When I lived in Chicago, I was told it was a gang sign (black head scarves for one gang, white for another). I don't know if it's just a fashion statement, since the rappers seem to dress like this in their videos. Regardless, it's a little intimidating.
Thanks for the info. I've needed to take the train with my new job, and I'd like to try and understand the subculture around me.
2006-09-06 03:03:28 · 12 answers · asked by Veritatum17 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Frank - I resent your remark. It really strikes me as odd that a large group of people, apparantly unrelated, dress so much alike. The only commonality I see is that they are young, male and of African-American descent. How is that racist? I don't understand why, and so I'm asking.
2006-09-06 03:11:52 · update #1
Smitty - no points for you. That's exactly the rhetoric I don't want to hear.
2006-09-06 03:13:36 · update #2
its the same thing there in St. Louis gangs
2006-09-06 03:05:13 · answer #1 · answered by nas88car300 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What are you all telling this man? Just because it is not real where you live does not mean that it isn't real. It is not just a fashion statement. I have lived in gang territory and lost two of my nephews to gang and street violence. A neighborhood where gun fire was a nightly occurence. I have seen a lot of young people die, people I know. People who don't live in gang territory don't know. Yes, it is gang affiliated dress when you see someone wearing a bandanna in a specific color on their head or hanging from their back pocket. Styles vary from place to place but sagging clothes are popular and have their origin in the style of gangsters. The rappers you see dressed this way are either gangster rappers, influenced by gangster rappers or they have borrowed their style from the popular gangster style of dress. Not everyone you see dressed in sagging clothes is a gangster but that's just where the style originated. Basically it's a poor boy style. You will always see poor folks wearing clothes that don't fit. They wear what they've got, including over sized hand me downs. Gangs come from poverty ridden neighborhoods. They are born of strife and frustration. As long as you are not dressed like a rival gangster you probably won't have any trouble. Just make sure you know which colors not to wear in which neighborhoods because sometimes a fool will get stupid with somebody they know is not at all affiliated with the gangster lifestyle. I almost got jumped once when walking with my niece because a group of girl gangsters wanted to jump her in. Know which neighborhoods, corners, bars, parks, malls, beaches etcetera, not to go to. Just use common sense. You do not want to be around when violence breaks out. You could catch a stray bullet. However most gang violence is black on black, Mexican on Mexican, skinhead on skinhead and so forth.
2006-09-06 03:18:42 · answer #2 · answered by Paisley T 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, think about when people in the early days when people first starting wear jeans, it was the poor person fashion. White T-shirts are inexpensive, and by that nature have become a fashion statement. I work in a very low income environment, that is comprised of people from Asian, Mexican, Caucasian and very little African American, the majority of these individuals wear white T-shirts. Some rapper have made it a fashion statement, however it did not begin as such/
2006-09-06 03:08:41 · answer #3 · answered by Happy1 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Honey, that is not just in St. Louis. It is their current style. Why not ask any race of teenage girls why their butts hang out their shorts? It is just their style.
Do not be intimidated by the people on the bus. Just because someone had a scarf on his/her head does not mean that that person is out to get you. The white male in the business suit sitting nest to you, could hold you up at gun point just as easily as someone dressed like a "gang member". Do not judge by appearance, judge by actions.
2006-09-06 03:15:33 · answer #4 · answered by sdarp1322 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They just don't know any better , hey they are black ok . They are want to be gang members just like the rappers on tv . It is easer to wear a pair of panties on your head than to get a job or to pass a drug test . Sure they will rod you , thats why ky passed their shoot first ask questions later law , to discorage some of these want to be thugs . Who knows they probably haven't heard about it because they don't know how to read . They just dont want to come to ky whith a rag on their head .
2006-09-06 03:11:21 · answer #5 · answered by smitty 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Does it really matter how people dress? I would think it more important how they act towards you. You are showing a bit of racism and that tends to lead to problems. Accept people for what they are, not what you think you see.
2006-09-06 03:08:03 · answer #6 · answered by Frank 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
it is not a gang sign rather a caulture in balck community across the country
2006-09-06 03:07:32 · answer #7 · answered by WEEDG 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That urban style is prevalent in about every single city you can imagine. But, I wouldn't be intimidated, really. Studies show that blacks are more likely to harm other blacks.
2006-09-06 03:08:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
some put gang relation, some don't. some to look intimidating, others just for image. whatever it is, leave it at that, whatever. for other, that's less of a worry than someone wearing a turban.
2006-09-06 03:07:39 · answer #9 · answered by Oly 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I want to ask them where they get those awesome white t-shirts, I would love to sleep in them.
2006-09-06 03:10:01 · answer #10 · answered by Fleur de Lis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋