Are they seriously going to throw someone in jail for wearing baggy jeans? That'll solve the overcrowding problem. I'm sorry apart from the obvious racist subtext what is the official reasoning behind banning baggy trousers. I'm not a fan myself but if I was gonna put embargoes on clothing I'd start with crocs.

This only add to Bill Cosby's assumption that baggy pants is the cause of all of the black community's problems.

If it were that easy…

*This will only* I mean…

I just wrote to long paragraphs (2x!) and I still can't seem to articulate what I really feel about this. I mean, when these laws come up does anyone in the city oppose them? Don't the parents of the boys (and girls in some cases) see this for what it really is? It's another tool that the fascist pigs* will use to target our young men.

*my boy is making me type that he is not a fascist pig, but your friendly everyday Sheriff.

The parents of the boys that wear the baggy jeans aren't checking the news and certainly aren't keeping up what with city council is doing. Those parents that do keep up with the laws probably agree with the law as it doesn't harm their children and they think it will make it easier for their children to not be seen as one of "those".

In Shreveport, it was the black mayor that proposed the ban and guided its passage.

In Natchitoches, LA the council is composed of three whites and two blacks. It was one of the two blacks that proposed the ban ordinance with support from the other black. It was the three whites that opposed it and voted it down with one of the two blacks that switched from in favor to opposed at the last minute.

So this idea that is being proposed that it is a white conspiracy against black youth is unfounded and unsupported by the facts.

If you think about it, if this is enforced unbiasedly then alot of youth are up for fines. Saggy jeans is no longer just a black thing. I see young white boys wearing their skin tight snkle biting jeans below the waist as well. Im speaking of those who have a punk rock style.

It's not a white conspiracy against black youth, it's a conspiracy period. In the grand scheme of things, what does this solve? What is the motivation for this law, other than to target young black males? Will there be an automatic benefit to society that we get these sagging pants individuals off the street?

This isn't a white conspiracy, it's a conspiracy of older out of touch people against black youth.

I really what to know who is behind these laws. Who decided that they were so pissed off about hip hoppers' saggy pants they wanted to make them against the law. I doubt it is anyone who has a Black son.

Maybe someone figured out that a lot of young people have disposable income so they decided to raise public funds through fining them?

mcmurty - then it's stupid all the way around. At least the consipracy angle was a reason. Now that we have the "facts" it seems as if there's no reason what so ever. You can't legislate good behavior through telling ppl how to dress.

Oh…and I know a little about Shreveport (half of my family is from there). I know this…a lot of black ppl in Louisiana are still thinking like slaves so that fact the black mayor of Shreveport proposed the law holds little weight with me. FYI. But thank you for letting us know that about Shreveport and Natchitoches. I was a little suprised, but not much.

Baltimore has some nerve fining people for baggy jeans. The last time I was at the Harbor, a kid got shot there and it was hardly dark. They don't have space for rapists but they'll throw people in jail for baggy pants? We need to throw these legislators in jail for wasting our tax money.

I gotta disagree with you bmd. My dad is from Louisiana and I have family there. Alot of black people from LA don't act like slaves, it's the white people down there that still treat them as so. It's like a time warp when you cross the state line.

If you allow yourself to be treated like a slave then what does that make you? Actually, I think you have a point though - not all black people down there are still living in a slave/master culture, but enough are that it needs to be changed. IMHO. The way that black folks bow to white ppl in the south is a mindset and culture that needs to be broken.

When my father was alive I spent a lot of time in Louisiana - more than I do now, so I know that's it's a time warp. And, sometimes it's not even a bad time warp. I love it down there and I have though about moving there many times. I can deal with the time warp (to an extent), but it seems like the people living there can't - Jena 6??

Baggy pants aren't the issue here. It's the sagging off of the ass that's the problem. I wear loose fit jeans, yet my asscrack is still covered. It is easy targeting for a law, but as said on the main page, ban the confederate flag while your're at it. And charge hate crimes as domestic terrorism to make an impact. What a hipocrisy…

I understand where you are coming from, bmd. Somepeople still have the "slave mentality"…just not anyone I know and/or related to. But, there are some parts of the south that aren't that bad. I live in North Carolina and it's a good place to be (despite rogue noose hanging incidents).

^^^
Wow! I really didn't make a good case for the south, did I?

How did this just become a south thing? Its being proposed in the north east as well. It does seem like a law passed to enforce profiling. Which I thought was illegal. Now all they have to say is that his jeans were too low so they had a reason to harass.

Well I'm a Southern girl…I made a conscious decision to remain in the South after receiving my education to be an agent of change…I've raised hell my whole life w/white people and sometimes black people over injustices (many times being the only dot in the crowd)…I have lived and traveled all over the U.S. and I have met "slaves" in every state…The first time I was ever told I couldn't go somewhere because I was black, I was living in Indiana…The first time my bff was called a n*****, she was living in New York(She's from the South as well.)

Sorry to go off on a tangent but another one of my "blood pressure rising" moments is the idea that all of us "poor blacks" in the South are shaking in our boots at the site of white people.

I dont think they are saying they are bowing down literally or shaking in their boots cowering to the all mighty white man. What I get from what they were saying is that if your arent standing up against injustice as you are, and just letting it happen in front of you as if it acceptable behavior within society then you are living with a "Slave Mentality".

White boys also wear baggy pants….
And # 6 is rights, get your info right befor y'all scream to racisim. (as usual)

How in the hell are they going to fine people for this?

Michelle, honee - I want to make sure that I clear this up: I know this is not indicative of the entire south, and yes, the mentality that we are speaking of happens everywhere. I'm not dumping on the south. I love the south!! LOL.

Opa - maybe you should read the comments BEFORE commenting. That might help.

BLACK PEOPLE, why are we defending this negative behavior? Do we even care that men in prison wear their pants this way to signal other men they're available???? What positive thing can come out of our men wearing their pants, hanging off their butts, with their underwear showing? Am i suppose to believe that the same kids that wear their pants this way, are making good grades in school? I SERIOUSLY DOUBT IT! And what kind of job can you get wearing your pants around your knees?? It's a disgrace to our parents and grandparents. What's so wrong with mimicking the behavior of a civilized society?

Pants THAT baggy are unnecessary but Im not going to comment because Im going to offend somebody. All Im saying is referring to baggy pants as the root of the problem?- - - > Kiss my ass. They should go and lock Eminem up he's one of their's isnt he?

sb knows wich baggy the red guys warein? thx