Monday, August 13, 2012

*Some people might not want to see your underwear. I’m one of them."*

Barack Obama , speaking just prior to the 2008 US Presidential Election appeared on MTV and stated that laws banning the practice of wearing low-slung pants that expose one's underwear were "a waste of time". However, he did follow thatup with the statement: "Having said that, brothers should pull up their pants. You are walking by your mother, your grandmother, your underwear is showing. What's wrong with that? Come on. Some people might not want to see your underwear. I’m one ofthem."

Sagging is a manner of wearing trousers ( slacks , shorts , pants or jeans ) below the waist, revealing much of the underwear. Sagging is predominantly a male fashion. Women's wearing of low-rise jeans to reveal their G-string underwear (the " whale tail ") is not generally considered sagging.
An individual that participates in the practice of sagging may be referred to as a sagger .

Origin
According to Greg Mathis , sagging was adopted from the United States prison system where belts are prohibited. Belts are sometimes prohibited to keep prisoners from using them as weapons or in committing suicide by hanging themselves. The style was later popularized by hip-hop artists in the 1990s. It has since become a symbol of freedom and cultural awareness among many youths or a symbol of their rejection of the values of mainstream society.
Mathis also states that sagging has sexual connotations in prison("Those who pulled their pants down the lowest and showed their behind a little more raw, thatwas an invitation"). Accordingto Snopes.com , however, this is merely an urban legend .mcn

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