Happy Wednesday, Coffee Talkies!
The past couple of days have been filled with discourse regarding Tuskegee University's new dress code.
And if you're unaware of the situation...
Then I suggest that you strap in and buckle up because this one is a HOT MESS!
Tuskegee is an HBCU (historically Black college/university) located in Alabama. Fall semester begins in a few weeks...
And University President Dr. Mark Brown (who happens to be a Tuskegee alum!) has issued a newly mandated dress code for all students to abide by while in public university spaces...
Spaces such as classrooms, dining areas, and official university settings:
NO BONNETS.
NO DURAGS.
NO PAJAMAS.
NO SLIPPERS.
NO REVEALING CLOTHING.
Now, if you've read that, and you're pretty sensible, then most likely nothing about that dress code seems off or unwarranted...
Because the fact that this FOOLISHNESS NEEDS TO BE MANDATED IN THE FIRST PLACE IS ALREADY PROBLEMATIC!
But that's where the COMPLETE & TOTAL FOOLISHNESS FULLY REVEALS ITSELF...
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Because there are TONS of these Black folks who think Tuskegee's dress code is steeped in "anti-Blackness."
Anti-Blackness???
Not looking like you're walking around in the privacy of your own home is somehow now "anti-Blackness"?
Oh!
And let's not forget these folks' other favorite dime-store catchphrase:
"Respectability Politics."
My goodness!
Black people just getting up, putting on DECENT CLOTHING, and going out into the world is somehow shaped into being about "respectability" and "anti-Blackness"?
Like, please be for real, y'all!
Wearing pajamas in public used to be strictly associated with TRAILER TRASH WHITE GAL/WHITE FOLKS ANTICS!
Why do Black folks want to be associated with that foolishness?!
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So, being told to NOT wear a bonnet is about "respectability politics"...
But wearing 25 inches of some Asian/Indian/Peruvian/Malaysian chick's hair IS NOT ABOUT RESPECTABILITY POLITICS???!!!
You're telling me that walking around with some hair that is MEANT TO IMMULATE WHITE GALS IS NOT ABOUT RESPECTABILITY?!
No, you're telling me that it's merely a choice and a PREFERENCE???!!!
No, you're telling me with a straight face that there's a reason why you feel...
More confident...
Beautiful...
Attractive...
Polished...
Professional...
...when you wear some white gal's hair...
No, you're telling me that "EVERYBODY DON'T LOOK GOOD NATURAL!"
And we're all supposed to be okay with your choice...
And we're all supposed to understand why you'd opt not to wear your natural hair...
Butttttt...
NO BONNETS.
NO DURAGS.
NO JAMMIES.
NO SLIPPERS.
NO REVEALING CLOTHING...
That's a bridge too far????
Y'all have got to be kidding me!
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There are FAR TOO MANY Black women who've graduated from PWIs and HBCUs, undergraduate and post-graduate degrees, who've NEVER FELT THE NEED TO WEAR HOUSE ATTIRE IN PUBLIC!!!
Never in all of my years of schooling...
Undergraduate and graduate...
Did I ever feel the need to WEAR A BONNET to grab something to eat in the cafeteria!
Never did I feel the need to wear my pajama pants to class because I was running late!!!
Never did I feel the need to wear a pair of DAISY DUKES with my butt cheeks exposed KNOWING FULL WELL THAT I'M GOING TO SIT IN A DESK THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAT IN ALL DAY BEFORE ME!!!
Like, are y'all okay?!
Are brains fully functioning here or is that the REAL PROBLEM that needs to be addressed?!
Since when did it become TOO TAXING to literally throw on some jeans and a T-shirt...
A sweatshirt and sweatpants...
An oversized sweater and some leggings...
A baseball cap or tam...
Tennis shoes or flats???
Like, why is it NOW we need to act like these young people can't be bothered to be responsible enough to DRESS APPROPRIATELY WHEN IN PUBLIC SPACES??!!
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Color me all the way confused!!!
This is so doggone ridiculous on so many levels!
Furthermore, the Black community is absolutely exhausting because if white folks said this about y'all, you'd call them RACIST!
If white folks agreed with y'all...
YES, Black girls and women need to wear bonnets because they're too busy to comb their hair!
YES, Black girls and women need to wear bonnets because their hair is unmanageable!
YES, Black boys and males need to wear durags because it's important that they look like their favorite rappers!
YES, Black folks need to wear pajamas and house shoes in public because they like to dress like they don't have any other clothes!
YES, Black women need to wear revealing clothing because they actually like putting all of their assets on display!
If white folks said all these things and more...
Y'all would say that they're being incredibly RACIST toward Black folks, and that their beliefs aren't accurate...
BUTTTTTT...
Is this NOT what y'all think about YOURSELVES?
Why would you expect white folks to think more of YOU than YOU THINK OF YOURSELF???!!!
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So, what do you think?
Are you FOR OR AGAINST the Tuskegee's dress code?
Is there anything to be gained by allowing students to set foot on campus while looking like they just rolled out of bed?
Is this really asking too much of today's youth?
If so, how does this relate to "anti-Blackness" and "respectability"?
Or do you agree with me that this is a COLOSSAL MESS...
And shines a direct spotlight on how Black folks really invite PUBLIC DYSFUNCTION into their daily lives when it could all be easily avoided???
Chime in and sound off in the comments!
Check out all of the headlines and pics above! Your thoughts?
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