presenting a false or arch ego of yourself to me is the opposite of integrity.

Another questions an antagonist to the subject may ask is How you gonna get a job with your pants falling all off your but? That is simple question to answer and that is by conforming to the society demands to dress a certain way for the purpose of survivor and being gainfully employed is key to survivor in this specific society. Most of the people I know that wear baggy pants, wear them when they are in their comfort zone. At home or at school that does not require them to wear a uniform. Of course they will not go to an interview with their play clothes on especially when the interviewer is probably an older person who feels that they don't want to see their underwear at anytime let alone during an interview.

If you do not want to see my underwear then do not look, is the attitude of most young adults who wear baggy pants. I think those who do not want to disrupt youth and hip hop culture should take their advice.

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