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Turf Hats
"Imagine seeing a whole bunch of guys in one spot wearing the same hat – that image of one group symbolizes power."
By Ayesha Walker
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Youth Radio's Ayesha Walker has noticed a new trend in Richmond: Young people wearing baseball caps to represent their neighborhood. Ayesha isn't against people wearing turf hats, but she does think the trend increases tension among the city's young people, and says, "Instead of coming together as a whole to make the city a better place to live, youngsters separate themselves from other groups in Richmond..." (November 26 on KCBS)
Most people wear baseball caps to represent their favorite team, or to complete an outfit and match their clothes. But young people in my city, Richmond, have found a new reason to rock baseball caps.
In almost every part of my city, youth are putting on “turf hats,” baseball caps with the first letter of a street name, or turf, in large bold letters on the front.
I live on the South side of Richmond, and all the guys from my turf wear the Seattle Mariners hat with the big ‘S’ logo on the front. Imagine seeing a whole bunch of guys in one spot wearing the same hat – that image of one group symbolizes power.
Sadly, instead of coming together as a whole to make the city a better place to live, youngsters separate themselves from other groups in Richmond, causing animosity.
I'm not trying to paint the whole turf hat trend in a bad light. Turf hats aren't the cause of violence in Richmond, but they do help segregate my city.
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