Kevin Samuels Discussion Thread

[Consigliere]

I can never tell if this place is pro or anti respectability politics.

I guess it depends on the messenger.

 

[ViShawn]

We don’t need to reclaim shyt. If another group doesn’t like our image, that's THEIR problem, not ours, foh.

White people aren't doing it though - It's Black people that are allowing White people to do it. How many Black folks have trashed Kanye for example or other Black folks? That's what Kwame was talking about. Black men going on TV trashing other Black men for white people and letting them get comfortable.

 

[HarlemHottie]

I’m all for dressing up but it should be totally divorced of what White expectations are. White people as a group do not have our best interest at heart so the narrative is always going to change

But why do you keep talking about wp tho? Other people see us too. You dont think black kids notice how we dress? How we present to the world?

He only used birth of a nation to illustrate the effect of an image created 100 yrs ago on our lives to this very day. He's talking about how we look to ourselves and the images we allow to circulate. He then segued into sports media- a lot of whom are bp themselves- shytting on kwame brown for 20 yrs, and how all but the most hypermasculine famous bm eventually get called gay (even Denzel in the 80s), etc, etc.

Same shyt we talk about here everyday.

 

[King Jove]

Very close to when white people were telling black people to not wear hoodies after Trayvon Martin’s murder.

 

[DA_LURKA]

Because I know for a fact he has remixed some of my posts
It’s too damn coincidental that brehs will say something
Then you listen to the show
And it’s an actual discussion going on in here the day before his shoot
Aba and Preach do the same thing
And Mediocre Tutorial and Reviews done said some shyt from this thread too
TLR is wide open for internet searches
And when Kev says “research”
Breh is too big now and guarantee he curates everything said about him across the interwebs

I've seen him on 3 different occasions respond to something blackpearl said...

 

[ViShawn]

If you’re comfortable in a suit, that’s fine. My point is that you shouldn’t wear a suit just because some guy on YouTube (or anyone else) says you should for the sake of looking “grown” or “sophisticated.”

You could see a man in nice suit on a random day and think “Ooh he must be business man” when in reality, he’s on his way to court.

You can tell by the tailoring and cut if they're going to court or business.

Don't think people can't tell the difference between Burlington Coat Factory / K&G and a custom made suit. Don't be obtuse.

 

[Mr. Jack Napier]

White people aren't doing it though - It's Black people that are allowing White people to do it. How many Black folks have trashed Kanye for example or other Black folks? That's what Kwame was talking about. Black men going on TV trashing other Black men for white people and letting them get comfortable.

What?

White folk not out here shytting on other white folk?

And this goofy really used Kanye as an example. That motherfukka is a LOON.

 

[Ahadi]

I appreciate you brother. I'm not telling folks to rock a suit every day. I just recall growing up seeing my parents going to work dressing up. Even my Mom worked from home for 15 years I recall her dressing up a little bit...maybe throwing on a blouse over her sweatpants...just to get in the right mindset. It made me realize the power of clothes far beyond them being something functional. For me dressing well makes me feel prepared for any encounter when I go out in the world - it's like a suit of armor when you do it right. Sub communicating YOUR brand to everyone else.

That's what I was simply trying to convey. I could give a fukk what white people think. It's something I do for me.

Unfortunately given how casual society is things tend to be too lax for me sometimes but dressing above everyone else can come off pretentious to some. It's mind blowing to me. During COVID I've been trying to add more smart casual pieces that I can dress up and down in my wardrobe. Something I've been trying to work on - not being stuffy but also unapologetically myself and authentic.

That’s the goal.

Protecting your image, being aware of your environment and using that to position you for better outcomes. We have a thread about black women wearing bonnets in the airport and some ppl thought it was fine



Taking care of our image can do so much. The 1950s was the most impact time for our image

& the women were smiling.

 

[EA]

You can tell by the tailoring and cut if they're going to court or business.

Don't think people can't tell the difference between Burlington Coat Factory / K&G and a custom made suit. Don't be obtuse.

I was being obtuse to emphasise the fact that clothes aren’t an indicator of someone’s situation. Wearing a suit and loafers on the weekend instead of Jordan’s and jeans doesn’t make someone better than the next man.

I’m saying this as someone that only wears tailored suits 5 times a week and then has a wide selection of sneakers to choose from on the weekends.

 

[ViShawn]

I was being obtuse to emphasise the fact that clothes aren’t an indicator of someone’s situation. Wearing a suit and loafers on the weekend instead of Jordan’s and jeans doesn’t make someone better than the next man.

I’m saying this as someone that only wears tailored suits 5 times a week and then has a wide selection of sneakers to choose from on the weekends.

If you do that then I assume you have good taste. I agree - no one is better than the next man but I learned from an early age how intellectually lazy people are and how you can use their perception of image to your advantage.

 

[The Devil's Advocate]

Brehs gonna be 45 and still trying to look like this:



and this nikka almost 40.

y’all really don’t see how this might make you look crazy in the presence of well dressed men?

 

[ViShawn]

@TheManFromVA UGH I wish women dressed MORE like this now.

The last two images.

 

[Bubba T]

This reminds me of the time I went to my credit union to apply for a credit card. Sat down with the branch manager to do it. The demeanor before and after pulling my credit was night and day. Hilarious, and pathetic at the same time. I can’t remember what I was wearing, but it wasn’t anything worse than jeans, sneakers, and a basic shirt.

 

[fifth column]

What? I have never assumed a black man in a suit up here is a door man. Were you born in the 1920's where black men could only be elevator operators or service people?

What do you assume a black man in a suit in NYC in 2021 is doing then? Most people successful or not just wear casual clothes from my experience. Department store, high end security and doormen are required to wear suits so that’s what I assume.

 

[Mr. Jack Napier]

Brehs gonna be 45 and still trying to look like this:



and this nikka almost 40.

y’all really don’t see how this might make you look crazy in the presence of well dressed men?

Why would someone think he looks crazy? If he comfortable with how he dress than so be it.