Wanting these name brands was a part of growing up: I remember hollering in the 8th grade until I got a pair of Guess jeans and a Guess sweatshirt. The jeans were too big and didn't fit well, but I refused to take them back. I also recall having to have Bongo and Jordache too. The difference was that my mother and grandmother are not trendy people, so not only did they impress upon me the rationale for NOT wanting to wear these expensive billboards, but I quickly grew out of it because my family didn't encourage it.
Now, I am much more into getting what I like--my favorite stores are BCBG and Georgiou (on sale and outlet) and I am an Internet and catalogue shopper. I love classic, quality materials and goods, with a trendy (non-logo'd) top every now and then I KNOW I won't wear but two or three times. On the other hand, I have stock options, a 401(K), own my own home and car and yet still must look for ways to better manage my $.
I have noticed, though, that many people of African descent here in the US are into what we call "conspicuous consumption" and we teach this philosophy to our children. We let the future take care of itself (some of us think we won't be around by old-age anyway so...). What it is in part is a residual response to being denied things in the past because of poverty and discrimination. Because I look younger than I am, I also sometimes fight the urge to whip out my gold card and buy expensive item to show people that I CAN, not because I need, or even really want it. It is an insidious legacy that we must overcome if we are to truly "overcome".
The first step: realizing the fact that you are doing it in the first place and that it's WRONG to have a $1000 a month car payment but you don't yet own your own home.
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Finer Womanhood: the "Cat's Meow" Since 1920
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