Miles Perkins, 20, wears jeans showing his underwear in New York. In many cities, there is a growing movement to make it illegal to wear pants so low that the boxers show. (Photo by Hiroko Masuike / The New York Times)
In a Der Speigel interview with Congressman John Lewis:
SPIEGEL: Has there been any change in the African-American community brought on by his presidency?
Lewis: He has instilled a sense of hope. People need hope. I’ll give you an example: I have a Congressional colleague from California who, out on the street one day, saw a young black man, as is the fashion these days, with his pants hanging down, showing his underwear. This young lady said to the man: “Pull up your pants. Son, pull up your pants for Barack Obama.”
And do you know what happened next?
The man pulled up his pants.
So inspirational! So profound!
Like sagging poll numbers, President Obama would like America to pull up their pants, and not just figuratively and metaphorically speaking. In 2008 he said this:
“Having said that, brothers should pull up their pants,” he declared. “You are walking by your mother, your grandmother, your underwear is showing. What’s wrong with that? Come on.”
“Some people might not want to see your underwear – I’m one of them,” he added.
“Here is my attitude. I think people passing a law against people wearing sagging pants is a waste of time. We should be focused on creating jobs, improving our schools, health care, dealing with the war in Iraq.”
“Any public official that is worrying about sagging pants probably needs to spend some time focusing on real problems out there,”
And what should presidents do about sagging poll numbers and the “real problems out there”?
Obama in 2009, encouraging our young people that they don’t have to have their pants sagging down to be somebody:
Students at some historically black colleges say they began rebelling against such crimes of fashion long before Obama spoke up. But they also say that Obama’s grace and fashion flair on the campaign trail has made it easier to persuade other young blacks to trade street sloppy for business cool.
And now that Obama is the president, his coolly elegant style is helping galvanize an evolving hip-hop generation backlash against thuggish or sloppy attire.
See the report on Obama’s impact on dress in the Los Angeles Times and here:
Referring to sagging pants, Obama told an MTV audience on Nov. 2: “You are walking by your mother, your grandmother, your underwear is showing. Come on … some people might not want to see your underwear – I’m one of them.”
Williams, a well-dressed senior, said he was heartened by Obama’s comments.
“We’re all looking to him for guidance,” Williams said. “He sends a message that you don’t have to be walking around with your pants hanging down to be somebody.”
What a beautiful message!
Pull up your pants, America….
A former fetus, the “wordsmith from nantucket” was born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1968. Adopted at birth, wordsmith grew up a military brat. He achieved his B.A. in English from the University of California, Los Angeles (graduating in the top 97% of his class), where he also competed rings for the UCLA mens gymnastics team. The events of 9/11 woke him from his political slumber and malaise. Currently a personal trainer and gymnastics coach.
The wordsmith has never been to Nantucket.
Quite profound indeed but not the High Water Mark of His Regime…
I recall this intro… ‘This is a Big F*#cking Deal’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQeNikp1Rj8
What a Class Act!
Saw it by satellite feed in Kabul by the way. The cost figures are not in for this mischief yet but it will be a “Big F*#cking Deal” when it gets funded.
“… passing a law against people wearing sagging pants is a waste of time. We should be focused on creating jobs…”
Not too many businesses hire boys with sagging pants. 😉
I read once that the fad is from prison and is used to advertise an individual’s willingness to engage in homosexual sex on demand. Yes, this style definitely advertises manhood.
And these minority kids wonder why they can’t find employment. Definately are following the wrong role models.
More great news for Precedent Everything is Turning to Crap. Over 5 million Americans have joined the destitute level as the poverty lines grow. In Washington, a Breitbart tape is going viral. This Norton gal was heard doing a shake down on a contractor who was building 3 new edifices for Homeland Security( stimulus money). These bribes are needed because Pelosi needs money for this election cycle. Of course, Norton is part of the Criminal Black Caucus. Norton left her mailing address so send her all the Monopoly money you got. Breitbart will be blamed for editing and racism. The CBC is a target rich atmosphere for corruption.
IF Obama had succeeded in getting black America to quit thug styles, rap obscenities, treating education as if it is ”acting white” and therefore to be avoided, I would salute him.
To the extent any black in America follows Obama as an example of getting educated, cleaning up speech, dressing for success, I do salute him.
He is obviously a caring father who wants better men than that for his own daughters.
More like pull down your pants and bend over America…
I’m surprised there hasn’t been a name given to the low rider pants. Most of the cops say to let them wear them as low as they want. So many times the ones who do are the gang members or crooks. When they try to run from the cops, their pants fall down and they either trip on their own pants or they have to run while holding up their pants. I’m on the cop’s side and say leave the pants where they are. It also lets us know who to be careful of.
“It also lets us know who to be careful of.”
Yes. Sort of “Hello world, I am a low-life.” But I’m an insensitive, anti-diversity bigot for pointing that out. 😛
zero’s people are sure funny.
Anti-diversity Bigots with a sense of humor are funny. 😉
If word got out that this way of wearing you pants originated from homosexual convicts soliciting their service for protection I would bet this fashion would die pretty quick.
@pst314: #9 An alcoholic can’t be helped until they admit they have a problem. Other addictions are the same. Now that you have admitted you have a problem, I wish you a full recovery.
Oh, but I enjoy being bigoted against fools with sagging pants, gangsta-wannabees, and other riff-raff, so I suppose you’re going to have to wait a long time before I want to change. 🙂
@pst314: #14 Your first post sounded like you were criticizing me for my opinion. Your second post sounded like you and I are of the same opinion. If the cops want the low rider pants left at that level, I will support their request.
“Your second post sounded like you and I are of the same opinion.”
Yes.
The comments page on the American Digest blog’s comments form begins with this quote:
“It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood.”
Had an experience today. Stopped at one of those tiny WalMart gas stations, they changed their credit card policy like many other gas stations already have done, you have to enter your zip but for some reason it wasn’t working.
There were way to many people crowded into the very tiny space waiting for a young girl that couldn’t remember her zip. It took a very impatient, retired Army guy to say, “look at your freaking drivers license.” Bless him, coulda still been there, you all shoulda been there, it was quite a moment.
One of the folks in that packed space was a young man that had on a tiny, short, skin tight t-shirt that ended at his waist line, his jeans must of been velcroed right below his cheeks revealing most of his blue knit, fruit of the looms. He also had the obligatory nose and ear earrings and spikey hair that is so fashionable these days. Being as though it was after lunch I was hoping he didn’t eat anything that would have generated another kind of gas problem. We were fortunate.
Years before the baggy pants we had the kids ripping holes in their jeans, my oldest son did that. Hubby saw them on the laundry room floor, picked them up and threw them away and informed my son that he worked to hard to provide for our family and he wasn’t about to allow any of his kids to run around with holes in their clothing. That was the end of it because of the respect my son had for my husband, his stepfather.
Nice to know one young man pulled up his pants for Obama because of some young lady speaking out, it’s just not happening here, boy do I wish it would. Mom jeans? Wussy throw? 😉
@pst314: #16 Maybe that’s why I am misunderstood as much as I am.
@Nan G: Unfortunately he does ghetto talk when he panders to his black constituents. Not much of a role model there. Then there’s his wonderful role model of a wife, the First Hypocrite, who often dresses like a 2 bit Ho and eats her way through vacation after vacation to par-tay after par-tay all the while saying let them eat apples (cause “dessert is not a right”…except for the Obamas of course…make that a double, dipped in chocolate with sprinkles)
Gotta’ say. I think I FINALLY found a tiny shred of common ground with the Zero on this one… Although I think it would be fair to take a stand against the new fad of “skinny, tight-leg jeans.”
I have also heard that this is a prison style where one is showing one’s willingness to ‘be the girl’
Fifty years of leftist created welfare, food stamps and public housing. Fifty years of being told that whitey is evil and will keep you down. Fifty years of deliberate, aimed destruction of a race for the purpose of gaining its vote by keeping its members ignorant and dependent. What the hell should we EXPECT but imbeciles stealing, raping, killing, breeding indiscriminately and wearing their pants around their knees. THAT’S WHAT THEY’VE BEEN BOUGHT AND PAID FOR!!!!
I heard that the whole sagging pants thing started in prison with inmates getting clothes that didn’t fit and their pants kept dropping.
Should it be a true story, way to go youths of America. Nice friggin role models to pattern yourselves after. Convicts.
I weep for our future.
🙄
Hilarious stuff, fellas. I’m sure all your black friends would agree, you’ve nailed that lunatic fringe race-bailing thing to a T.
You know what kills a clothing fad faster than anything?
OLD people copying it.
Now, my dad has been gone for many years, but he practically created this fad.
His work khakis were always falling down!
We finally talked him into wearing suspenders.
A few well-placed publicity shots of oldsters with pants low to the ground and this would be an EX-fad.
well if someone says that they read it once somewhere then I am sure that it must be true. Skookum do you think that prisoners are issued belts in prison ?
No John, but I’ll bet their trousers have elastic waists.
@John:
Hey “John”…why are you suddenly no longer posting as “John ryan”?
I haven’t spent much time in the city, so forgive me, but what is race bailing?
I’ve spent time bailing boats, sometimes at a furious pace, but the analogy with race seems awkward at best.
I thought all races were wearing their trousers down low, in certain age and social groups. Is there a special group? We might have some mixed up boys running around SoCal, well that is hard to argue against.
I didn’t see any of these low trouser guys at the dojos in Huntington Beach or the desert. Maybe those sports are a little rougher than trying to look tough.
@ Aye Chihuahua, He must have changed his socks… 😉
@Aye Chihuahua: #28 Maybe he finally pulled his pants up.
I get it. Certain older, conservative-minded individuals will never be able to avoid expressing their confused agitation over the African American youth fashion of baggy pants or ‘sagging’. I do get it. But how to square the puzzling knowledge that the height of this outrage burned out twenty years ago, when this was still a somewhat new look, with the reality that I’m seeing it now here? Christ, how old are you people? I realize Skookum was waging mountain guerrilla warfare against the Union army when he was a young sapling, but the rest of you? Hauling this red meat out is kinda like putting Matlock on the nursing home TV, no? The oldies, but goodies. Leaving aside the fact that the original post was ostensibly a swipe at Obama and his cronies, not really about the pants per se (but not leaving aside the other fact that we knew it would come to this), surely some of you realize that there are more contemporary targets for your ingrained displeasure with hip-hop culture? Don’t be so lazy. Do some research on the new trends. Go out and grab the outrage! Will the next stop be today, or back to more yesterdays, back to the 80’s and Reagan-era menaces, like the “2 Live Crew”, whose incendiary track, “Me So Horney”, drew the ire of another hysterical generation of aged conservatives and practically tore asunder the very fabric of American society. so we were told.
@ Tom, my barber in town is a Korean War Vet. A Marine from the Frozen Chosin bunch, that pointed out to me that a local Banker wears both a belt and suspenders. Old Bill the Barber sez
“Jack Swansen wears a belt and suspenders, SOB just doesn’t trust his pants”…
I could care less about fashion statements made by folks wearing their britches at half mast.
I just would not hire them for anything I need done at my spread. The Indians used to run around in loincloths but it gets damn cold up here starting in late October and stays that way until the end of April. Common sense dictates the mode of dress.
OT2, I wasn’t referring to you. It’s not hard to figure out to whom I was (and it’s not all about pants). If you want to go on record defending the comments of, say, the two I block quoted, be my guest. Otherwise, why would I quesiton your right to hire whomever you please?
The jean industry fueled this so called baggy pants fashion, successfully shooting themselves in the foot. Yutes were able to keep wearing the same pair of pants for a few seasons (in some cases years) almost tanking the blue jean industry. Hence the return of the skinny jeans – welcome back Flash Dance.
@ Tom, I do not stereotype or engage in racial profiling. I hire folks based upon certain skill sets that I need and promote on merit. I do not do Affirmative Action hiring or have quotas but folks that hire on with me must be able to work outdoors in any weather, be able to ride a horse and dress appropriately as range work requires no coat and tie but boots, long trousers and long sleeve shirts to protect you from the weather and brush. My hands also must communicate in English just so there are no misunderstandings and be American Citizens or Folks able to work here legally.
I pay a good wage and provide Health Coverage as well but hire selectively based upon skills.
@Tom:
Well, Obama is 49 now and has been repeating this message for a couple of years. John Lewis mentioned a “young girl.” Fine, good message until stuffy old conservatives express their discust with the attire.
Well, gotta go put my teeth in so I can have some breakfast. 🙄
Purchased a Kel Tec Su16C this week. Was told its effective against community organizers, union goons and progressive pissants. Hopefully will only be used on paper targets. You never know though, may have to join Skook in waging mountain guerilla warfare. lol.
Missy, how far out of your way are you going to go to miss my point? I will bullet-point it for clarity:
* i could care less how anyone feels personally about baggy pants
* while still reserving the right to find it humorous how some do
* HOWEVER (key point) I would quibble with anyone who believes baggy pants are tell-tale sign of “imbeciles stealing, raping, killing, breeding indiscriminately”.
what part of that do you take issue with?
@minuteman 26: #38 I will be moving to the northwest mountains next year. Maybe my Smith & Wesson SW9VE and I will be joining you there.
Was watching Cops with my 16 year old son the other day. This guy stole a car and the chase was on. Then he hit a tree and jumped out of the car, taking off running. He made it half way across the street before he fell because his baggy pants tripped him.
We both laughed till we nearly cried.
Stealing a car: Free
Leading the cops on a wild car chase: Free
Getting caught because your low rider pants tripped your loser ass up: PRICELESS
Tom, not everyone that wears baggy pants is an idiot or thug. However, many idiots and thugs wear their pants that way. If you want to pretend that isn’t the case, then fine. Just don’t expect those of us who live in the real world to agree.
Wearing trousers so far down so you can see someone’s boxers is hardly offensive – it’s just material after all. Looks stupid and probably best ignored. Hasn’t every teenage rebel from the last 60 years at least worn some supposedly provactive clothing – from Mods & Rockers (or Greasers in the US), to punks to rap culture and so forth.
@GaffaUK: #43 That’s why you never throw out-of-style clothes away. Eventually they will be back in style again.
I wanna walk up behind them and perform a “melvin” in grand style.
Obama cool?! The dood makes Erkel look like Samuel Jackson.