Sagging

Enough is enough. I have a bone to pick with any and every man, boy, and child that believes sagging is cool. I was at the store yesterday and noticed this “gangster” acting and talking disrespectfully. This fool had his pants so low his boxer shorts were showing. He couldn’t walk properly so he waddled, and even though he had a belt on (which was located at his mid thigh) he had to hold his pants up when he walks. Who said this style was cool? Whoever did was lying.

Sagging pants originated in American prisons. The Inmates wore loose fitting prison uniforms without a belt. In those days, belts were popular weapons used by the inmates to either commit suicide or murder others by hanging or strangling them. People with over sized uniforms had no option but to let their pants hang loose below their waist. Eventually, the inmates became so used to this trend that it continued even after the inmates were freed once their bid (sentence) was completed. Sagging was also used as a way for an inmate to announce their sexual preference while in jail. It indicated one was available for anal sex. Men started making their “women” do this to symbolize that they were owned and available. Somehow through the perversion that is hip hop culture, sagging made it out to the real world as cool behavior and got a major boost as a statement of style when rappers started wearing them in 1990s. This made the style popular among hip-hop fans trying to emulate their idols on stage and in music videos.

This style has nothing to do with being a gangster or tough guy these days. If you think about it a real hard rock (tough guy) would never wear his pants this low for a variety of reason. The 1^st rule of the street is being prepared for anything at all times. If a fight broke out you would be at an immediate disadvantage. It would be like trying to fight with a rope tied around your knees. Also what happens if you need to break out and run? Sagging pants would slow you down considerably.

So for all those people out there that look at these young men with fear because of their “gangster style”, stop it because there’s nothing tough about sagging. It’s just a stupid style adapted from the jail culture. To me it’s as soft as a man wearing skinny jeans or leggings.