We seem to
be living in today’s society when we should be moving forward as a nation; we
are moving backwards. Earlier this year the Supreme Court effectively struck
down the heart of the Voter Rights Act of 1965; government officials across
America are pushing for state voter ID legislation; New York Mayor is fighting
to keep “Stop and Frisk” Law and now in the “small town politics” of Penns
Grove, NJ, local government has legislated fashion. All in which that seem to
target certain ethnic groups.
Dr. Martin
Luther King said in his last prophetic “I been to the mountain top” speech in
April of 1968, “The greatest right in America is to protest for rights.” So
what happens when our rights are infringed upon? A few weeks ago, the Penns
Grove City Council passed legislation on wearing “Saggy Pants.” I am in
agreement that people should not walk around with their pants so low where you
can see their undergarments. However, I do not believe legislation should not
be implemented to remedy this “fad” which disproportionally target young
African and Latino American men intrigued by the “hip-hop culture.”
Did the
local government forget the Declaration of Independence, where it says, “life,
liberty and pursuit of happiness?” The local government has taken away the “Inalienable
and Fundamental” Rights granted to us all, by stripping people in the community
the freedom of expression. Saggy pants is just a fad. Some fads look sillier
than others; nonetheless, it is just a fad. For example, Run DMC, a 1980’s rap
group wore their addidas shell top sneakers with no shoe laces; rapper LL Cool
J, wore his pant legs with one side rolled up to his knee and the other side
down. Yet it was “hip” or “cool” to that generation.
After
speaking with many members in the community; African American, Caucasian and Latino
males, many feel the “Saggy Pant” ordinance is just another lawful means for
certain problematic officers to make contact with the youth. One young man
said, “What do they want us to do? It’s nothing here!” Penns Grove has greater
issues to be championed. There are problems with guns, drugs, no jobs and
educational issues that must be dealt with.
Saggy pants
did not kill 3 young men lost from the community. Guns and drugs was the direct
result. Saggy pants are not the reason why there is low test scores and high
illiteracy rate among 2500 students. I think our local government should
concern themselves with cultivating the poor socioeconomic ills of the
community and not concerning themselves with what someone looks like. This is
not a shot towards the city council. The objective is to influence a broader
outlook before making a decision that can greatly affect someone. Parents
should enforce what seems to be a parental issue not local government.
Walter L. Hudson Sr.
Founder/ChairmanNational Awareness Alliance
