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To Sag or Not to Sag?
"I unbuckled my loosely tied belt, grabbed the east & west sides of my waistline, and yanked my jeans up to my belly button."
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By Brandon McFarland
Baggy, saggy pants have defined fashion for an entire generation of young men, and horrified many of their parents and teachers. Youth Radio’s Brandon McFarland was a life-long sagger – until recently. He had a revelation and realized his grandmother was right: you can maintain your cool without wearing your pants at your knees.
I started wearing my pants far below the waistline back in 8th grade, and I thought I’d definitely be a sagger forever. It always drove my mom crazy.
MOM (on tape)
You tried to sag some slacks once. For a church function. They were slacks! It’s like “you got some suit pants on!” You can’t sag suit pants. But yeah you tried...
BRANDON
C’mon Mom, you tried some ridiculous looks too. I know when my mom and dad were young, they wore things their parents didn’t approve of. Check out what my dad wore to the club back in the day.
DAD (on tape)
Some bell bottoms, silk shirt, big collar, and a scarf around my neck.
BRANDON
Did you have a fro back in the day?
DAD
Yes.
BRANDON
Just for the record, my dad has no more hair. I don’t want to wait till I go bald to look like an adult. Plus, a man needs to be able to walk. I had what alcoholics call a “moment of clarity” rushing through the Chicago Airport to catch a flight. “That’s it!” I said. I unbuckled my loosely tied belt, grabbed the east & west sides of my waistline, and yanked my jeans up to my belly button. I was a new man—born again. And now that I’ve seen the light, I’m on a crusade to get other guys to stop sagging, too. I ambushed my friend, Dru Harshaw, at work recently. He says he started sagging to revolt against his grandfather.
DRU (on tape)
And he was “Youngster, pull up your pants!” and he saying, “Oh I got a belt for you!” and I was like “Oh, okay. I see.” So I pulled up my pants, but when I hit the door, I, you know, got a little comfortable and carried on with my Saturday night.
BRANDON
And you know when your waistband is at your ankles, you’re dangerously close to sagging too low. It’s what I call “Code Red.”
DRU (on tape)
You get that breeze. That breeze? That killer breeze? Yeah, that area.
BRANDON
It’s when your shirt is not long enough to...
DRU (on tape)
To cover the PC.
BRANDON
Not the plumbers crack! I challenged Dru to try it my way— and pull those pants up.
BRANDON
He has a different strut now. And he has a smile on his face now. He’s kind of enlightened.
DRU (on tape)
feels like the jeans fit me now. It feels like I’m a model.
BRANDON
Victory! Success! I feel like a missionary! But Dru was easy compared to our other co-worker, Elmer Clark, who’s been sagging since 7th grade.
ELMER (on tape)
I’m not reforming, I’m not trying it, it’s not happening in the near future. When I get like 60 maybe. As much love as I got for Brandon—I ain’t gon’ be able to do it.
BRANDON
I respect Elmer’s dedication. But sagging is often associated with the streets, and I wonder, if he goes into a job interview with that look, how’s “the man” going to receive him? My partner Gerald Ward II pulled up his pants before his last business meeting.
GERALD (on tape)
I just thought they’d look at me as, “Ohh that sagging little boy speaks well.”
BRANDON
It’s all about looking “presentable”...
GERALD (on tape)
It’s like code switching when you speak. I speak Oaklandese when I’m speaking to other folks that are from the town, and when I’m not I might switch into a more universal language or lexicon. Same thing with my pants. I might sag in certain areas and in the other areas I’ll pull them up so I can infiltrate the system.
BRANDON
That’s my man Gerald, dropping that knowledge. But I gotta be honest. For me, it’s all about comfort baby. That’s why I don’t bother going back and forth. My convert, Dru Harshaw, isn’t so sure…
BRANDON
Well, would you consider, you know, permanently keeping those britches up there, son?
DRU (on tape)
That’s a deep question, brother. That’s a life outlook. I’d have to say that I change on a day to day basis. So my perspective may alter tomorrow. But as for these 24 hours, I will attend your ways, and pull up my pants.
BRANDON
And if he’s anything like me, once he covers his butt, he’ll never give it up.
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