Academic

Baggy Pants Laws

By Paul Butler

The police in Florida can no longer lock up people (i.e. black male teenagers) for wearing pants that hang off their rear ends and expose their underwear. Judge Paul Moyle had the good sense to declare the law unconstitutional. Yes, kids look ridiculous when they sport this style but do they deserve criminal records for “disorderly conduct”?  Hell to the no.  Laws like these are just another example of the criminalization of African-Americans. Believe it or not, this patently unconstitutional criminal offense is also being considered in cities like Trenton, New Jersey and Atlanta, Georgia.

Here’s an interesting video commentary from the New York Times that ascribes this fashion to the stock market.  Yes, the stock market. 

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Full post as published by BlackProf on September 17, 2008 (boomark / email).