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Writer's pictureCarl Alan Smith

Many black men dress up to avoid being seen negatively. Every day, we are dressing for survival.



Every day, we are essentially dressing for survival.

Throughout my life, I've experienced a collection of microaggressions — from employees following me in stores to women gripping their purses at the sight of me. At 13 years old, I was detained by the cops on suspicion of something I didn't do.


Just the other day, a woman grabbed her child and hurried into a store to get away from me when I was walking around the block. I don't want to be another statistic and have my appearance be the blame for it. But I won't conform and change my appearance just to make people feel more comfortable around me.


I dress myself exclusively to fit my mood, which is often "laid-back/something I can skate in" chic, or whatever. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I'm curious to see how much of an effect my wardrobe choices have on my life as a young black man in Los Angeles.



https://www.buzzfeed.com/pedrofequiere/i-dressed-up-and-dressed-down-for-a-week-and-this-is-what-ha?utm_term=.erxJpo7V9#.egy5bYvy4

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