"Few realize how critical dress was in establishing and maintaining the social order of the South.
The Jim Crow system was built upon a hierarchy that placed wealthy whites at the top.
They portrayed their status through their clothing. African Americans who dressed in fine wears were accused of not ‘knowing their place,’ thinking they were equal to middle-class whites and better than working-class whites.
The punishment for such an “offense” was often a beating, or even murder."
People who preach respectability politics should know this.
Literally, Black people dressing nicely could have gotten them killed.
MLK and all those activists marching in suits were threats to white
America, just like they tell us today that wearing hoodies and sagging our pants is a threat to white America.
It doesn’t matter whether you pull your pants up or not, racist white people will always find a reason to degrade you and deny responsibility for hurting you.
Believe that.
