As I understand it, FUBU sportswear is named “for us, by us,” because it’s owned and run by black entrepreneurs. Wearing that logo is thus a statement of “I am supporting black economic power,” or “I’m keeping the money in the neighborhood,” or something like that. With that in mind, it’s a little jarring to see a white person wearing a Fubu shirt. Does it seem that way to black people? Does the white guy in a Fubu shirt look silly? I realize that (a) there’s no single, clear answer, and (2) I may look really naive by asking.
on a related topic, is anyone offended by the term “wigger”? is it supposed to be a slur?
“Wigger” is slang bringing the words “white” and “nigger” together. And I personally find it disgusting.
If the white guy wears it because he thinks it looks good on him, so what?
If the white guy wears it because he wants to “support the brothers” or because he wants to “show solidarity,” he is probably being silly.
In either event, the money is going back to the owners of FUBU which is a good thing for them, however you view the clothing. (IOW, I doubt that the FUBU management is going to be offended by any paying customers. If they *would be * offended because the “wrong people” bought their clothes, then they wouldn’t deserve to stay in business.)
Yeah, but it’s not used the same way the “n” word is, Silver_Fire. (sorry. I AM from MA, after all) I’ve only heard it applied to upper class white youths who idolize ghetto life and imitate rappers, presumably to freak out thier parents or puff up thier masculinty. They of course keep a safe distance, and avoid any actual contact with their idols.
I don’t know if it’s technically a slur, but it’s definatly not complementary. I’d never use it, (I’m a white guy, BTW)but one of my friend’s roomates makes it tempting.
Not that I don’t think you can appriacate, learn from, and to an extent even adapt another culture. I’m a japan-o-phile, my brother’s idol is Stevie Ray Vaugn, and my mother is obsessed with Italy. But appriciating another culture is a bit more than borrowing a few obvious elements and declaring yourself a member of it.
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“They stole this music from black people. But black people were going to throw it away anyway.”
I know that it isn’t used the same way as the “n” word. It’s used just like I said. I still don’t like it at all. Just because I’m white, I wear less than form fitting clothing, and I listen to rap, I’m a wigger? No, I don’t think so. I’m a white person who wears less than form fitting clothing and listens to rap. No more, no less.
Please, folks. I did not intend to start another “racial slurs” thread. I’m talking about fashion/philosophical statements.
Yeah, I find it jarring when I see (apparently) white people in FUBU.
Then you shouldnt’ have asked if it was a slur, AskNott. 
Sorry. Couldn’t resist.
Sorry if that sounded patronising, Silver_Fire. Didn’t mean it that way at all. Don’t really agree with that kind of beliteling language in general. Was just trying to explain it to AskNott.
I find it much more stisfying to find subtle ways to put down indavidual people, rather than their whole group, which seems kind of lazy, to me.
Well, except maybe the french, but that’s proably a side effect of watching WAY to much Blackadder. And only in fun, of course.
Anyway, as for the shirts, I’m so out of it, I wouldn’t think anything of it, cause I wouldn’t know what it was until you just told me.
But then, I’m not big into “cultural identity” anyway. So I proably should just shut the heck up.
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“Giant Puppet Invasion!”
You also might want to remember while someone may * look white, * doesn’t mean they are. I saw Mariah Carey in a FUBU shirt, and no one was laughing. Or it could be someone who is white and just cares about supporting black businesses.
In the end, who cares?
I’m white… and I wear a pair of black FUBU sneakers! I never gave it any thought until I read this thread (Though I did know what FUBU means). I have FUBU sneakers because I live in S Korea, and have size 16 feet… all I could find that fit me were FUBUs.
Having said that, would I avoid FUBU brand clothing because they are made by black people and show support for black people? No… why should that matter?
Concerning the term “wigger”, it is not generally considered derogatory where I live. It’s more of a joke, just like the “wiggers” themselves. And it does not refer to someone who merely listens to rap music and wears less-than-form-fitting clothing; rather usually a European-American, upper-class suburbanite who wouldn’t last a second in the inner-city, yet affects a stereotypical African-American rapper manner of speech (AKA Ebonics), does that gangsta walk thing, copies the fashion, etc., like he sees in the rap videos. He romanticizes the ghetto life. Judging by my observations, at least.
Are you sure that’s what FUBU means? I’m only asking because my daughter told me that JNCO meant “Jeans Niggers Can’t Own”. I told her that was pure junk, an urban gossip rumor. She used to wear a FUBU jacket a couple of years back and caught a little shit about it now and then. Back then she was “into” baggy pants and logos as were a lot of young teens at her school. Now she dresses more like a girl. Besides her manner of dress at the time was not called “wigger” it was considered “grundge”. The baggy pants were accompanied by Nine Inch Nails tee-shirts and Vans. Anyway, I’m wondering how all this stuff gets started.
As for the “wigger” thing that’s a crock of shit too. Black boys did not start the trend of wearing baggy pants. White boys used to wear their Levis down around their hips back in the 70’s then it went out of style for awhile. They all looked like they had no ass back then. Young people will always follow trends and dress similar. It doesn’t matter who starts the trend. Terms like this are inspired by predjudice.
Needs2know
I could certainly understand how the term Wigger would be offensive to black people because what it implies is that if “wigger” is appropriate for white kids who dress like this then “nigger” is appropriate for black kids. I think the comic value of the term is overshadowed by the fact that it can be a pretty upsetting word for blacks.
On another thought though…are there any really offensive terms for whites? Almost all minorities have a “hot button” term but nothing I’ve ever heard stings white people quite like some of the racist terms for minorities.
Any input?
Mariah Carey has black ancestry. I think her father was black. Not that it matters, just wanted to add some info.
Survey-style questions such as this are best asked and better answered in the forum In My Humble Opinion. I’ll move the thread there.
You know those t-shirts with picture of jazz musicians on them?
I always feel a little bit weird when I see a white guy wearing a Miles Davis shirt. Not that I don’t appreciate Miles’ music, and think the wearer probably does, too, but because I know how Miles felt about white folks in general. And that if Miles was around he’d probably rip the shirt off the guy’s back with his teeth.
I, personally, only own t-shirts of Charlie Parker and Eric Dolphy (who were integrationists), and Zoot Sims and Jack Teagarden (who were white).
Well let’s see: saying white people shouldn’t wear FUBU is rather racist, is it not?
After all, that’s like saying black people shouldn’t wear Armani, or Levis, or what have you…
And you think a white person shouldn’t wear a Miles Davis shirt because HE didn’t feel right about white people?
Fuck that shit. Fuck all OVER that shit.
Yes, I’m white.
(In fact, I’m Irish/German/Polish/Slovak/Hungarian)
And I’m obsessed with all things Russian.
The first person I ever saw wearing FUBU gear was an Indian kid that was whiter than I am. I don’t mean skin color, I mean attitude. He was raised in a prosperous suburb and defines what you picture when you think of a stereotypical sheltered kid who’s parents have some cash.
To recap… Indian kid, suburbanite, discovers “Black” culture, winds up wearing FUBU because he thinks it’s cool. Pretty weird. And pretty silly looking too, if you ask me. In any case, the manufacturers of FUBU probably enjoy the fact people are buying their clothing, whoever they are.
I would also like to point out, that it’s more of an urban thing, than a black thing. What ever happens to be the style in the city is going to be worn by everyone, blacks, whites, Latinos, whoever.
And yes, “wigger” is derogatory, and yes it does apply to white kids trying to be black for no apparent reason. My favorite derogatory terms for white people are “honkey,” “cracker,” (cause we’re white like a Saltine) and my most favorite of all is “white bread.” I got that one when my friend and I were walking through a predominantly black neighborhood. I don’t think they sting as much as slurs for other races do, though. But what do I know.
-Murph
I saw the Arliss episode last night where a white asshole type of character was wearing a FUBU shirt. I took it to imply that the guy was too stupid to know what FUBU meant.
Then again it could have been the only thing that was clean. The point is that sometimes there is no point. Does everything have to posess some deeper hidden meaning?