Is this a black thing?

I noticed at work that quite a few of the brothers seem to want me to see their stomachs. Not particularly me, perhaps, but the scenario goes like this: Me, standing around, waiting to go to lunch, or loafing around the break room. Black men, taking a hand and doing who knows what and sticking one of their hands under their shirts, perhaps to their chests and exposing stomach. (t-shirts, not tucked in dress shirts, et al) They don’t direct it at me like a crotch grab, so I don’t think they are trying to dis the white boy. The ones that do it are usually 30 or younger.
I am sure that it isn’t me that they want to see their stomachs, and I know that they aren’t showing off their 6 packs since they aren’t so ripped. I have seen it at some stores around town, as well. So, what’s the deal? Is this some kind of thing like the pants hanging down past their butts? Or is it just that some of the goofs hang around the same places that I do?
Or, ARE they trying to dis this white boy?

thanks,
hh

Is there a gun butt sticking out of the waistband? That’s what it usually is in LA…

Why are you looking anyways?

The only people I’ve ever seen do this are young white men (college aged). I’ve seen lots of people do it, but never asked why.

serious growth of chest hair can still be a bit of a novelty within this age range; sure, you get some at puberty, but sometimes it doesn’t really get going until sometime in the 20s.

And when it is a novelty, you play with it more.

Might be nothing at all to do with what you have observed, but it’s an idea.

I wonder if it’s related to the thing I see young Mexican guys doing around here - standing around with their shirts pulled up to expose their abdomens. Maybe it’s just a way to keep cool without taking the shirt all the way off? I see a lot of Mexican guys pulling the T-shirt up like this, or wearing a completely unbuttoned shirt with nothing underneath it, but rarely see a Mexican man going shirtless. It could be just a cultural way to stay cool while maintaining a certain amount of modesty (not exposing nipples).

I don’t think they’re dissing the white boy, I think it’s about keeping cool

I have seen a shitload of rappers and other hip-hop guys doing this in pictures, and I’d imagine that maybe they are trying to emulate that style.

I’ve seen athletic types do that as a way to show off their muscular chest.