It is somewhat unbelievable to me that this is becoming a national movement in law enforcement.
I happen to be a somewhat devoted fan of the fashion phenomenon known as “sagging.” For the uniniated, “sagging” is the practice of wearing baggy pants low enough that they expose one’s underwear and/or buttocks. The city of Flint, Michigan (more on them in a second) has provided this handy chart, after the jump. Note that the diagram cannot possibly be racially biased, because the person portrayed is – clearly – blue.
Hot, Hotter, Hottest: The Flint PD's guide to sagging
I’ve heard about a half dozen supposed “origins” of sagging, most of which go back to prison. Some Wikipedian claims the practice originated in prison because inmates are not allowed to have belts. I’ve heard some say that when a prison inmate sags, it’s a sign that he’s looking to get “punked,” AKA done in the butt. That origin seems dubious to me, being that the fad spread as fast as it did. There just can’t be that many dudes out there looking to get drilled. Others claim sagging is a way for a drug dealer to identify himself; others say it’s a gangbanger.
One way or another, sagging got popular with gangbangers, and then with gangsta rappers, and then (naturally) with entitled white suburban kids – especially skateboarders.
Why, you ask? It’s unimportant. What’s important is, it’s hot. Seriously. Look at the pictures! Ok, so if you’re an old prude you probably think it looks ridiculous, and if you’re straight I’m sure you don’t get it at all, but think of it this way: if that was a hot chick (or broad, or whathaveyou) wouldn’t that outfit look sexy?
See? I’m right.
Anyway, so now police departments and legislatures all over the country, cockblockers one and all, are moving to make “sagging” illegal. Flint, MI is now imposing fines and jail time just for letting your pants hang too low. Cities in Georgia, Florida, Virginia, Illinois, and other states are considering legislation. The ACLU has of course taken an interest, and I don’t see how any legislation telling Americans how we have to wear our clothes stands a chance in Hell. The Pennsylvania legislature considered an anti-sagging law for about ten minutes this past June; the ACLU and a few dozen organizations killed that pretty fast.
Lawmakers and police claim that it’s “indecent” or “unsanitary;” nevermind that sagging is a predominantly black fad. Nevermind that these laws universally come from cities with black populations and white lawmakers. I’m willing to bet that the white kids aren’t going to get frisked or arrested.
Even if we disregard the racial profiling component, just how prudish and antiquated is it to claim that showing off boxer shorts, or even half of an ass, is “indecent?” In an era when Federal courts are declaring that tits on TV are hunky-dory (and good for them, by the way!) what does it say about these communities that they can’t deal with seeing some kid’s underwear? Maybe these lawmakers would be happier if everyone had to wear burkas – wait, wait, scratch that. It would be totally easy for evil black gangbangers to hide weapons and drugs under their burkas.
The fashion, meanwhile, shows no signs of going away. It’s been pretty well embraced by the gay culture, if the number of web sites, flickr albums, youtube videos and blogs are any indication.
Update: As much as I am loathe to link to Perez Hilton, the reader comments on this post illustrate the much-debated origins of sagging. To make up for the awful link to Perez, I’ve added a few more awesome sagger photos, below.
ya when i was in prison thats what it ment that u wanted a man and that u were avilable