I wrote an article a few months ago about sagging pants and their history and meaning. I spoke to children, teens and adults who were walking around with sagging pants and many of them had no particular reason or purpose for doing it other than "My friends do it so I do it, it’s cool." Currently, many city and state officials are trying to take action and institute laws against this style of dress and establish fines for anyone exercising their right to choose this style of dress. Some say the style is offensive, it’s rude, it’s a gay thing, a black thing, it’s disrespectful, even an open invitation for sex.

Some have taken the word SAGGIN and turned it around to say NIGGAS. Is this another way to change the focus and make it a label for black culture?

These actions are an attempt to control one’s rights and freedom. There are many styles that I would not be caught dead wearing but again, that is why it is called a style. All of us are different, none are the same. We all have our likes and dislikes. What might be offensive to me may not be to others. No matter what the style may be, there is a time and a place for wearing a particular style or fashion, but I can not say that any style is inappropriate. Now, when I’m out and about, and I see someone wearing sagging pants it’s not the underwear showing that offends me, it’s when the individual’s actual butt is showing. I do not think that is appropriate at any time or place. As for me, I prefer wearing a belt to keep my pants up around my waist. But if someone wants to walk around like a duck to help keep their pants from falling down and it floats their boat, then sail on. It all stems from your up bringing and what you were or were not allowed to do. Times have changed very much. Making a law to tell a person how to wear their clothing is going a little too far. When are a person’s rights and decisions going to be respected? We know how to dress for church, work or school so let’s stop the controlling and respect one’s right to choose. As Rodney King once said: "CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG "? I interviewed a few people, male and female, of various ages to hear what they had to say.

Please remember these are individual’s feelings and words of expression and do not speak for and on the behalf of the writer nor its hosting web site and the readers who read the articles FEMALE: (49) OMG--I never even thought of such a thing. Well my personal feeling is that people should be able to wear what they wish. However, I personally feel that it is inappropriate dress for school or for work.

MALE: (27) This violates people's freedom of expression and it is also very culturally insensitive, much like a law dictating that people exercise.

MALE: (26) (laughing) Well, I think it’s another way of fucking with blacks. Many other races are doing it as well but are not getting fucked with, but if that law passes that’s just saying, "Yes, you can tell us what to wear". And the ladies, wow, they’re going have to cover up their breasts because they look like an nice ass that sits on your chest. Right or wrong, the world is being controlled more and more and the world is helping all white folk hate black folk. They just fake and act like they don't, but at the end of the day all black folk are niggers to them and I’m glad we have You Tube. It proves what I’ve been saying for years. Stay away from whites. They are all the same because the white folks that are posting negative shit on here are always around black folk and scared to say it in person so they get on here and be their real selves. FEMALE: (46) Now, that's an interesting concept! I never thought of it that way! I'm a female. I've never been a big fan of the sagging pants, but I really don't like it when they wear the waist around the top of their thighs (with a belt, even!). I still see some guys walking that duck walk, holding up their pants. It's definitely not just a black thing. I've seen white people do the same thing. Perhaps it's because they are copying what they are seeing. Making it into a law is a bit extreme. I don't think it should be done in places of employment, especially where the dress code is enforced.

MALE: (21) Sagging pants, I think it’s a way of fashion some people have adapted to because of how they have been influenced growing up. In some cultures, people who dress like that depict a very bad behavior as that is not the formal way to dress according to them. MALE: (37) It’s a jail reference and a law is not needed; however, those who choose that mode of dress will be ridiculed from educated blacks, and harassment from police. FEMALE: (38) I think that saggin is associated with gansta type... boys want to be a gansta because of videos etc. with teenaged boys...

MALE: (21) That is the problem with Black America and it's destruction of the community today: "We have nothing else to do but ban niggas from sagging their pants."(laughing).

In closing, we all are human. It’s not about race, creed or color. It’s about your surroundings and who you are. We all are in control of the scenery and our day-to-day actions. One rule is if you don’t feel right then you are not dressed right for where you are heading or going. Respect covers a wide range and just remember to do unto others as you would want them to do unto you. There is a time and a place for everything, even when it comes down to dressing and what you choose to wear.