My 12 year old white son wants to wear black teen boys fashion…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The original poster goes into a clothing store with her son, where everyone is black, and she observes it is mostly or solely black kids wearing these clothes. She wants to make sure that he doesn't offend when wearing said clothes. Asks for advice.

Then she's attacked. OMG what are black clothes? As if there aren't brands that certain races favor. GTFO.

We're doomed as a society.

I see no attacks.

What do you think SMH and troll mean, exactly?
Are these compliments? More importantly, are they helpful? Or is it not about being helpful? Is it about feeling cool because you put another person down?
Y'all are actually wondering what black fashions could possibly be?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he likes it, that’s fine and I am ok with buying but I think he should be aware should someone say something to him and he isn’t prepped. So we go in to the store, my kid is clueless that he and me are the only white people in store so that didn’t work. He’s too small for the clothes anyway but how do I have this conversation?

OP, I would start with asking him what he likes about the clothes. You clearly are happy to get them for him, so now is an opportunity - just as if he were a 12 y/o girl - to explain that people of all ages make assumptions and judgements based on your clothes. What does he want to tell people by what he’s wearing? See if he can articulate what he likes. Then he’s also prepped to answer “Why are you wearing that?”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The original poster goes into a clothing store with her son, where everyone is black, and she observes it is mostly or solely black kids wearing these clothes. She wants to make sure that he doesn't offend when wearing said clothes. Asks for advice.

Then she's attacked. OMG what are black clothes? As if there aren't brands that certain races favor. GTFO.

We're doomed as a society.

No, OP, it was just a ridiculous question.

Why is that? If that's true, why not just say, this is not a thing to worry about nobody's going to approach your son about his clothes.

No.... Must ridicule! So pathetic.

-NOT OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The original poster goes into a clothing store with her son, where everyone is black, and she observes it is mostly or solely black kids wearing these clothes. She wants to make sure that he doesn't offend when wearing said clothes. Asks for advice.

Then she's attacked. OMG what are black clothes? As if there aren't brands that certain races favor. GTFO.

We're doomed as a society.

No - we aren't doomed. OP assumes we all live in areas where the black kids are wearing "black teen fashion". We don't. If you are in DC or certain parts of MoCo or in PG, you might see it. But I'm Black and the Black kids at my kid's school (Robert Frost Middle School in Rockville) are all wearing the same stuff that the white and Asian kids are wearing. When someone mentioned DTLR, I remembered seeing this store in Wheaton Mall and recalled some of the styles in the store. However, noone is wearing that where I live and I honestly have no idea what Black kids are wearing at other schools. So, yes, it sounds odd. Don't get defensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The original poster goes into a clothing store with her son, where everyone is black, and she observes it is mostly or solely black kids wearing these clothes. She wants to make sure that he doesn't offend when wearing said clothes. Asks for advice.

Then she's attacked. OMG what are black clothes? As if there aren't brands that certain races favor. GTFO.

We're doomed as a society.

I see no attacks.

What do you think SMH and troll mean, exactly?
Are these compliments? More importantly, are they helpful? Or is it not about being helpful? Is it about feeling cool because you put another person down?
Y'all are actually wondering what black fashions could possibly be?

OP didn’t say what the clothes actually are or give much information so it reads like a troll designed to rile people up. My advice will be much different if the kid wants to wear a du rag and a tall tee vs ripped jeans and Jordans.

[Anonymous]

If you’re concerned that this is going to come off as cultural appropriation, I would hire a stylist.

[Anonymous]

YouTube is their teacher nowadays. Show him some videos about black fashion, then about cultural appropriation. Some neutral, thoughtful ones.
Tell him some people are crazy and may accuse him of the latter.
Try to find out the appeal. Is it the aesthetic or is it that he perceives people wearing it as cool? Then play it by ear.
Full disclosure: I would be a little upset if my kid wanted to wear black fashion just because it’s not quite my cup of tea, but if he still wanted to wear it after the above I would let him.
Disclaimer: I am not racist, I just want to steer clear of any possible accusations plus it’s a matter of personal taste.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re concerned that this is going to come off as cultural appropriation, I would hire a stylist.

Hahahahahaha!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:YouTube is their teacher nowadays. Show him some videos about black fashion, then about cultural appropriation. Some neutral, thoughtful ones.
Tell him some people are crazy and may accuse him of the latter.
Try to find out the appeal. Is it the aesthetic or is it that he perceives people wearing it as cool? Then play it by ear.
Full disclosure: I would be a little upset if my kid wanted to wear black fashion just because it’s not quite my cup of tea, but if he still wanted to wear it after the above I would let him.
Disclaimer: I am not racist, I just want to steer clear of any possible accusations plus it’s a matter of personal taste.

Yes, saying you don’t like the fashion of an entire race of people as if it’s a monolith is racist. All black people don’t wear the same thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re concerned that this is going to come off as cultural appropriation, I would hire a stylist.

Hahahahahaha!

Because having a kid wade into a minefield is better?

[Anonymous]

Uh, there is a brand called FUBU. Leave OP alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The original poster goes into a clothing store with her son, where everyone is black, and she observes it is mostly or solely black kids wearing these clothes. She wants to make sure that he doesn't offend when wearing said clothes. Asks for advice.

Then she's attacked. OMG what are black clothes? As if there aren't brands that certain races favor. GTFO.

We're doomed as a society.

No - we aren't doomed. OP assumes we all live in areas where the black kids are wearing "black teen fashion". We don't. If you are in DC or certain parts of MoCo or in PG, you might see it. But I'm Black and the Black kids at my kid's school (Robert Frost Middle School in Rockville) are all wearing the same stuff that the white and Asian kids are wearing. When someone mentioned DTLR, I remembered seeing this store in Wheaton Mall and recalled some of the styles in the store. However, noone is wearing that where I live and I honestly have no idea what Black kids are wearing at other schools. So, yes, it sounds odd. Don't get defensive.

So it would be double strange is a white kid showed up in school wearing black fashion, correct?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:YouTube is their teacher nowadays. Show him some videos about black fashion, then about cultural appropriation. Some neutral, thoughtful ones.
Tell him some people are crazy and may accuse him of the latter.
Try to find out the appeal. Is it the aesthetic or is it that he perceives people wearing it as cool? Then play it by ear.
Full disclosure: I would be a little upset if my kid wanted to wear black fashion just because it’s not quite my cup of tea, but if he still wanted to wear it after the above I would let him.
Disclaimer: I am not racist, I just want to steer clear of any possible accusations plus it’s a matter of personal taste.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:YouTube is their teacher nowadays. Show him some videos about black fashion, then about cultural appropriation. Some neutral, thoughtful ones.
Tell him some people are crazy and may accuse him of the latter.
Try to find out the appeal. Is it the aesthetic or is it that he perceives people wearing it as cool? Then play it by ear.
Full disclosure: I would be a little upset if my kid wanted to wear black fashion just because it’s not quite my cup of tea, but if he still wanted to wear it after the above I would let him.
Disclaimer: I am not racist, I just want to steer clear of any possible accusations plus it’s a matter of personal taste.

Yes, saying you don’t like the fashion of an entire race of people as if it’s a monolith is racist. All black people don’t wear the same thing.

I think you should educate yourself on what black fashion actually is… then MAYBE you will understand that yes, not all black people wear it… jeez

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:YouTube is their teacher nowadays. Show him some videos about black fashion, then about cultural appropriation. Some neutral, thoughtful ones.
Tell him some people are crazy and may accuse him of the latter.
Try to find out the appeal. Is it the aesthetic or is it that he perceives people wearing it as cool? Then play it by ear.
Full disclosure: I would be a little upset if my kid wanted to wear black fashion just because it’s not quite my cup of tea, but if he still wanted to wear it after the above I would let him.
Disclaimer: I am not racist, I just want to steer clear of any possible accusations plus it’s a matter of personal taste.

Yes, saying you don’t like the fashion of an entire race of people as if it’s a monolith is racist. All black people don’t wear the same thing.

I think you should educate yourself on what black fashion actually is… then MAYBE you will understand that yes, not all black people wear it… jeez

What’s black fashion then? Please, educate me.