Morehouse College, the historically black all-male college in Atlanta, wants its students to adhere to a dress code. Morehouse President Dr. Robert M. Franklin, Jr. is implementing the code starting today as part of his "Five Wells: well read, well spoken, well-traveled, well dressed and well balanced."
The "well dressed" portion of the creed includes things like not wearing do-rags outside of residence halls, no sunglasses in class, no jeans at major programs, no pajamas outside of the dorm, no dental grills, no women's garb and my personal favorite: no sagging.
"Each student must promote and portray a positive image and properly represent themselves and the college," the notice says.
The changes don't seem to be too radical. In fact, most of them seem like common sense.
I don't know about you, but I'm tired of seeing young boys' dirty boxers and people walking down the street in pajamas. How lazy is that? I can't believe people are so busy that they can't throw on a pair of pants or shorts before leaving their homes. (Note: For the woman walking on St. Nicholas Avenue last Wednesday, those light blue pants with yellow birds were clearly pajamas.)Unfortunately, not everyone grows up with a parent like mine. I couldn't imagine trying to walk out of my house in my PJs. If my mother found out I tried to wear sunglasses in class I would have been punished. Part of Morehouse's mission should be to teach young men about how the decisions you make reflect on you. Wearing do-rags all the time and pajamas outside send the message that you don't care about your appearance.
I'm all for freedom of expression. I don't expect all Morehouse students to walk around dressed like Farnsworth Bentley, but it's not too much to ask students to put on slacks and a collared shirt, and even a tie, for a few programs per year.
According to a Facebook discussion on the topic, Morehouse students have not been taken seriously by visitors due to their appearance:
"The feeling I'm getting from the younger alum, that I was unaware of, is that there are a significant number of students dressing like Miss Jay from 'America's Next Top Model' or Lil' Wayne all the time," wrote Robert A. Brown.
Morehouse is not alone in its dress code mandate: A couple of years ago, Michael Sorrell, the president of HBCU Paul Quinn College in Dallas, also felt that students could not be taken seriously because of their attire and ordered a dress code.
Sorrell's premise was "...if you're not used to dressing in business casual, how can you make the transition to life after school?" Students initially resisted, but according to FoxNews.com, "the kids we talked to on campus say they're on board -- they look and feel better."
While I agree with Morehouse, I think the policy needs a little more clarification. As some pointed out on Facebook, designations of casual, modest casual and business casual need to be refined. Care should also be taken to protect the freedoms of those who might be discriminated against because their dress may be seen as not masculine enough.
There's nothing wrong with teaching students, though, about how the decisions they make affect how people view them. Students must also learn that they can't do everything they want to do all the time. I like relaxing at home in my Sean John lounge wear, but that's the only place you'll ever catch me wearing it.
Comments: (101)
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By: g on 10/13/2009 4:53PM
ArtCat...both of my son's are in the business. My youngest son who is 11, has been modeling (catalogs,commercials), since age 4. I have never dressed either of my boys in ghetto fabulous designer wear. My youngest son gets paid very well for modeling these clothes and I still refuse to let him wear them. Not only does my youngest model but he has been playing Ice Hockey since age 5. As you very well know, Ice hockey is a predominately white sport. Most of the kids on my son's Hockey league come from very affluent families that have money and they do not wear name band clothes either. One of my son's Ice Hockey team mates is Spike Lee son Jackson Lee. I have never one time seen Spike Lee or his son in designer wear jeans and sneakers. Jackson comes to the games in Crocs and Spike looks like a throw back from the 80's. My point is, why do African American spend their money on designer clothes and luxury cars when the focus should be on education and uplifting the Black community? Why do young Black men feel compeled to identify with prison as a fashion statement? Something is very wrong. I am so happy I had the sense enough to instill values in my son's. There is no way I would tolerate them sagging.
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By: chocol8kyss on 10/12/2009 4:55PM
i'm a litle concerned about the no women's garb part. i think it may fuel ideals in our community of homophobia.
other than that, there is certainly a need to uplift the image of our men, especially if they are in a higher education setting.
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By: Mother of Future Morehouse Man on 10/18/2009 4:31AM
You cant uplift the image of our young men, without addressing the womens garb issue. Men in womens garb do nothing to uplift the male image. No way around it. Had to be included and rightfully so.
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By: kim on 10/22/2009 10:12AM
If you attend Moorehouse then you are obviously a male, and should dress accordingly. Try going to a job interview with women's garb and see how far you get. And then try and prove discrimination.
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By: Retired on 10/12/2009 11:08PM
I helped create the hip hope dress, of low pants,over sized shirts,no laces is shoes in the early 1980s.The place was Rikers Island in one of the many Recieving Rooms of prisons on the Island.When you enter JAIL you give up your belt and shoe laces until you clear medical.If you need a shirt we only have white XXL!Why do our brightess and best want to dress like Convicts!...Retired CO from Riker Island,the largest detention center in the USA
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By: Israeline on 10/13/2009 11:02AM
Retired the clothes do not make the man. There are many killers who have been trusted because they dressed well and spoke well. What is your message to the man? Dress well while you are performing on this world stage. No, Retired, it is much more than that. I believe when a true Man or Woman knows how to manage the Kingdom within, then we no longer need dictators. Did you notice that Hitler's soldiers were impeccably dressed. As for me I check a man or woman's inner Kingdom before I see how well he has been dictated to. Peace.
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By: raywil3 on 10/13/2009 1:09PM
To Isrealine
I'm glad you are at peace with your inner kingdom, but as an employer, if all I see is a doo rag and sagging pants, you might as well not even sit down for the interview.
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By: Andrew Hamilton on 10/14/2009 8:47AM
My Grandmother repeated your jail story to me many times. She also told me it was "saggin" not sagging. and if you spell "saggin" backword thats what you are if you dress like that.
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By: Lisa on 10/15/2009 4:04PM
So that's where it all started. Yes why would someone want to look like a thug or a slob? I do believe that dressing like this really changes your mood as well. Dress a slob, act a slob.
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By: NaDine Rawls on 10/18/2009 11:16PM
Retired -- you are correct in dating the time of the existence of the saggy pants. As a police officer I first encountered this style of dress when the gangs from the west coast begin to move into Shreveport, LA. This was before the manufacturers started making them too big on purpose. Back then the young men where purchasing the jeans two or three sizes larger and therefore created a market for the jean manufacturer -- they even purchased the overalls a couple of sizes too big. When you tell these young men that -- they think we are making this stuff up. One lady told a young man wearing such clothing was easy access -- you know what I mean.
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