Mama Says
April 13, 2010
Filed under Opinion, Top Stories
By: Camille Francis
Have you seen them? The billboards in Dallas depicting a young black man with his britches showing and Irma P. Hall dressed up like Aunt Jemima saying to the young man, “Pull ‘Em Up.” I’m not sure if a photo that makes Hall appear as a wet nurse and assumes the race of the young man will positively effective the public. Will such racism and stereotyping really influence the young to cover themselves up when they get dressed in the morning? Perhaps someone should teach the youth the actual truth.
The idea of sagging comes from prison attire when a man wanted to make himself appear available. Then, somebody saw a way to make money off of the disgusting symbol. Surely if that’s not a turn-off then the idea of being just like everyone else representing this would be. Furthermore, the sign says,” keep it a secret”. This is a message to the ladies not to dress so provocatively.
“The girls are trying to keep up with the boys. We have to try to send a dual message out to say to the young ladies … tighten it up,” Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway said. “You don’t have to show just every single thing. Keep it a secret for a while.”
If that’s not an intelligent influence, I don’t know what is! Caraway started this campaign in hope of fighting the war on “saggin” pants. He went on the popular Dr. Phil show back in ‘09 to debate the subject. This seems like the kind of mayor who really gets things done! Furthermore, Caraway said he recently spoke with rapper 50 Cent, who purposively expressed his support for the program. He also said that that Dallas Cowboys Martellus Bennett and Ken Hamlin once sagged but have changed their positions. For more inspirational spills from the mind of the Dallas Mayor, Caraway brings the President Obama fad into the conversation at a press conference as he tells the young men:
“You’re not going to become President of the United States as Barack Obama, not if your pants are hanging down. And you’re not going to even get a chance to date those two little girls in the White House because Barack not going to let you, if your pants are hanging down.”
If the idea of one of Lakeview’s very own saggers hitting on two little girls isn’t reason for political action then concern with what kids are wearing definitely is! Although it is a good idea to tell the young men to pull up their pants (which would be common sense if society didn’t thrive on such controversial situations), why wouldn’t “Big Mama” use her real name? If Irma P. Hall really wants to represent herself and use her voice and her picture on large billboards, why represent a character?
“I’m on board because I love you. I am the Big grandmother, I am the ‘Big Mama’ in my family,” Hall said.
She taught in DISD schools from 1962 to 1984 before her acting career flourished. Hall is well known for her roles in movies like Soul Food, A Family Thing, Collateral, The Ladykillers, and Meet the Browns. Right before the beginning of Christmas ‘09 Caraway re-launched the anti-sagging campaign. He hoped to influence parents during shopping season, instilling a message not buy oversized clothes for their children. Well, its April now and the holidays have passed, you tell me if the campaign is working. I couldn’t quite find a solid number on how much money went into this whole shebang, but I’m sure it was more than 0$, which is too much. Sagging is disgusting and unattractive in my opinion, but fads fade although this one has been followed for at least two decades. Surely Mayor Caraway has put the bigger issue in front.
Let me take a moment to define sagging: Not only is one showing their underwear from their pants, but a spectator can view the dimensions of the saggers buttocks because his pants are so very low. Symptoms of sagging include , but are not limited to one waddling like a duck because the lowness of his pants are effecting the movement of his legs as he tries to walk, tripping, girls being grossed out, and (oh yeah!) getting raped in prison. If you have experienced any of these things your pants are probably too big for your child-like waist. Maybe one feels manly knowing that he is so small his pants fall off of him. In conclusion, another ridiculous campaign was started and nothing really happened. The tax dollars are hard at work! Furthermore, students don’t seem to have a huge problem with sagging considering the Lakeview dress code. Some of our bigger concerns include passing the Math TAKS and graduation. At least Lakeview has their priorities somewhat straight even if Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway doesn’t. Hopefully we will see a day when we don’t have to see what is underneath the pants of male youth. Even better we may see a day when Texan politics have evolved beyond habits of the past seeping into the future. For now we can just look away from billboard advertisements and keep our eyes on our cell phones while we are driving.
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