You make a statement when you decide what to wear and how to act.
If you choose to dress and act like a criminal, because that is “cool” or “authentically black,” I fail to see why other people should not judge you accordingly.
I first became aware of this back in the late 60s. All the hippies were yakking about how unfair it was for them to be judged based on their hairstyle and attire.
The problem is that this hairstyle and attire was the rough equivalent of carrying a sign aimed at “squaresville Americans.” The sign said “I hate and despise everything you believe in and hold sacred.”
It seemed perfectly logical to me for squares to react appropriately to such a sign.
“All the hippies were yakking about how unfair it was for them to be judged based on their hairstyle and attire.”
“Who are they to judge us..
simply ‘cuz our hair is long?”
Hippies. I despise them. Funny this is actually from a black guy, a rare kind of hippie.
Your post is spot-on.