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Is it possible?
Does and can such an experience exist?
Or will "blackness" in America be forever and intimately, for better or worse, tied to "whiteness", Eurocentric ideals and standards?
[color= rgb(255, 0, 0)]Before I elaborate, let me preface by saying that this is NOT my h/w assignment that I am thrusting upon y'all...
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I ask because, in the "Dizzy scam" thread, a link was posted that led me to another link, that led me to another link, that led me to another link (you know how it is) which brought to the site and the pictures/images that spurred the question I have put forth to y'all.
The site, some of y'all might be familiar with, as the creators themselves are members of our esteemed NT community, is streetetiquette .
I was browsing about when I noticed this featured, visual, article called the Black Ivy; the point of which I surmise is to highlight one particular culture of fashion within academia, or perhaps the influence and/or resurgence of that particular culture into the upper echelons of what is considered "cool" and/or sophisticated by our generation nowadays. IDK, I'm just assuming.
As I went through this article, three things became clear. First is the fact that these dudes were all well put together (no ayo, I'm speaking clothing wise); second is the fact that they are all "brotha's"; and third is the fact that much of what they're wearing is rooted in a European "heritage" and fashion lineage (I see the Kente scarf though...
).
Now I am not one to "hate" or criticize, but I just found it interesting that this is what this group of black men chose to highlight. I mean, their selections were more than appropriate in keeping with the theme of "Ivy", but just as well there seems to be some tension (at least to me) concerning the "black" part. Essentially "Black Ivy", as I am reading it, is wholly inspired by white tastes in fashion and academic spaces that have historically been, and continue to be, largely, white spaces?
And then this got me even thinking some more, about just how entwined blackness and whiteness are (in the present example, "black" ivy is largely defined by white standards). Seeing as how "whiteness" is standard by which everything is compared to/defined by, is it possible to have a genuine black experience that is unhinged from whiteness? This same question applies and extends to every other "race". I chose black only because of the long fraternal history between the two groups.
Is it possible?
...
Does and can such an experience exist?
Or will "blackness" in America be forever and intimately, for better or worse, tied to "whiteness", Eurocentric ideals and standards?
[color= rgb(255, 0, 0)]Before I elaborate, let me preface by saying that this is NOT my h/w assignment that I am thrusting upon y'all...
I ask because, in the "Dizzy scam" thread, a link was posted that led me to another link, that led me to another link, that led me to another link (you know how it is) which brought to the site and the pictures/images that spurred the question I have put forth to y'all.
The site, some of y'all might be familiar with, as the creators themselves are members of our esteemed NT community, is streetetiquette .
I was browsing about when I noticed this featured, visual, article called the Black Ivy; the point of which I surmise is to highlight one particular culture of fashion within academia, or perhaps the influence and/or resurgence of that particular culture into the upper echelons of what is considered "cool" and/or sophisticated by our generation nowadays. IDK, I'm just assuming.
As I went through this article, three things became clear. First is the fact that these dudes were all well put together (no ayo, I'm speaking clothing wise); second is the fact that they are all "brotha's"; and third is the fact that much of what they're wearing is rooted in a European "heritage" and fashion lineage (I see the Kente scarf though...
Now I am not one to "hate" or criticize, but I just found it interesting that this is what this group of black men chose to highlight. I mean, their selections were more than appropriate in keeping with the theme of "Ivy", but just as well there seems to be some tension (at least to me) concerning the "black" part. Essentially "Black Ivy", as I am reading it, is wholly inspired by white tastes in fashion and academic spaces that have historically been, and continue to be, largely, white spaces?
And then this got me even thinking some more, about just how entwined blackness and whiteness are (in the present example, "black" ivy is largely defined by white standards). Seeing as how "whiteness" is standard by which everything is compared to/defined by, is it possible to have a genuine black experience that is unhinged from whiteness? This same question applies and extends to every other "race". I chose black only because of the long fraternal history between the two groups.
Is it possible?
...