FoC: Image in the black community

[DOS_patos]

Why does image play such a important role in our community.

While i know it plays a role in society in general, it seems like at times thats the only thing that matters in ours. and im not worried about no one else's, we speaking about us right now.

fro celebrating easter with new clothes, to overdoing christmas, to limos for middle school graduations, to $500 sneakers but in the projects.

how did we get here and how do we fix it.

 

[Gray Matter]

Good thread idea.

I think cause black people are assumed by many (including other blacks) to be broke, so we (many of us) go out of our way to show that we are not.

 

[DOS_patos]

Good thread idea.

I think cause black people are assumed by many (including other blacks) to be broke, so we (many of us) go out of our way to show that we are not.

even when we are?

 

[Gray Matter]

even when we are?

Yes, even when we are.

 

[1/2]

basically

to be perceived as broke or "losing" is the greatest sin known to man out here...we'll literally commit every other one to stay out of that light

 

[DOS_patos]

what about the tough image?

i have always wondered why some dudes felt like they needed to walk a certain way.

they said so no one would mess with them.

so they changed how they walked to project an image rather than being themselves.

while some may say they keeping it real...but are you really?

is this not the environment dictating to you who you should be?

 

[DOS_patos]

so basically...very few people control their own image.....no matter what.

all the rest are followers because they need to fit in with the crowd.

 

[1/2]

thats true but that whole scenario is real....its just about survival though

even til this day I'll admit I move a little different in certain places....its not about fear or an image at this point its just natural

 

[1/2]

so basically...very few people control their own image.....no matter what.

all the rest are followers because they need to fit in with the crowd.

not a fit in thing at all....not for people who really live in the ghetto around people who will try you for looking friendly

its like changing shirts for your 2nd shift gig

if im walking thru the projects ima have a different bounce and just be a lot more aware then when im in Kroger

 

[DOS_patos]

thats true but that whole scenario is real....its just about survival though

even til this day I'll admit I move a little different in certain places....its not about fear or an image at this point its just natural

but how does a walk change someone mind about gettin you?

niggas that stroll still get got...and a lanking walking nigga like me can still give niggas early nap times.

thats kinda like...if he dont have a firm handshake...hes a bitch....

certain things will not even come into my mind if i have to judge a person

 

[DOS_patos]

not a fit in thing at all....not for people who really live in the ghetto around people who will try you for looking friendly

its like changing shirts for your 2nd shift gig

if im walking thru the projects ima have a different bounce and just be a lot more aware then when im in Kroger

being more alert......i feel you there....

but my walk gonna be my walk.

and we mostly all are from a hood or ghetto....and you know it aint shit if a nigga aint put in work.

niggas got into fights for looking tough just like niggas who look friendly.

so why change anything at all?

 

[1/2]

you'd be surprised lol

most of all that tough guy shit is bluffing

when you see a shooting where 20-30 rounds were fired and nobody got hit, niggas aim aint that damn bad

they were scared or they were flexing, just trying to keep niggas from thinking they soft and can come at them any kinda way

 

[1/2]

being more alert......i feel you there....

but my walk gonna be my walk.

and we mostly all are from a hood or ghetto....and you know it aint shit if a nigga aint put in work.

niggas got into fights for looking tough just like niggas who look friendly.

so why change anything at all?

i hear you man keep your walk lol

im not saying i change my actual walk either, but I get it....im more on my toes, chin a lil higher....shits just what it is

yeah the tough guys got in fights...mutual shit lol....nobody was just fucking with them cuz they wanted to

the easy targets are the ones out here gettin their shit took on the way home

 

[DOS_patos]

i hear you man keep your walk lol

im not saying i change my actual walk either, but I get it....im more on my toes, chin a lil higher....shits just what it is

yeah the tough guys got in fights...mutual shit lol....nobody was just fucking with them cuz they wanted to

the easy targets are the ones out here gettin their shit took on the way home

so it goes to ...are these tough guys actually tough?

why pick on a nigga who wont fight back because he keeps getting his shit took? thats the sign of a bitch nigga to me.
the tough guy..got anyone when he wanted to.

and i saw plenty of dudes get stepped to for walking like they was tough. it was making a nigga prove he was tough...but then you walk two more blocks and it might be the same thing.

i hear what you trying to say...but the hood is dog eat dog...not pit eat poodle

 

[DOS_patos]

you'd be surprised lol

most of all that tough guy shit is bluffing

when you see a shooting where 20-30 rounds were fired and nobody got hit, niggas aim aint that damn bad

they were scared or they were flexing, just trying to keep niggas from thinking they soft and can come at them any kinda way

an this is why i got into alot of fights....i talk too much.
i called niggas out on fuck shit and niggas get tight and want to fight.

but its all coming back to image.

why do niggas hold guns in ig pics? to look tough and project an image.

but lets take it to chicks......why put your ass on the sink to take a sexy pic?
but how many pics did he have to take to get the right one?

all to project an image of sexy

 

[1/2]

so it goes to ...are these tough guys actually tough?

why pick on a nigga who wont fight back because he keeps getting his shit took? thats the sign of a bitch nigga to me.
the tough guy..got anyone when he wanted to.

and i saw plenty of dudes get stepped to for walking like they was tough. it was making a nigga prove he was tough...but then you walk two more blocks and it might be the same thing.

i hear what you trying to say...but the hood is dog eat dog...not pit eat poodle

yeah im not even trying to debate the thought process of everybody in the hood lol

it is what it is.....this shit even goes into animals....there's shit out there that can change colors, stand up, grow spikes, make smells, etc....all to keep something else from eating them.....intimidation is real...while it wont work on everybody, its let a lotta people make it day to day

 

[Babelipsss]

Poor people care how they look, rich people care about how they live.

 

[Kzzl]

Did y'all know there's a text book image of Mansa Musa drawn as a white man? Why? Because that's how much image matters. The negative stuff that's promoted I presume is done intentionally. Moral can when wars, championship games, stabilize a country. The way a person views themselves and their kind can affect their entire performance in life. Y'all all saw what happened with the movie Black Panther. The kind of energy that imagery gave to our people, if for only a brief moment.

The fight vids and other forms of trashy behavior are not going to go away. Unless you've got the platform to filter that stuff out, don't concern yourself with it. What matters is that we provide the positive imagery to combat that.

 

[DOS_patos]

Did y'all know there's a text book image of Mansa Musa drawn as a white man? Why? Because that's how much image matters. The negative stuff that's promoted I presume is done intentionally. Moral can when wars, championship games, stabilize a country. The way a person views themselves and their kind can affect their entire performance in life. Y'all all saw what happened with the movie Black Panther. The kind of energy that imagery gave to our people, if for only a brief moment.

The fight vids and other forms of trashy behavior are not going to go away. Unless you've got the platform to filter that stuff out, don't concern yourself with it. What matters is that we provide the positive imagery to combat that.

sooooo..

while i agree......the guy with a suit in the hood i automatically deemed smart, going somewhere and corny.
why would a person with a suit be deemed more important than a man chilling in sweats?

i never liked the respect given when i wear a suit.....but the harsh attitude i get when im in chilling wear.

 

[Kzzl]

sooooo..

while i agree......the guy with a suit in the hood i automatically deemed smart, going somewhere and corny.
why would a person with a suit be deemed more important than a man chilling in sweats?

i never liked the respect given when i wear a suit.....but the harsh attitude i get when im in chilling wear.

Cause wearing a suit is considered being about business. It's always been perceived as a uniform for success, or war in some elite circles. Chilling in sweats is associated with dressing down, relaxing, not handling business. Getting sweaty. You don't like it, but that's just the way the world is. You being displeased that you being in sweats doesn't invoke the same result is so inconsequential. That's not even a racial issue, it's a common thing all people are subjected too. Stop worrying bout that.

As for corny and harsh attitudes, people that give you those kind of extreme reactions are assholes anyway. That or you are carrying yourself in a way that causes people to view you as such. I've worn sweats and suits, not once have people given me any disrespect wearing either.