Why some black american men are suiting up to survive

What if dressing up is your style though?

I don't like urban clothes. I get very few trend pieces. But most of my stuff is pretty classic/basic because I like the capsule wardrobe technique where I only need a few signature items.

That being said my current job has business causal everyday. I chose to wear slacks and khakis Monday - Wednesday and dress casual on Thursday and Friday. I'm not the only black male in my department but I feel that I should dress nice even if I don't have to so that I can command more respect and show that I'm a professional.

Lord knows I'd stroll in here with cargo shorts and a t shirt if I didn't care about that.

 

Dressing up (suit, button down, tie, etc) may make some black men appear less threatening but having dressed up for years...many white folks still see color above the suit.

 

Without having read the article I can just say that I wear a suit because I love how I feel in one.

 

I am a black man that wears a suit almost everyday and I actually enjoy dressing up, suiting up etc. Despite the fact I do wear suits, I still have people who perceive me for whatever reason as the scary black man. While I get the sentiments of the article, I don't think men are suiting up for added protection nor do I think wearing a suit will protect you from a fearful public or an overzealous police officer.

 

Me and a friend/coworker, another black gay man, were having this conversation when I first started with my current company.
I told him I understand the politics of respectability, and I do not agree with it. I do not feel that I should put your comfort and feelings before mine. My white counter parts don't so why am I held to a different standard.

I however think it is so powerful because we use it to judge our own people.
I have locs and have had people, men and women of color, say, o well we have a grooming clause and that's not professional and blah blah blah. But I have seen men and women with locs working in banks in Phyilly. To really change this, we have to stop buying into it. We have to change the narrative.

 

Interesting article and discussion. I didn't grow up with jeans and sneakers as casual. In fact, I didn't really start dressing down until college. Casual to me use to be khakis and some loafers.
While I do believe that some "dress up" their casual in efforts to change the image, most do it for trend. I say this because the dress up is flashy and overtly trendy... and would not necessarily be considered conservative. Unlike the article pictures and content tend towards conservative "dress up".

Either way, I love it. Conservative or flashy, I enjoy seeing black men of all ages being,serious their outward appearance and perception.