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Friday, October 06, 2006
The Bourgeoisie Hamptonian
Question of the day? At what point in time did Hampton become so boogie?
I don’t even know if that's how to spell the negro-americanized word derived from the French word Bourgeoisie, which according to the Encarta Dictionary, means: affluent middle-class people characterized as conventional, conservative, or materialistic in outlook. Sounds about right, yeah we're snobs.
So I was having dinner with a fellow Hamptonian last night, and that question came up. Her mother is also a Hamptonian and says that Hampton is totally different now, than it was when she went through. Not that this is a bad thing, but we were just trying to pinpoint at exactly what time did Hampton become so boogie? Because I think each year it gets worse and worse. But I think us Hamptonians like having that label, being one of the boogiest HBCU’s. I guess its some sort of accomplishment. Another thing that we pointed out was the fact that no one was like that before they got to Hampton. After your first year you go through a change, we describe it as being Hamptonized.
We were bred to be proud, and confident, almost borderline arrogant, with a strong bond to our alma mater. I think that’s how most HBCU’s are. Every single one of my Hampton friends, are the most confident people, who have their shit together. Every one of them is doing big things, and I think that has a lot to do with their Hampton upbringing. Hampton taught us how to act, dress, and be prepared for different situations. Hamptonians, both female and male, are so poised, and know how to turn every situation (ie. funerals) into a friggin fashion show. But that’s what we were taught, come with you’re A-game at all times. Which brings me to the point of this post. We, Hamptonians know how to dress appropriately. This is something the “other” schools didn’t teach their students. The people I work with come to work looking crazy. For whatever reason, my company doesn’t technically have a dress code, so I guess that’s an invitation for these fools to come to work in their pajamas. NEGATIVE. That just means you don’t have to be suited up. So being a graduate of the Hampton school of business, and working in Corporate America, I fully understand the difference between business attire, business casual, and work appropriate casual, and appropriate footwear for each.
So the bf, a graduate of a majority white college, who doesn’t understand the value of an HBCU and the close bond that I have with my alma mater, who also works in Corporate America doesn’t understand appropriate work attire. This boy thinks he can dress his ass off. In my opinion, he can dress, but not his ass off. You know I only date boys that can dress. But anyway, I don’t know about anyone else but when I think of wearing jeans to work, I think of that only being on Fridays. This dude will go suited up on random days of the week, never the same day every week, and then he’ll wear jeans on random days of the week. Daily he wears his earrings, that’s a huge no no in my book. And then the days that he dresses down, there is always at least one article of clothing that makes the outfit non work appropriate; its either the gold chain, the earrings, too baggy jeans, the uptowns or the timbs. Timbs and sneakers are never appropriate in Corporate America, EVER!!! I don’t care how laid back your department is. You are a black man, they are always looking at you, whether you’re in a three piece suit or you’re wearing those damn timbs. If they wouldn’t let you in the club with that on, then you sure as hell shouldn’t be wearing it to work.
So that just shows the difference between a Bourgeoisie Hampton degree vs. a non-Hampton degree.
I don’t even know if that's how to spell the negro-americanized word derived from the French word Bourgeoisie, which according to the Encarta Dictionary, means: affluent middle-class people characterized as conventional, conservative, or materialistic in outlook. Sounds about right, yeah we're snobs.
So I was having dinner with a fellow Hamptonian last night, and that question came up. Her mother is also a Hamptonian and says that Hampton is totally different now, than it was when she went through. Not that this is a bad thing, but we were just trying to pinpoint at exactly what time did Hampton become so boogie? Because I think each year it gets worse and worse. But I think us Hamptonians like having that label, being one of the boogiest HBCU’s. I guess its some sort of accomplishment. Another thing that we pointed out was the fact that no one was like that before they got to Hampton. After your first year you go through a change, we describe it as being Hamptonized.
We were bred to be proud, and confident, almost borderline arrogant, with a strong bond to our alma mater. I think that’s how most HBCU’s are. Every single one of my Hampton friends, are the most confident people, who have their shit together. Every one of them is doing big things, and I think that has a lot to do with their Hampton upbringing. Hampton taught us how to act, dress, and be prepared for different situations. Hamptonians, both female and male, are so poised, and know how to turn every situation (ie. funerals) into a friggin fashion show. But that’s what we were taught, come with you’re A-game at all times. Which brings me to the point of this post. We, Hamptonians know how to dress appropriately. This is something the “other” schools didn’t teach their students. The people I work with come to work looking crazy. For whatever reason, my company doesn’t technically have a dress code, so I guess that’s an invitation for these fools to come to work in their pajamas. NEGATIVE. That just means you don’t have to be suited up. So being a graduate of the Hampton school of business, and working in Corporate America, I fully understand the difference between business attire, business casual, and work appropriate casual, and appropriate footwear for each.
So the bf, a graduate of a majority white college, who doesn’t understand the value of an HBCU and the close bond that I have with my alma mater, who also works in Corporate America doesn’t understand appropriate work attire. This boy thinks he can dress his ass off. In my opinion, he can dress, but not his ass off. You know I only date boys that can dress. But anyway, I don’t know about anyone else but when I think of wearing jeans to work, I think of that only being on Fridays. This dude will go suited up on random days of the week, never the same day every week, and then he’ll wear jeans on random days of the week. Daily he wears his earrings, that’s a huge no no in my book. And then the days that he dresses down, there is always at least one article of clothing that makes the outfit non work appropriate; its either the gold chain, the earrings, too baggy jeans, the uptowns or the timbs. Timbs and sneakers are never appropriate in Corporate America, EVER!!! I don’t care how laid back your department is. You are a black man, they are always looking at you, whether you’re in a three piece suit or you’re wearing those damn timbs. If they wouldn’t let you in the club with that on, then you sure as hell shouldn’t be wearing it to work.
So that just shows the difference between a Bourgeoisie Hampton degree vs. a non-Hampton degree.
7 Comments:
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timbs and sneaks? oh hell no. getcha boy. unacceptable. they don't even dress like that at espn and they watch sports all day. come on now.
off subject, hi ashli! by any chance are you cape verdean? i just read your recipe for the green soup...
Hamptonians LOOOOOOVE labels!!! You think they minded when Boo G Bear was there? Hell naw!
A game at all times. Sometimes its too much guys. Do we really have to turn a funeral into a fashion show? It makes everything seem so plastic. People come to homecoming to see what whoever is driving, wearing, doing with whoever has a bigger name than you..."oh yeah, so and so moved next door to pharell" and "she just put a Monet in her study" and "OMG, have you seen her 645 beemer?" on and on. I guess you can see it as having your ish together but sometimes its so...not healthy. Why can't I come to Homecoming and see my peoples? Why do I have to be making $250,000 with a bomb 3 carat engagement ring and a land rover to feel like I'm worthy and bout something? or got my ish together? *I'm venting*
Your case in point was PERFECT! If you can't wear it to the club, what makes you think you can wear it to work?!?! LOL
homecoming, like every other event at ANY black school, or anywhere for that matter is what you make it. you can show up and show off with the folk or you can just do you. i say that now but its true i didn't want to go w/o a job but that's b/c its a JOB. the reason i went. i have no desire to wear giant ugly shades b/c they have two g's or two c's or two f's on them. but not everyone's like that. you gotta do you and let the other stuff ride. its scenery. no matter where you go someone will be tryin to stunt.
sorry if that was too much ash.
I really like your club wear/work wear analogy. Since I've seemed to turn my status as student into a profession let me give you my take on attire in the grad sector. Now coming from Bougie U... (and I'm damn proud of it!) and then going to a PWI (predominately white institution) I noticed that mofos don't even BOTHER to get dressed...they come out in public in their PJs!! WTF...why do I need to tell you to leave the jeans home when you're on the hospital floor?!
However, with that said, some of these corporate offices are shifting gears. I have a friend, a fellow Hamptonian who makes $100K+, an important figure in his company, and, kid you not, rocks jeans and screen shirts to work all the damn time! Hampton is ultra-conservative....maybe we are the ones that are behind the times.
Love your blog!