In “The Miseducation of Hip-Hop – Discrimination in Education,” Jason Hinmon expresses the fact that he feels stereotyped and discriminated against by the faculty at the University of Delaware after transferring from Morehouse College in Atlanta
In my opinion, saying rap artists are the reason they “look like hoochie mamas, not like they’re coming to class,” (Evelyn, 2008, 559) makes as much sense as saying Marilyn Manson’s music is the reason the “trench coat mafia” shot up Columbine High School. Yes, they are young and impressionable, but they are certainly old enough to know what is right and what is wrong regardless of what type of music they prefer to listen to. Every human being is responsible for their own actions and nobody is entitled to anything in this world So if somebody chooses to go on a job interview or an important business meeting of some kind dressed inappropriately than I don’t think it has anything to do with being African American, influenced by rappers or the like. I think it has everything to do with that individual, the way they were raised and how they choose to present themselves to the world.
When I was in college – the first time – 90% of the kids in my classes wore legitimate pajamas or clothes that could certainly be mistaken for pajamas. I, personally, attended many classes wearing ripped up jeans, a university tee shirt, no makeup on my face and unbrushed hair pulled back under a university baseball cap. Classes were filled with ethnic and racial diversity, yet it seemed as though the main common thread was that we all dressed like…college students. Nobody wants to sit through a 3 hour Biology lecture and not be comfortable.
On the other hand, I could not agree more with Dr. Midgette when it comes to appropriate attire for job interviews, business meetings, etc. He says, “We’re not gonna serve them well in the university if we don’t shake their thinking about how dress is going to influence job opportunities” (as cited by Evelyn, 2008, 563). Pajamas are fine for sitting through class; however, these young people need to be grown up enough to realize a job interview is not the time to look inappropriate. I worked for Starbucks throughout college and I will never forget how personally offended my store manager, Linda, would get when potential Baristas would show up for their interview in wrinkled, unprofessional clothes. She told me she didn’t care how much experience someone has, if they don’t show her, the company and the position they are interviewing for the respect of showing up professionally than they don’t deserve to work there. This would result in countless applicants being turned down for jobs because young people felt it was “only” a coffee shop and chose to be unprofessional.
As I previously mentioned, nobody is entitled to anything in this world and if you can’t show a little respect and clean yourself up for a job interview than you should not be considered an adult. Universities should absolutely be preparing the younger generation for the “real” world so that once they get there, they know not to dress like “hoochie mamas.” While in school, let them express themselves freely. You never know, one day they may be listening to rap and the next day they may decide they relate more to country music. As long as they attend class, complete their work and learn what they should be learning – why should it matter how they are dressed?
Reference
Evelyn, J. (2008). The Miseducation of Hip-Hop – Discrimination in Education. In L.
Gray-Rosendale, Pop Perspectives Readings
(pp. 559-566). McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
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