All-Star Themed Practice Controversy

[Official OWECheer]

I've always thought that Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe would make a good children's movie.

I remember that story!

And @ashschott41 fashion is a peculiar thing. The flannel shirt is such a versatile item.

 

[cheerKT]

I'm a middle class white girl coming from a town with pretty much zero diversity. Not even going to chime in on the other stuff, but are flannels really things "thugs" wear? Is that just a California thing? Maybe it's because I'm more "country" than those kids, but button up those shirts and throw on some boots and jeans and they're ready for a day of work where I grew up.

Definitely not that kind of wear around here. Flannels are probably more "hipster/country" here, if there is such a thing.

 

[Cheermom1969]

This is the chola/East LA look.

Well at least they're accurate.

 

[cheernerd5678]

Definitely not that kind of wear around here. Flannels are probably more "hipster/country" here, if there is such a thing.

Recently its become "I'm wearing shorts that my butt cheeks hang out of so im tying a flannel shirt around my waist" here. Other than that it's usually used for western themed stuff. Definitely not associated with thugs to me, must be a regional thing?

 

[ashscott41]

Definitely not that kind of wear around here. Flannels are probably more "hipster/country" here, if there is such a thing.

Same here. If y'all want to know about redneck fashion I've got you covered, but I was definitely surprised to see flannels called thug attire.

 

[Pebbles49]

The Fierce Board App! || iPhone || Android

I'm a middle class white girl coming from a town with pretty much zero diversity. Not even going to chime in on the other stuff, but are flannels really things "thugs" wear? Is that just a California thing? Maybe it's because I'm more "country" than those kids, but button up those shirts and throw on some boots and jeans and they're ready for a day of work where I grew up.

To be honest, when I first looked at this picture I was not offended... I really did not think of thugs, but more the 90's grunge(I think, that is what they call it) ala Kurt Cobain, Nirvana, etc... Only person who looks thugged out, is the person in the front with the long white T-shirt and long shorts...

 

[omgitssydthekid]

To be honest, when I first looked at this picture I was not offended... I really did not think of thugs, but more the 90's grunge(I think, that is what they call it) ala Kurt Cobain, Nirvana, etc... Only person who looks thugged out, is the person in the front with the long white T-shirt and long shorts...

My thoughts exactly. This doesn't really scream "thug" to me.

 

[Official OWECheer]

Recently its become "I'm wearing shorts that my butt cheeks hang out of so im tying a flannel shirt around my waist" here. Other than that it's usually used for western themed stuff. Definitely not associated with thugs to me, must be a regional thing?

Ugh yes... this is why so many people just make their own high-waisted shorts. There's no way I'm paying $50 for a garment that hardly even fulfills its purpose (covering).

BTW, this thread reminds me of the Blood Diamond team name thread.... anyone remember that one?

 

[rrhhiannon]

Ugh yes... this is why so many people just make their own high-waisted shorts. There's no way I'm paying $50 for a garment that hardly even fulfills its purpose (covering).

BTW, this thread reminds me of the Blood Diamond team name thread.... anyone remember that one?

I've just been lurking this whole time, but since you brought up that thread I'll give my input. In the blood diamond thread a lot of people were wondering why I was so offended over teams with the name "Indians" or tribe names. It honestly has nothing to do with the fact that I am native - I was not raised in a native community, the only part of that culture I've really had any exposure to would be dream catchers and the music. I was shocked over those names because the country would be in uproar if someone named their team any other racial slur. I've experienced racism and I'm a "white girl" living in eastern Canada, not sure how many of you are familiar with "Africville" but this summer me and my boyfriend decided the get an apartment together and that's where one was and when I emailed the landlord about a viewing he told me no, because I was white. It was a beautiful apartment, in our budget and a great location, but because of my skin color he wouldn't give me a chance.

Also, this weekend it was "buskers fest" downtown, and one of the performers was a black man. Part of his show was to bring a "black girl, white girl, Mexican girl, and Asian girl" up onto the stage and he demonstrated how each culture dances. I feel like that was extremely racist. After the show he said he's not a racist guy but it's all comedy. I don't think that makes any difference, it was just wrong.

 

[CGAcheer]

To be honest, when I first looked at this picture I was not offended... I really did not think of thugs, but more the 90's grunge(I think, that is what they call it) ala Kurt Cobain, Nirvana, etc... Only person who looks thugged out, is the person in the front with the long white T-shirt and long shorts...

I think it all comes down to the size and how its buttoned or tied.

on the actual topic- I think that any theme that deals with an actual style that is defined well enough to be stereotyped into a theme has the potential to offend someone some where.
gender bender, white trash bash, thugs, ghetto, cowboys, Army, indians, leprechauns, grunge, nerd, color themes (color blind kids might not like this theme), power rangers(kung fu parody could offend some cultures) and even I guess if some other population had a "cheerleader" themed event it could potentially offend the majority of this board.

Do I think thug/gangster themes are inherently racist? I don't because there are thugs and gangsters of every race and class out there. Now if someone were to paint their face black and braid their hair and then dress up like a "gangster" that would be a problem.

Please do not take this post as discounting anyone's life experience or history. This is just my opinion on the topic

 

[Pebbles49]

There are Themes that are not positive such as Thugs - I do not understand the point of doing this, but looking at that picture and some of the other pictures - when they are subject to misinterpretation and so ambiguous then it is not offensive - Thugs at one time, did not screamed Lower class Blacks or Hispanics; what I remembered and my understanding of Thug's Life is supposed to represent someone who is streetwise, hustlers and someone who working hard to rise above their adversity... Example of the typical Thug in the 70s - 80s, would be that person who refused to work for anyone or what they will say for the "Man" or 9 to 5 (Corporate) and will buy merchandise from Wholesalers and be selling stuff from the trunk of their car or makeshift cart on any corner in the neighborhood, these guys will be selling cologne, watches, pocketbooks, ties, etc... and had these hard sell pitches... But over the years, it has become something that is derogative...-probably because of the Hip-Hop Rappers:

Funny Story: Last Halloween, the gym allowed the athletes, coaches and all the staff to dress in costumes... It was so funny, because unknowingly, more than half of the gym came in dressed as Nerds - The Coaches came in dressed like 70's-80's nerds, like from the movie "Revenge of the Nerds", the older teenagers came in looking like the Bill Gates, Silicon Valley, PeeWee Herman l, with the suspenders, high waisted shorts and clashing multi-colors and prints and the younger people came in looking like the characters from Big Bang Theory. The commonality between all the nerds were the hard-rimmed glasses with the tape around the nose area. Nerds in my opinion is a life style and does not scream race and/or anything derogatory, so everybody had fun with this...

 

[catlady]

Black Woman Poses As White Woman - Suddenly Job Offers Come Tumbling In (Video)

Please note, this woman did not just change her race, she also, changed her name. I found Yolanda Spivey's Facebook and thought I would post it to see if you all were in personnel, would the person she portrays on Facebook be a person that you would put in the interview pile or put in the no pile? I just want people to realize corporations and businesses are looking at what you are posting and if your posts seem controversial and overly passionate, it can and will be used against you.

Yolanda Spivey | Facebook

Also, according to this documentary, one of these young men seemed to feel if she changed her status to "white male" the results would have been even better. My husband is white, attractive, 40's, highly educated, specializes in commercial finance and has been out of a job for 19 months. His resume was done by a professional, he has several job recruiters looking for him, he has gone through many specialized executive company programs (including their version of charm school), worked 22 years for a high profile fortune 500 company, he is willing to step a few notches down, and yet, it still hasn't landed him a job and only a few interviews. The job market is saturated right now with extremely qualified candidates.

As far as the topic, I don't believe it is ever appropriate to tell someone how they "should or should not feel". If someone is offended by an action, an apology is more appropriate than telling someone "they shouldn't feel that way" or "they are being overly sensitive". We all have history and to assume anyone's is more or less painful or more or less privileged when we don't know them...well, most of us know what they say about "assuming".

 

[gofriars610]

Same here. If y'all want to know about redneck fashion I've got you covered, but I was definitely surprised to see flannels called thug attire.

I was just about to comment that. Flannel is your stereotypical "Mainer" look.

 

[vannahlexis]

I don't see the "thug" theme as racist at all.
Mainly because where I'm from, you will see just about every single ethnicity wrapped up in some sort of "gang" or "thug" activity. Then again, I live/work/go to school in/within an hour of like 3 of the most crime filled cities in the US.

My dad is a police officer in one of these cities and I've heard all of his stories and even sat in on some of his court cases, & the diversity is there.

I think your perspective on the picture, whether you find it offensive or not, is largely related to the region you're from and whatnot

 

[Just-a-Mom]

This is the chola/East LA look.

Can someone explain how the first theme, "gangbangers" or "thugs" (or whatever it was) is offensive because it is about race... But Chola isn't? Chola actually IS a direct inference to a race. I'm not at all sure how Chola is an OK theme.

And I guess since we're all being super offensive (and yes, I do mean ALL), I'll go: If the word "thug" and "gang" instantly conjures up a specific race in your head, that says way more about you than the person using the word.

Food for thought - racism is not actually defined as "white people offending black people."