Say you’re young, black and male. You have the smarts to get into the prestigious, excellent HBCU known as Morehouse College. It’s the alma mater of Martin Luther King Jr., among others. It has a storied history and cherished traditions.

So you get admitted and stroll on to the campus dressed like ... L’il Wayne or Miss Jay from “America’s Next Top Model?" Who thought THAT was a good idea?

Apparently enough young black men at the male-only college that it was necessary for the school’s president, Robert M. Franklin, to issue a revised dress code. Morehouse men can’t wear do-rags or pajamas outside of residence halls, sunglasses in class or jeans at some campus functions. Also verboten are dental grills, women’s attire and pants sagging down over the butt.

Why was it even necessary for Franklin to tell a Morehouse student that pants down over the butt is not permitted? Who goes to a prestigious college like Morehouse to look like a thug?

I’ve written it before, but it’s necessary to write it once more. Some things are like drive-through prostate exams: they should just never happen. And rocking the thug look should never happen on Morehouse’s - or, for that matter, on any other HBCUs' - campus.

Now, there have been some anal types ranting in cyberspace that since the new Morehouse dress code bans guys from dressing in women’s attire, it is essentially homophobic. But the homophobic duck won’t swim in this case. There are enough things banned on the list to prove that gays – or cross dressers who aren’t gay – weren’t  singled out.

Besides – and I’m sure supporters of gay rights already know this – not all gay men like, or even approve of, men dressing like women.

Franklin’s point is simply this: When you come to a college like Morehouse, be prepared for an environment that’s going to prepare you for a world where you will attempt to make your mark by displaying excellence. And in that world, there may be certain rules. Some of those rules might include a dress code. It’s best you get used to the discipline of a dress code at Morehouse, and not have it sprung on you once you get in the work force.

Some of the Internet ranters have taken black conservatives to task for supporting Franklin’s position, and I’m not surprised. When all else fails, blame a white Republican or a black conservative, even if the issue is one where people of different political parties and philosophies can agree. Pearl Cleage, one of my favorite writers ever, is hardly a babbling conservative. Here’s her take on the Morehouse dress code debate, taken from her Facebook page:

“Morehouse College has a new dress code that says no women’s clothing, sagging pants, pajamas in public, do-rags, inappropriate T-shirts. How about a uniform that everybody wears all the time? Cuts down on expenses, fosters community among the men and hopefully cuts down on seeing so many random behinds in those sagging jeans!”

Liberals and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats can agree about that sagging pants thing, can’t we? Sometimes it’s just necessary for the older generation to close ranks and tell the younger generation: “Stop it; you’re being stupid.”

And there are few things more stupid than those sagging pants some – thankfully, not all – young black men choose to wear. I’ve seen some even try to run from the police wearing sagging pants that hang down over the butt, hardly able to move, tripping over the pants that drop down to their knees in the process. They’re too daft to realize that they’d be much better off .....

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I could not agree with Morehouse President Franklin more. In my opinion this does not apply only to Morehouse men. It applies to all men. Pull those pants up and be a man. Don't expect anyone to treat you like a man until you start carrying yourself as one. The men of Morehouse are to be exactly that: MEN. In every sense of the word. I will never understand what kind of an idiot would want to wear women's clothing for in the first place, making fools of yourselves and an embarassent to your families. Be the man God created you to be. You were made in His image.

by   
25times
November 8, 2009, 5:26 pm
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I believe that sagging pants, dirty underclothes and long t-shirts that has been in fashion for 20 years, is not longer a fashion statement, it is not an mental condition..These hoodies, sagging pants, dirty underclothes makes these young men and ladies look like zombies no life, ambition in them at all...Unfortunately the proof is also in the pudding by the rate of drop outs, teen pregnancies, prison etc... Shane if the parents, because my child could never wear that style, not under my roof and my dollar..Hell no

by   
Broughtwaprice
November 6, 2009, 10:13 am
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Thank you Mr Kane for an excellent article, thanks to President Franklin for taking a stand that's long overdo. Where is the expectations for them that our parents had for us? As Black Americans we need not be so accepting to what society says is ok. Teach our young men and women to have pride and expectations in themselves, don't be afraid of success. As a parent of Morehouse students I welcome the changes. "There is an air of Expectancy at Morehouse" and it should never change. Besides the closest thing to God is a Morehouse "Man". Thanks again for the article.

by   
Tarevans
November 5, 2009, 11:50 pm
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let Joe Liberman and all know when we voted we meant it. Our elected officials are only hearing from the Palinites and the Tea Baggers. 706 Hart Office Building Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-4041 We are aiming for a December 2nd mass visit to his office

by   
Mlanauze
November 5, 2009, 7:59 pm
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I thank Mr Franklin did the right thing a dress code should be at all college. I thank that black man need to get there**** together and stop being a****.

by   
Rob2rj
November 5, 2009, 7:11 pm
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Common sense is not that common anymore.
It is stupid and disrespectful to walk around with your pants sagging and your underwear or the crack of your rear exposed. It is counterproductive to go on a job interview with bad breath, a doorag or pajamas. Morehouse is a very prestigious HBCU and has been for generations.The President is right to establish a dress code. Everybody is not raised the same way or with the same values. In a perfect world, the dress code would not be necessary because common sense and self respect would kick in....................................................

by   
BigBlackW
November 5, 2009, 3:50 pm
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I understand college is the time to explore self expression and creativity but there has to be a standard (that goes for cross dressing). 7Trump- Most of the time Jiggy can't tell the difference between his head from his arse so I fully expect that sort of post from him...

by   
Dopamine
November 5, 2009, 3:42 pm
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Dashley: Thanks for your gracious interpretation, but most of us possess reading comprehension and understand very well what the article articulated. There was a pesky white boy on here remarking about how it takes most Black men 6 yrs to graduate, when in fact it takes most students of all races more than 4 yrs. While you’re correcting yourself and interpreting for others, correct also the spelling in your second post. (Grandfather’s /Grandfathers) (graduta/graduate). Thank you.

by   
Sevennotrump
November 5, 2009, 3:12 pm
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What he is saying is your personally dress code should not be to have your pants or style to come out the house dressed like a CLOWN, but to dress like a MAN with your pants on your waist and not below your GROIN &**** and to show your PRIDE IN WHAT your GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER’S HAD CARRIED THEMSELVES IN PUBLIC & HOME. GROWUP AND Don’t CONFUSE THE ISSUE. IT WAS NOT ABOUT HOW MANY BLACK MEN ARE GRADUTA BUT ABOUT HOW YOUR DRESS HAS BEEN GOING DOWN FOR THE LAST GENARATION OR 2. WHAT IS SO CUTE ABOUT YOUR PANTS BELOW YOUR WAIST? CORRECTION FOR SPELLING IN PREVIOUS POST.

by   
Dashley317
November 5, 2009, 2:51 pm
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As with all people seeing thing differently they have with this artcle. What he is saying is your personly dress code should not be to have your pants or style to come out the house dressed like a CLOWN, but to dress like a MAN with your pants on your waist and not below your GROIN &**** and to show your PRIDE IN WHAT your GREAT BREAT RELATIVE CARRIED THEMSELVES. GROWN UP AND DON't CONFUSE THE ISSUE. IT WAS NOT ABOUT HOW MANY BLAK MEN ARE GRADUTE BUT ABOUT HOW YOUR DRESS HAS WHEN DOWN.

by   
Dashley317
November 5, 2009, 2:42 pm
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STAND FOR SOMETHING OR FALL FOR ANYTHING! IT IS A TRUE SAYING BECAUSE WE AS A PEOPLE ACCEPT ANYTHING AND MAKE EXCUSES! THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER GOTTEN OUT OF HAND IN THE FIRST PLACE! I totally agree if you want to be a monkey (white people still think we r) then go to the jungle and let those that want something and 2 b something continue on! ONE MONKEY DONT STOP NO SHOW! But we let him/her do it time and time again!

by   
Mspattymelt
November 5, 2009, 2:26 pm
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Why are you in college if you want to be a thug?
It is disrepectful and stupid to be walking around a college campus looking like Lil'wayne - who do you expect to hire you IF you graduate?
As for guys dressing like girls, I am not about bashing but if it were my son, I'd put my foot where the sun don't shine...

by   
Greenp628
November 5, 2009, 2:22 pm
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I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME SOMEONE CARED ENOUGH TO SAY BE A REFLECTION OF YOUR SCHOOL AND GOOD ROLE MODELS FOR THOSE WHO WILL COME AFTER YOU.

by   
JAZZEPOET
November 5, 2009, 2:06 pm
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OH MY GOSH! Finally, someone speaking on what some of us wish could be said in ALL HBCU's, all colleges, all high schools, all jr.high, all ellem. and any other school system. More power MOREHOUSE more power.

by   
Lorettam5
November 5, 2009, 1:58 pm
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I forgot to point out; ONLY exceptional students take a full-load during summer. Some don’t even attend in summer, but you’d HAVE TO, to complete the required credits in 4 yrs. Twiggy’s dumb, pasty-white-azz didn’t even complete middle school because they expelled him after he turned 19 in the eighth grade & was still trying to flirt with 14 yr old girls –AND boys. Yet he’s worried about how long it takes a Black person to get a BA. He ought to be worried about getting himself a GED!

by   
Sevennotrump
November 5, 2009, 1:19 pm
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Most students don’t graduate in four years -if at all- because most students do not come from homes where Daddy buys them a new corvette, pays the 75,000.00 tuition, & brings them into the firm immediately upon graduation. Most students have to be concerned about not only day-to-day living, but also paying for tuition. Few students get a full-ride scholarship and NO student aid of which I’m aware pays for school completely.

by   
Sevennotrump
November 5, 2009, 1:04 pm
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Dopamine, there is no focus on Black graduates other than the norm in Amerikkka, "when America catches a cold, Black America….”
I went to two different predominantly white Universities, they had a 56 and a 61% graduation rate –period & that was high for the late ‘80s-early 90s.

by   
Sevennotrump
November 5, 2009, 1:02 pm
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Way to go Chancellor. It's a cryin shame that we have to tell grown a*# men how to dress at a prestegious univ. The Morehouse men have always had a reputation of raising the standard and having a dignified dress code. Keep it up Chancellor.

by   
MrsTeacher
November 5, 2009, 12:37 pm
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Moorhouse's very own student paper:

http://www.themaroontiger.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=311%3Ahbcu-graduation-rates-low-morehouse-has-third-highest&Itemid=8

by   
Jiggy5
November 5, 2009, 11:40 am
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Shiggy- Care to site your source on those numba brah..?

by   
Dopamine
November 5, 2009, 11:36 am
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The revised dress code is appropriate. Morehouse is a prestigious college and should maintain a standard. "Have you eva had shoes with out shoe strings"- Kanye West

by   
Dopamine
November 5, 2009, 11:33 am
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This has nothing to do with being a Morehouse man. It's preparation for real life. Most young black males don't know how to dress for real life. If they don't learn now, when? If you checked out Dr. Ian's show about young black college students, most were improperly dressed for a professional interview.

by   
Raywil3
November 5, 2009, 11:05 am
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Jiggy in da house. Pull up a chair peeps and Holla at the Scholar.

by   
Jiggy5
November 5, 2009, 9:25 am
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A graduation rate is defined as “the percentage of students in a cohort who graduate within 150% of normal time to graduate.” This definition unfortunately points out that while the percentage of Black males earning a degree in six years is 29 percent, the percentage of Black males earning a degree in four years is even lower.

Jiggy shakes head and walks away.......sighhhh

by   
Jiggy5
November 5, 2009, 8:10 am
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