“What would America be like if we loved black people as much as we loved black culture?” -Amandla Stenberg

Black culture has a very big influence on street fashion, yet many non-people of color flaunt the style without being aware of its background. 

Streetwear was created around the time hip hop and rap culture began its rise across the United States in New York City around the 1980’s. During this time, street gangs were booming in urban areas as well. People of color who created street fashion had endured systemic oppression from when crack was introduced to their communities, resulting in mass incarceration among blacks and Latinos.

Throughout the years, the media painted black people who wore anything streetwear like— oversized fits, many jewelry including hoop earrings, long nails, bucket hats etc., as “ghetto” and labeled them as “threats”. This wouldn’t be the last time African Americans were regarded under these terms. When it comes to topics surrounding slang, hairstyles and music, the majority of people today fail to understand the impact black people have had on these things.

Jalaiah Harmon, the inventor of the popular Renegade dance, wasn’t acknowledged by another Tik Tok star, Charlie D’amelio, who has a wider audience. Huge brands like H&M and Gucci don’t represent black people yet gain interest because of them.

The idea of giving credit is just as significant as the audience, and it’s time to shine a light by addressing how popular and even small fashion companies tend to make racist statements within their fashion clothing.

But really, clothing will be the least of our worries until we realize how much time we spend scrolling through social media trying to find an aesthetic to mimic as black people continue to face consumer racial profiling, which is something that isn’t necessarily touched upon as a subject over clothing and color.

Fashion is farther than the cloth: it’s a statement whether you are trying to make one or not. I may not be the fashion police or a “fashionista”, but I am someone who questions how our society profits off of African American heritage. Bringing awareness to how streetwear has been moved by African American culture could help to defy the negative stigmas surrounding people of color wearing them, and promote inclusion.