If You Look Like This...Part One

Above is a photo that I took at the entrance of a West Hollywood bar on their hip hop night.

In case you can't read the fine print, it says:

If you look this in any shape way or form...Go Home and Change

Pants Must Be Worn At Waist

No Sports Caps, Head Wraps, or Bandanas

No Athletic Wear

Before I give you my take on the sign, I'd like to get yours.  If you went out to a bar or club and were greeted with the above sign, what would your reaction be, if any?

Part two of this discussion on Wednesday...

Comments

[Lynn]

This is an obvious form of control just as most dress codes are. They have a specific standard to which they want people to dress however I feel someone should be able to dress "hip hop" the way they define it. I think all that should matter when having a themed event is as long as the way someone dresses is not blantantly offensive then what does it matter. I don't necessarily see any racial connection I would be more offended if it said IF YOU LOOK BLACK...and then again what is defined as looking black. This wouldn't offend me as a black women seeing as how I don't dress in a manner that is stated on that sign anyway. However it is just about control.

[shem]

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE SIGN. THE IMAGE DOES NOT PORTRAY A BLACK OR WHITE PERSON. IT SEEMS TO PORTAY ANYONE WHO WOULD COME IN LOOKIN LIKE THAT. ON A BUSINESS STANDPOINT I WOULD WANT EVERYONE IN MY PLACE TO AT LEAST LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE CLASS. WOULD'NT YOU?

[KB]

Considering that West Hollywood and its clubs are predominantly white, that 70% of hiphop music bought in the U.S. is by white folks, and that the person on the sign is of unknown ethnic origin, I don't see anything anti-black, or racial at all, in this sign.

Having said that, the club can set dress standards as they like, and people have the right to decide if they want to patronize the establishment.

What I do find interesting, if not ironic, is how some Black folks cry discrimination all too easily, yet they will stand outside a club that has a velvet rope, hoping that some doorman will designate that they are hot enough, wealthy enough, light-skinned enough, etc. to be let in!!!

[T. Zac]

The problem with this sign is that it says "if you LOOK like this..."

That made me actually look at the figure instead of the way it is dressed.

The sign should read if you are DRESSED like this...

There is nothing wrong with a dress-code. But the interesting thing is it was on HIP-HOP night. That style of Urban wear is popular among Hip-Hop listerners.

[clnmike]

This does not have anything to do with your post but I wanted to put this out there if you dont mind.

Dunbar Village Protest.

I got ripped this from What About Our Daughters blog the crew over ther have been fighting the good fight against the ill treatment of black women for a while now and deserve our support.

The protest may be to soon for some to get on the bus, as much as I want to go, I cant but I assure you the fight will be far from over. Stop by the blog and show them your support.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Dunbar Village: COUNTER PROTESTERS TO GREET SHARPTON FRIDAY AT DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C.-November 13, 2007- When Rev. Al Sharpton descends on the Department of Justice headquarters on Friday, November 16, 2007, he'll be greeted by counter protesters asking why he and other African American leaders have refused to publicly comment on a horrific crime against humanity committed against a Black woman and her child in a housing project called Dunbar Village located in West Palm Beach, FL.

The Dunbar Village tragedy is the horrific story of the brutal gang rape, sodomy, and torture of a 35 year old black Haitian immigrant and her 12 year old son. 10 black teens forced their way into the victim's home at a public housing complex in West Palm Beach, Florida. The mother was forced to perform fellatio on her own son at gunpoint. The teens then cut and stabbed the mother and her son, poured cleaning
solvent on their skin and in their eyes, and would have set them both on fire, but as one teen suspect reported, no one in the gang had matches. Currently, only four suspects are in custody. During the 3 hour rape and torture, not a single neighbor called 911.

The counter protest was organized by Shane Johnson after he read about the crime on the blog, What About Our Daughters? "How is it that practically every social justice organization from the ACLU to the NAACP to the SCLC knows something about Dunbar Village but refuses to speak out about it?", asks, Shane Johnson who is a blogger and the author of Black Sapience…My .02 (http://blacksapience.blogspot.com). Johnson adds, "This protest is not to request that Sharpton and his allies march in West Palm Beach, but simply an inquiry regarding Rev. Sharpton's peculiar silence on this issue."

For over three months, Gina McCauley, who created the blog, What About Our Daughters? (whataboutourdaughters.blogspot.com) has been asking why prominent African Americans have failed to make any public comment about the Dunbar Village crime. She posted the names and contact information of prominent African Americans and organizations on her
blog and despite numerous calls, emails and letters from readers, not a single person on the list has issued a public comment on the crime. She describes their refusal to publicly comment "Immoral Indifference."

"It is the height of hypocrisy that Black leaders have remained silent for so long about the Dunbar Village Rape tragedy. Black leaders remain silent about victims of Black on Black crime." McCauley noted on her blog that several prominent African American issued statements on the humane treatment of animals during the controversy surrounding Michael Vick. "We can get a statement about dogs, but not about two
human beings."

Tanisha Mathis, who operates the website Essential Presence (http://essentialpresence.blogspot.com) adds, "African Americans are falsely led to believe the mainstream is not sensitive to their issues but its proven repeatedly that it is, in fact, Black leaders and Black news entities that are the most silent in regards to crimes against Blacks like the Dunbar Village gang rape."

McCauley and Mathis have both blogged tirelessly about the Dunbar village case and have produced online videos in an effort to increase awareness of the crime. To date, their videos have been viewed almost 100,000 times. Mathis' video was featured on the local news in West Palm Beach, and Mathis has toured Dunbar village at the behest of local leaders.

The counter protesters will meet Rev. Al Sharpton and his supporters in Washington, DC at the Justice Department on Friday, November 16, 2007.

"This type of crime happened on our watch and our "leaders" are still silent. They are silent because they are indifferent. Their indifference is immoral." McCauley says.

This protest is a call to arms for anyone who cares about black women. For more information, contact Shane at sbjatlanta@yahoo.com , http://blacksapience.blogspot.com.

Posted by clnmike at 9:36 PM

November 14, 2007 6:51 PM

[Mark]

I wonder if its just for blacks, or all the other races that dress in that horrible "style?" Hip hop night in West Hollywood? Somehow that seems as wrong as the sign. Do they even let black folks into that town? Or, just white drag queens with black face?

[Regan DuCasse]

Hey Jasmyne!
Congratulations on your weight loss! I would have hated to hear about another sister getting a weight related diabetes diagnosis or high bp problem.
You GO girl!
Looking fabulous!

[Regan DuCasse]

If the theme was hip hop night, the ban is beyond stupid. If this is their policy all the time, I don't have a problem with it. Mayhaps, it's the illustration on the sign that's more offensive, since it's not exactly race neutral?
I don't mind dress codes. In so many ways, hip hop dress DOES make people look like they don't know HOW to dress.

1. Tags still on jackets and caps.

2. Sun visor crownless bills worn upside down and to the side.

3. Elastic leg pants worn with one leg scrunched up and one down.

4. Pants worn UNDER the butt, with the underpants showing, belted under as well.

5. Pants and shirts and jackets SO oversized, a worry about a concealed weapon IS legitimate.

5. Oversized lace up shoes, with no laces, tongues out.

Call me old fashioned, but parading around like that just makes me think you don't own a mirror and mommy dressed you funny and you never learned to dress yourself right.

I was NEVER impressed by those tokens of urban dress.

Fortunately, we, in a free country are also free to not patronize a place we suspect we're not wanted.
But would it KILL anyone to dress according to the basics allowed?

I never had a problem with
No shirt,
No shoes,
No service.
But there is always someone who might object to that too.

[Jennifer]

I would go home and never come back, and encourage others to do the same.

[loi wade]

Mr. William Clark, I could not have said it better! Your closing remark was so true! Give me the culture without the 'coon'. I would have been walking around with picket signs. If they want a hip hop night, then they have to take all that it entails.

[Scotty]

Oh, and wouldn't NO ATHLETIC WEAR mean no sneakers too? Hmmmm....I'd like to see them enforce that one.

[Scotty]

Telling patrons that they shouldn't dress like this on Hip-Hop night is akin to telling chubby, hairy white men not to wear chaps, nipple rings, dark sunglasses and the color black to the leather bar! This is crazy. Would you tell someone not to wear a tux or a formal gown to The Conga Room on Ballroom Dancing night? You wear what you may feel is appropriate for the occasion or theme of the night and what you feel comfortable wearing in order to assimilate into that particular environment. This is what young black guys (and some girls) growing up in the Hip-Hop generation wear albeit in different variations. It's up to each individual to decide what aspects of the Hip-Hop culture he or she chooses to embrace. What's depicted on this offensive poster is basically a Hip-Hop uniform and I think it's out of line for a club to have Hip-Hop night and then tell the customers what to wear or not to wear! Should they have worn pink tube tops and Daisy Dukes shorts? I'm a 40 year old man. I would probably not dress this way but it's not for me or anyone else to tell others that can't wear this to a theme night at a damn club.

I find it humorous because the truth of the matter is that this is how people dress and in most situations it's not appropriate.

[William Clark]

If it is supposed to be Hip Hop night then what is the big deal about attire? I'm not a fan of the look myself but if it were an 80's night or some other theme I would expect to see the attire that goes with that specific genre of music. That's what a theme night is HELLO??!! Then again I live in Arizona and what they call Hip Hop night tends to end up being more pop music than anything so I just don't even bother going. But you know how it is white people want whatever we've created but they just don't want us along with it. Unfortunately that hasn't changed.

[Kandiee]

I have thought about this all day and came to the conclusion that maybe they want you to wear high waisted jeans and a white t-shirt? In any event, the flyer is offensive. If you want to have a so called "hip-hop night" don't post a list of rules of what not to wear! Lastly, for their information some people wear head wraps for various reasons you can not discriminate against that.

[loi wade]

Number one, why are they having a hip hop night any damn way? And, lastly, does anyone watch Noah's arc or is it just me? 'Wade' dressed like that quite often and every last one of 'Ricky's' lovers did. It is a HUGE part of hip hop culture. I don't give a damn what any one says. Discrimination is discrimination. Just another way to pilfer from our culture and lock us out.

[Ty]

Doesn't bother me since I find that look foolish to begin with, I would wonder why a club in West Ho would even have a "hip hop" night, since, they don't want blacks in that town after dark anyway. But, I can see how some would be offended as it goes back to the old days of gay bars making blacks have 9 pieces of ID, and, had the "no open toed shoes" to keep women out.

And, what club is it, so I can make sure to skip it, if I'm ever bored and, want a night out.

[GranDiva]

I don't know. I wouldn't take it personally because of the very slim likelihood that I'd be dressed like that at any point in time, but it would chap me a little bit.

[Toni]

I believe that the entire issue boils down to this: having a some level of standards regarding dress as well as behavior accountability. Or is that old fashioned? Clothes do not make the man or woymn, nor is there a cause and effect due to fashion, but establishments and businesses have the right to set standards as they see fit.

[V]

I would laugh as well. It is Hip Hop Music night...and quite frankly many people like the music but not the look. It isn't a racial thing, as I see many black and white people dress "hip-hop." and I am not a fan.

Personally, I don't go anywhere with a dress code and would not go to this place either.

[Kandiee]

I would ask for the owner or upper management and ask them what exactly is appropriate wear for "Hip-Hop Night"? Or is it that you must not be a Black Male? WTF is “Hip-Hop Attire” if you can't wear hats or athletic wear?!? I digress... Jasmyne girl, you take it away…

[Superstud T]

If this were some random night at the club then it wouldn't be a big deal but on hip hop night it's just stupid. I would never go to a club that pretentious anyway.

[Jennifer]

I would giggle. ^_^