Quotes on Hoodies

“[T]he hoodie has become a signifier of disgruntled, malevolent youth, scowling and indolent.  The hoodie is the uniform of the troublemaker: its wearer may as well be emblazoned with a scarlet letter.”—Gaarth McLean, writing in the Guardian in 2005.

“We—the people in suits—often see hoodies as aggressive, the uniform of a rebel army of young gangsters. But hoodies are more defensive than offensive. They’re a way to stay invisible in the street. In a dangerous environment the best thing to do is keep your head down, blend in.”-candidate (and later Prime Minister) David Cameron in 2006.

“I am urging the parents of black and Latino youngsters, particularly, to not let their young children go out wearing hoodies.  I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin’s death as George Zimmerman was”—Geraldo Rivera on Fox and Friends, Friday March 23, 2012.

All from GOOD:  Hug a Hoodie: What the U.K. Teaches Us About Making a Sweatshirt a Symbol.

h/t:  Tal East’s FB feed.

FILED UNDER: Crime, Environment, Europe, Race and Politics, US Politics, World Politics, , , , ,
Steven L. Taylor
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a retired Professor of Political Science and former College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog). Follow Steven on Twitter

Comments

  1. G.A. says:

    Makes sense, makes sense, and…..stupid…..

  2. Isn’t that all pre- Mark Zuckerberg? If he made it ok for billionaires …

    Maybe I am just too cutting edge.

  3. G.A. says:

    “Why would anyone wear a Hoodie in Florida?”-G.A.Phillips March 24, 2012 .

    1
  4. @G.A.:

    “Why would anyone wear a Hoodie in Florida?”

    The answer probably involves girls.

  5. de stijl says:

    I’m a 48 YO white guy. I wore a hoodie this morning when raking my lawn. I’ve worn a hoodie something like 4-7 times out-and-about this month. It’s spring. It’s a handy item of clothing in transitional weather.

    When did hoodies become dangerous? If I walked to the bodega right now, I’d probably see half a dozen or more in the couple of blocks back and forth. Did Geraldo apply British hooligan prejudice to regular old American hoodies? I’m seriously perplexed about this whole fear of a hoodie planet. I do not get it at all. Is there an American association to hoodies with crime that I’m not aware of?

  6. anjin-san says:

    When I was at the gym tonight I saw 3 guy working out with hoodies on. Don’t really see the problem. Oh, wait. Young black men. Scary. Dangerous.

    Are there any non white people that don’t make conservatives piss themselves?

  7. ernieyeball says:

    “…I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin’s death as George Zimmerman was”

    Yes Gerald, and when women are raped it is the fault of the clothes they wear. Sluts are just askin’ for it aren’t they.

  8. mattb says:

    I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin’s death as George Zimmerman was”—Geraldo Rivera on Fox and Friends, Friday March 23, 2012.

    By that logic, then being a “young black man” out at night in that neighborhood as much responsible for Trayvon’s Martin’s death as George Zimmerman.