Morehouse Under Fire For Asking Black Men to Be Men
Morehouse College has come under fire for instituting a no dress and pumps code for its all-male student body.
It’s a shame that a no dress code should even have to be revised to call for black men to put away their skirts, pumps and purses — or to pull their saggy jeans up. But unfortunately, Hip Hop influences can be seen everywhere on campus.
And some of this new crop of Morehouse men come from single parent homes headed by domineering black women, resulting in more feminine black men who are confused about their identity now than ever before.
The dress code also bans wearing hats inside buildings, sunglasses indoors, do-rags, going barefoot on campus, and wearing feminine attire such as dresses, tunics, skirts, leggings, high heeled shoes and purses.
The new dress code is part of its “Appropriate Attire Policy” according to Dr. William Bynum, vice president for Morehouse Student Services.
“We are talking about five students who are living a gay lifestyle that is leading them to dress a way we do not expect in Morehouse men,” said Bynum.
Before instituting the policy, Bynum met with Morehouse Safe Space, the campus’ gay organization.
“We talked about it and then they took a vote,” he said. “Of the 27 people in the room, only three were against it.”
In an interview with the AJC, Senior Cameron Titus said he applauded the change.
“The policy is just saying that you have to show more respect in how you dress and there are things that are just not acceptable at Morehouse,” Titus said. “We have a legacy that we are trying to uphold.”
My 2c: I totally agree with Bynum and Titus. Morehouse College has a rich tradition of educating and training black men to be leaders. A man can’t lead other men wearing a dress.
This entry was posted on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 9:19 am and filed under Art and Culture, Controversy, Education/schools, Gay Pride, Local news, Miscellaneous . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed or Trackback from your own site. This site is Gravatar enabled. Sign up to upload your own avatar.
31 Responses to “Morehouse Under Fire For Asking Black Men to Be Men”
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Sandra, you better preach.
IT’S ABOUT TIME SOMEONE SPOKE UP AND STOOD THERE GROWN. THIS GAY MESS HAS GOTTEN OUTTA HAND AND IT’S SO TOLERATED IN SCHOOLS, CHURCH & ETC THAT IT’S SICK
LET’S BE REAL WHAT ABOUT CHICKS DRESSING LIKE DUDES, THAT AINT CUTE EITHER. IT CAN GO BOTH WAYS! NO WONDER OUR YOUTH IS SO LOST IN THIS LIFE THEY SEE FULL OF ENTERTAINMENT.
I agree..this is an institution of learning not a fashion show! It’s a disruption to the other students there, and they are making a very prestigious college look like a joke..and while we’re at it PLEASE do the same with Spellman..People tend to forget why they are in college..
Cross dressing and sagging are signs of mental illness.
it’s also leading to a lot of dissention and talks of violence there. you have to read the morehouse newspaper to see how much of an issue this is. a family member works there and says it’s off the chain with the purses and the pumps.
I agree with your 2c sandra I think their is nothing wrong with the dress code.They made rules for everyone to abide by and it wasn’t discriminating gone head Morehouse teach our men to be leaders.
Lord…..what is this world turning into?
What is that hot mess over there in the white hello MOREHOUSE got to tell dudes not to wear dresses people get ready the train is coming !!!! this f*&ery is a mess
i agree with the new policy also. i read on a forum that people were threating to withdraw from school… is it really that serious?
well i asked the question once on this very blog on why all of a sudden there are gay folks EVERYWHERE. i mean when we were coming up…come on there were NOT as many gay people. it just seemed like BAM! and i should insert a disclaimer right here: kwall loves everyone and embraces them no matter what their sexual orientation may be….BUT it just seems to me that now this has become the norm and i want to know WHEN did it become such?
let me find out that purses and pumps at morehouse is off the chain @5….now see?
*that pic of the hairdresser (dewayne?) at top is hee-lar-ious. he is a fashion disaster even being gay…smdh.
I applaud Moorehouse for taking a stand and implemeting a “standard” for these young men. It’s about time.
kwall, its either a fad, or people were ashamed/scared to come out of the closet before. seems like after ellen came out and announced she was gay they whole world decided “HEY, I THINK I AM TOO”
dont shoot me people, just stating my opinion.
I was talking about this over the wkend. Its as if society is trying to force the gay lifestyle on us. I have no problem with gay people but I do have a problem with it being forced down my throat.
There are more gay people on tv than there are black people. I’m happy they are cracking down on this. I
@ those men on Atl HW’s wearing women clothes and shoes.
I say its because the people behind the camera are gays and so they are giving it the green light. I wish they would just give them the right to marry so they can go away. The best way to shut someone up is to give them what they want.
@ your smart ass comment about single mothers… aren’t you gay? Are you also speaking about your mom?
I mean I don’t understand it. There is nothing wrong if you are homosexual, but why carry it so far where you feel like you have to act more like a women, then someone who is born a women? I agree that this policy should be enforced. Stiletto heels and skinny jeans is not what’s up.
Being gay or bisexual has become a trend. It’s sad that this trend is somewhat “cool” to some folks. I remember an episode on Tyra when some teens were saying they get more attention from dudes when they kiss girls
Anyway this trend is leading us to DAMNATION IN MY OPINION
I’m glad they are taking a stand. I’ve said numerous times I don’t have a problem with other people’s lifestyles but some people take it too far. If you are a gay man keyword is MAN. Act like one and the same thing with women. The saggy pants thing too. Save that for the knuckleheads on the street who aren’t going anywhere.
My gfriend goes to Derrick to get her hair did she has been a client for 7yrs
I don’t care about the gay lifestyle I say be Gay n PROUD vs on the DL! Not all gay men are flaming or all lesbuns thugged out.
Although I wld love to see more blacks on tv having gays on tv doesn’t bother me cause I know what its like to want to see ppl I can relate to on the small n big screen as far as color goes.
@kwallace…I agree….things are getting out of control..our children are confused. People (GAys) are trying to force the lifestyle on us…I have said this before..if your so ok with your lifestyle why does it matter how we feel…why do they need approval… why try to change the ways things have been since the birth of this country….. I am against gay marriage…..NUMBER ONE REASON CUZ MY FATHER SAYS NO…
derrick. that’s his name. (giggling).
whatever his name maybe he look a hot
mess above.
Morning All, Sandra you seem so conservative to be gay.
One more thing…..Being gay is an issue…but when you start dressing like the opposite sex..then that’s a whole nother set of issues… You can lead a gay lifestyle and still acknowledge the fact that your a man or a woman but like the other sex sexually but when you start dressing like a woman and you a man or vice versa then there’s something totally different.
Lmfao
Who the helll goes to morehouse with their 30% graduation rate and lack of any employers recruiting from there, only hoodrats and fags go to morehouse,
And unless u been to the ghetto to see morehouse and spelman u have no idea
They should withdraw!!!! Why the hell would you go to Morehouse with that tomfoolery? These folks are out of control. Gay is one thing, but dressing like a woman…..and to the point that the school has to give guidelines. Damn, if you going to Morehouse you obviously want to get a degree and work in the public sector. You can’t dress like that in the public sector. Only hairsylist can do that.
im mad derek j pulled that out…i feel like he shouldve covered his boobs though, whhyyyyy!
i even noticed sheree’s “hairdresser” (who does nothin but flat iron) rockin them pink TIGHTS..i threw my hands up like is this all ATL has to offer in men!
charles (#22) i agree! i was over there about a year ago and they had the thug boys walking around in WIFE BEATERS and saggin. i thought they were from the neighborhood but was told they were actual students. then they had the DL gays, the mohawk/punk rocker-style gays, the well-put-together-fem gays, and the outlandish gays. whooo chile!! too much for me. and yes the graduation rate is the worst in history. the prez is being lenient and trying to find ways to graduate them and get them the hell out of there, i guess.
somebody needed to say it. i’m glad you took the inititative to do so. i just had this on my facebook and posed the question? why are there so many men walking around w/clutch purses and high heels on. it’s sickening. my brother is gay, one of my best friends is gay and my homegirl is gay. and none of them dress up like the opposite sex. they just have a different sexual desire and that’s okay w/me.
Totally agree with it…
yeah, the man in a dress and stillettos(sp) is too much for me. i could never, and would never. that’s too much for me. though trey songz can get it, i have no desire to put on a dress just to give it to him. stop it, i say.
Auntie, Now we both agree on this! Sexuality doesn’t have a damn thing to do with crossdressing! Sad things is that the RHOA is the only black group in the franchise and they are the only ones with all these crossdressers. why is that, NY is full of Trannies, but the black group has to have all these men in heels and tight tops. SAD, personally I love everyone but see no need to be dressed like that, and honestly none of them seem to ever have nice physiques to be dressed like that except Bscoty who is gorgeous! LOL! Morehouse is an institiution of higher learning and higher standards and some things are just inappropriate!
Morehouse is a private institution & can institute whatever dress code they want, we had a dress code @ my PWI, & the basics for the school rules was to create an environment that was condusive for learning. If u want to be a cross dresser do it off campus.
As for Morehouse, my brother went there then went on to Harvard for his Masters & then Duke for his PhD so @charles there is quality education available at Morehouse if you’re disciplined enough to seek it. He did however move off campus after his 1st year because of the pervasive gay culture on the campus, even though his scholarship paid for full room & board, so I’m glag Morhouse finally addressed the issue in one way.