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Tuskegee University’s Dress Code: Professionalism or Going Too Far? · J&B Live Podcast

0:00
not weigh in on this particular topic
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because, you know, this is something
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that we want to share with you guys how
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we're feeling about Tuskegee uh
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university dress code and is this, you
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know, consider this professionalism or
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some people don't even consider it
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professionalism, but is it going too
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far? So, that's what we're uh talking
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about tonight. So, guys, come on in.
0:24
We've got beautiful. We've got Halo. And
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we're talking about uh Tuskegee um new
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dress code. Yes. And you know, it
0:34
sparked nationwide controversy. People
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have been talking about it left and
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right. Left and right. Some people are
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for it. Of course, some people are
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against it. And the university uh is for
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those of you who may not be aware of
0:48
what's going on at um Tuskegee, their
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new dress code. They're prohibiting the
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bonnet that some of ladies wear, not
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just college students. I think a lot of
0:59
ladies wear. Uh the do-aggs that the
1:02
guys wear. Some women wear do-aggs as
1:04
well. You know, depends. Pajamas,
1:08
bedroom slippers, revealing clothing.
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You know, a lot of us now are showing
1:13
the the boobs, the behind, the you know
1:18
what, what's it called? Broker J3.
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goose knuckle or whatever it is
1:23
>> the what
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>> the that you know women are showing
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their body parts so they're preventing
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that revealing clothing as well and
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they're encouraging students to have a
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business you know a business attire for
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interviews and official university
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events and some supporters said the
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policy does prepare students for the
1:45
workplace and that's what we want to do
1:47
and reinforces professionalism
1:50
And the critics are saying um you're
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limiting limiting the students
1:54
professional freedom and
1:57
self-expression. That's what a lot of
1:59
the people are saying, the naysayer, the
2:01
ones that are are really against it. So
2:03
guys, welcome, welcome, welcome to
2:06
another episode of the J&B live podcast.
2:09
I am your girl Dr. B. So thank you guys
2:12
for joining us.
2:14
>> Yeah, and welcome everybody. I am Broker
2:16
J3. So you guys let's go ahead and talk
2:19
about it.
2:20
>> Okay. So we're discussing that topic and
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it like I said it has sparked a lot of
2:25
conversation about you know across the
2:27
country uh particularly among
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Africanameans and you know I mentioned
2:32
earlier Tuskegee announced
2:35
their new dress code and what they're
2:37
expecting as far as the students attire
2:40
and their professional conduct. You know
2:43
no bedroom slippers, no pajamas. You
2:46
know, right now, guys, people go to the
2:48
grocery store. I see them in Walmart, I
2:51
kid you not, in pajamas. Not just
2:53
college students, but you see everybody
2:55
with that type of clothing on. So,
2:57
they're expecting students to have a
2:59
business attire. You know, we want them
3:02
they want them to dress professionally
3:04
as well. And they want them to have
3:07
dress shoes for interviews for, you
3:09
know, if there's presentations on
3:10
campus, career fairs, and other
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professional events. So, you know, the
3:16
university is what's what they're doing
3:18
is they're emphasizing classroom
3:20
expectations.
3:22
They they nailing and they dumb it down
3:24
on attendance, professionalism, and
3:27
limiting distractions such as cell phone
3:30
uses. I know in the area where I live,
3:32
even in the K through 12, they students
3:36
can no longer bring their cell phones to
3:38
school. So there a lot of uh education
3:41
secondary and post-secary uh buckling
3:44
down on the cell phone usage.
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>> Yeah. And as expected guys, you know,
3:49
social media, you know, immediately
3:51
focused on the bonnetss and the do-aggs,
3:53
but when you actually read the
3:55
guidelines, I mean the guidance, you
3:57
know, you you realize it's much broader
3:59
than that. It's about creating an
4:02
environment that reflects
4:03
professionalism and preparing the
4:06
students for the opportunities beyond
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graduation. So, you guys ever heard that
4:11
term dress for success? You know, and
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that's exactly what they're trying to
4:16
get the kids to do because, you know, if
4:18
you get in a habit of of of dressing
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with the bonnets, the do-aggs, then when
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you get out there in the real world, you
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you're wondering, okay, well, why they
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not treating me serious?
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>> Yeah. And I'm gonna catch you. I kid you
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not, guys. You know, I am an advocate. I
4:34
do not like bonnets. I know when I
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taught postsecary, it used to drive me
4:39
crazy when students come to classroom
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like they just jumped out of bed and
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came straight to the classroom. You know
4:48
that that I have a problem with that.
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So, some people are and I'm one of them.
4:53
you know, you know, I may have someone
4:56
that somebody out there that's saying
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no, no, they shouldn't or or or you
5:01
know, maybe trolling or whatever that
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say that this fair, but I support I
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applaud that decision and I think all
5:09
H.B.CU
5:10
should follow suit because these are
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professional habits that we're trying to
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create um among the students. So others
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felt that the university crossed the
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line, you know, they saying they doing
5:22
too much by regulating what adults
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because they do consider some uh
5:27
students and uh college level to be
5:29
adults. And that difference of opinion
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has turned into one of the most talked
5:35
about higher education stories in the
5:38
country and that's where we are now.
5:40
>> Yeah. But you know guys, it's you know
5:42
it's more than just clothing. Okay.
5:45
>> Yeah, it is. One one thing that stood
5:47
out to me particular was how quickly
5:49
people formed their opinions without
5:51
even reading the entire policy. It's
5:54
almost like you just heard about do-aggs
5:57
and bonnets and you just went off
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without even reading the whole thing.
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Most of the conversation centered around
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bonnets and do-aggs. While very few
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people even discuss the expectations
6:08
regarding sleepwear, slippers, revealing
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clothing, or even the emphasis on
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professional appearance during official
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university activities.
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>> That is true. Uh, Broker J3, you know
6:20
how US is. I'm going to use that term,
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US is. That's I know that's not the
6:25
correct English, especially since we're
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talking about a university, but that's
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what happens. You know, the headlines is
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what people are listening to. They maybe
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listen to a couple of clips or whatever
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short videos and of course that really
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does tell the whole story. So, but when
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you take time to read the complete
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policy of that university, you'll see
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that Tuskegee is attempting to establish
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expectations that they believe reflect
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the institution's values and missions.
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And there's nothing wrong with that.
6:57
Absolutely nothing wrong with it.
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>> Yeah. You know, clothing has always
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communicated something. You know,
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whether we realize it or not. The way we
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present ourselves often influences how
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people initially perceive us. You know,
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again, if you was a young woman
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>> and and you're wearing a bathing suit,
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you know, in in an environment that a
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bathing suit is not required, you're
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going to draw attention, you know. So,
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basically, that's what it's saying.
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depending on what you wear, you know,
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people are going to perceive, you know,
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you in a certain light.
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>> Okay. All right, guys. So, go ahead and
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share with us how you feel about this
7:42
particular topic. Now, I'm sure Broker
7:44
J3 and I both agree that appearance is
7:47
not everything. We both know that. But
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guys, guess what? A first impression
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still exist. You remember that. People
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remember the first time that they met
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you. So you know you you have to make
8:00
sure that you're setting a good uh first
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impression.
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These first impression exist in business
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education.
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They exist in government and many
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professional careers and that's what
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we're preparing our students. The
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students I keep saying our because I
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taught in postsecary for so long.
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Universities have long prepared students
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academically and Tuskegee only thing
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they're saying is they also want to
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prepare students professionally. So
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academically and professionally.
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>> All right guys, so let me give give you
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guys a quick scenario to kind of give
8:36
you an insight of what we're referring
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to. You know, you have a Fortune 500
8:40
executive
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>> expectedly visits campus to recruit
8:44
interns. Now, this is something that
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happens all the time where you have big
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company um you know recruiters that
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visit those campuses that are looking
8:53
for some top recruits to bring into
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their country. Now, two students now
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they have identical grades. They're
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invited to meet with the executives.
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One, he arrives wearing pajamas, bedroom
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slippers after leaving his class. The
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other arrives dressed up neatly in a
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business casual clothing. Before either
9:13
of the students speaks, different
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impressions have already been formed.
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Now, you guys already know exactly what
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I'm talking about. Whether people agree
9:21
with the reality or not, it exists in so
9:23
many professional environments. Now,
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without even getting deep into it, you
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guys already know exactly which student
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uh had the opportunity to be able to be
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a part of that internship and which one
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probably was bypassed. Now, don't get me
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wrong, they both had identical grades.
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Um meaning that both was very smart but
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the appearance of the both of them set
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them apart.
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>> Yeah. Yeah. And and and that's what
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happened. And that can be a deal
9:53
breakaker. Of course, that can determine
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whether that person um in other words
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gets the job or not because of the way
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that he or she is dressed. Okay. So, let
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me go ahead and give these shout outs to
10:05
those of you who are joining us online.
10:07
We do appreciate you stopping by uh to
10:10
join us for a little while. Like I said,
10:12
we're not going to be on long. We just
10:13
wanted to bring you our opinion of this
10:16
new uh dress code by Tuskegee
10:20
University. So guys, we appreciate all
10:22
of your likes, your shares, your
10:25
follows, your any of your gifts. Go
10:27
ahead and give us a a heart and go ahead
10:29
and um drop your city and your state and
10:32
let us know where where you guys are
10:34
chiming in from. And also guys, let us
10:37
know how you feel about this particular
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uh dress code. Do you support it? Are
10:42
you against it? Are you more uh with the
10:44
students having the academic freedom or
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the freedom to dress as they should? Or
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do you think that Tuskegee is doing
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something um that other universities
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should follow, you know, as far as
10:56
implementing this new dress code? So,
10:58
let us know. Okay. So let's talk about
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the freedom and the responsibility of
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this particular new dress code. Guys,
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>> you know, the strongest criticism that
11:08
that people are getting regarding this
11:10
policy is that the college students are
11:13
adults. And true enough, they are. If
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they're in college, more than likely,
11:17
majority of them, they are adults. So
11:19
many people believe that adults should
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be able to make their own decisions
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about their closing without interference
11:25
from the university.
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>> Yeah. Yeah. That's that is true. Now um
11:30
so how do you guys feel about that? Do
11:31
you think uh you support the university
11:34
or you supporting those who say that the
11:36
students should be able to decide
11:37
themselves? Okay so just think about it.
11:41
Um that is one perspective uh broker J3.
11:45
However, colleges also have expectations
11:49
that they these expectations this is
11:51
what they expect from the students
11:53
regarding academic honesty, classroom
11:56
conduct, attendance and behavior. And so
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the debate becomes whether appearance
12:02
should be included among those
12:04
expectations and I fully support it. I
12:07
think it should.
12:08
>> Yeah. And you know what doby what what
12:11
people are failing to realize is you
12:14
know at one point
12:17
you know most schools in general whether
12:20
it was primary secondary or um you know
12:24
uh graduate uh school had a dress code
12:28
you know and I think over the years um
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it's kind of got a little laxed you know
12:33
people are more relaxed with how they
12:36
dress you know um and I I think that's
12:39
where the dress code came from because
12:42
they probably start realizing a lot of
12:44
kids are just waking up out the bed and
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coming straight to class.
12:48
>> They're they're not taking their
12:50
appearance um serious at all, you know.
12:52
And I think that's what the issue is
12:54
because think about this.
12:57
>> A lot of public schools went to the
12:58
uniform system because there was
13:01
differences in regards to kids that come
13:04
come to school. some of them that was a
13:06
little better off than others, you know,
13:08
had a lot of name brand clothes and then
13:10
they're talking about other kids that
13:11
did not. And then it got to the point
13:13
where some kids felt bad because they
13:15
didn't have these type of clothes or you
13:18
had kids coming to clothes, you know,
13:20
especially some women uh uh young ladies
13:23
coming to class, you know, uh wearing
13:25
some very provocative type clothing. So
13:28
they they decided to go to a uniform
13:30
system so that that killed all of that.
13:33
You don't have to worry about nobody
13:35
worried about the name brand clothes.
13:36
You don't have to worry about the
13:37
provocative clothes. Let's get everybody
13:39
uniform so we don't have that issue.
13:42
Now, employers often make decisions
13:45
within the first few minutes of meeting
13:47
somebody. So, when you go to an
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interview, they're already looking at
13:51
how you look in that interview and
13:53
they're imagining you being in their
13:55
workplace. Now sometimes those
13:57
impressions are based on communication,
14:00
your confidence, appearance before your
14:03
qualifications are even discussed. So
14:06
sometimes again you have to dress for
14:08
success and be prepared because a lot of
14:11
times they're going to make a decision
14:13
before you even open your mouth be
14:15
>> I'm ser before you look because people
14:18
judge people you know and and we talked
14:20
about the first imp uh impression. Now
14:23
what we're saying guys that this does
14:25
not make it fair uh because of the way
14:28
some people dress, some people have and
14:29
some people don't have. You know that
14:31
doesn't make it fair. But fairness and
14:33
reality are not always the same thing.
14:36
So, I can understand the institution
14:39
pushing for the new dress code because
14:42
they want students to face reality
14:45
because when they do graduate or if some
14:48
of them are going to seek jobs, maybe
14:50
internships while they're in college.
14:53
And so, they're just trying to prepare
14:55
them and let them know that that first
14:57
impression is very important. And then
15:00
they should be prepared, you know,
15:02
getting out of the bed, going straight
15:04
to class. Come on now. That doesn't make
15:06
any sense. You didn't have time to
15:08
change clothes. I'm not an advocate for
15:10
that. I believe students should take the
15:14
time, get ready to go to class and
15:16
present themselves
15:18
in a way that uh they will not be judged
15:22
for the way that they're dressed.
15:23
Because just think about it, guys. I
15:25
know some of you out there probably feel
15:27
some kind of way when you run into
15:29
people in their pajamas in the grocery
15:31
stores or you run into some young ladies
15:34
with the bonnets on in the grocery store
15:36
or the guys with the do-aggs on. Come on
15:38
now. I know some of you have some type
15:41
of feelings about that when you actually
15:44
see that.
15:46
>> All right, guys. So, you know,
15:48
developing professional habits while in
15:50
college may give some students an
15:52
advantage, you know, long before they
15:54
even receive their diplomas, you know,
15:57
and and again, you know, at one time,
16:00
guys, if if you guys take a few moments
16:02
to even do your research, you will be
16:05
amazed if you looked at how um you know,
16:09
uh young uh adults dressed back in the
16:13
1920s, 30s, and 40s,
16:16
>> it will blow your
16:17
Most of them was wearing suits or or
16:21
business casual clothes.
16:23
>> They were not wearing sports wear,
16:25
halter tops,
16:26
>> none of that,
16:27
>> none of those things. They actually look
16:29
like little business people based off of
16:32
how they was dressed. Most people uh uh
16:35
you would say their Sunday best or you
16:37
know their church clothes. That's
16:39
exactly how they dressed every day.
16:42
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And and even so,
16:44
Broker J3, I know when I was in high
16:46
school, I'm not going to tell y'all what
16:48
year that was. I'm let you guys figure
16:51
it out, but there were some guys that
16:53
wore suits every day. And and you know,
16:55
we used to always tease them about why
16:57
they were wore suits. And they would
17:00
say, it was two guys that say that they
17:02
were dressing for success. And they were
17:05
told by their parents to dress like
17:07
where you want to go. You know, you're
17:09
dressing for the future. And so that was
17:11
their motivation for wearing the suits
17:14
every day. You know, that's some people
17:16
and I think there are some guys, some
17:19
that do it in high school to this day.
17:21
So, you know, like I said, first
17:22
impressions are very important. So, let
17:24
me give you guys this scenario. Okay,
17:26
let's look at we got two graduating
17:29
seniors who apply for the same position.
17:32
Okay, they have their education, their
17:35
experience, and their qualifications are
17:37
nearly identical. Same qualifications.
17:40
One has consistently developed
17:43
professional habits throughout college
17:45
while the other one has never given much
17:47
thought to personal presentation. In
17:50
other words, they didn't really care how
17:52
they looked or anything, how they
17:53
presented themselves. So during the
17:55
interview process, one candidate
17:58
immediately projects professionalism
18:00
while the other
18:02
struggles to make the same. Guys, tell
18:04
me who do you think they're going to end
18:06
up hiring? small details become part of
18:09
a much larger evaluation. Of course,
18:12
they're going to hire the one that's
18:13
more professional.
18:16
>> Yeah. So then what that does is it gets
18:20
into respecting different perspectives
18:23
because you know uh and you have to
18:26
respect uh the fact that people will
18:28
have different perspectives based on
18:30
your appearance. It it is what it is and
18:33
and that clearly just isn't going to
18:35
change. You know, one thing I appreciate
18:37
is that this conversation has encouraged
18:40
people to think about the relationship
18:43
between personal expression
18:45
>> and professional expectations.
18:48
>> Yeah. And I'm glad it opened the door
18:50
for that because it's something that
18:53
definitely needs to be discussed.
18:59
All right, guys. So, go ahead and drop
19:01
that city and state and let us know
19:03
where you guys are chiming in from. and
19:05
we do appreciate you guys. So, um the
19:09
two ideas
19:11
um uh do not have to compete with one
19:14
another. Personal identity and
19:17
professionalism, professionalism can
19:19
exist, guys. Those two can exist
19:22
together when people understand that
19:24
different environments often require
19:26
different standards.
19:29
>> Exactly. be, you know, most of us
19:31
already adjust to how we dress depending
19:33
on where we're going. You know, let's be
19:35
real. When you're going to church, you
19:37
dress a certain way.
19:38
>> When you're going, you know, out to have
19:41
fun at a social event, you dress a
19:43
certain way.
19:44
>> You know, when when you going somewhere
19:45
super casual or a sporting event, you
19:48
dress a certain way. So we dress
19:50
differently for weddings,
19:52
>> funerals, churches,
19:54
>> athletic events, vacation, business
19:56
meeting and job interviews because each
20:00
setting it carries a different
20:02
expectation.
20:03
>> Yes, it does. Okay, guys. So prof, you
20:06
know, just think about it. The larger
20:07
lesson above all for me is is less about
20:11
banning certain clothing and more about
20:14
understanding when certain attire just
20:18
like broker J just three said you dress
20:20
differently for the occasion but when
20:23
certain attire is appropriate for
20:25
specific environments and you have to
20:27
treat that college is a specific
20:30
environment.
20:32
>> All right guys let me give you another
20:33
scenario. You know, you got one graduate
20:36
tells an employer that closing should
20:38
never influence the hire decision.
20:40
>> Another graduate understands that
20:42
appearance is only one part of
20:45
professionalism, but chooses to present
20:47
themsel in a manner that supports their
20:50
qualifications. Now, both may be equally
20:53
talented, yet one removes unnecessary
20:57
barriers before the interview even
20:59
begins. So basically one of them is is
21:02
letting you know hey um even though
21:05
there should that you know there should
21:07
be differences in in opinion and he
21:10
feels like that they should not you know
21:13
uh base people on that but at the same
21:16
time he still feels that I'm still going
21:18
to dress for the occasion regardless
21:21
even though I don't think they should
21:22
judge me on that but I'm still going to
21:24
dress appropriately anyway.
21:27
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
21:29
All right, guys. So, special thanks
21:31
again uh to tonight's top gfter uh to
21:37
those for your sending the hearts. We
21:39
appreciate you guys. To our new
21:41
subscribers, our loyal supporters, to
21:43
those who have been with us from day
21:45
one, we we do appreciate your support.
21:49
Okay, guys, and thank you for continuing
21:52
to help the J&B live podcast grow. Okay.
21:55
I think we're trying to get up to is it
21:58
13,000? Maybe 14,000. Broker J3, I can't
22:01
remember.
22:02
>> Yeah, we we're working our way there.
22:06
>> Okay.
22:06
>> All right, Doug B, why don't you uh give
22:08
us your final thoughts?
22:10
>> Okay, guys. So, this is how I feel about
22:13
this particular uh topic. I I've really
22:15
shared with you uh how I support uh to
22:19
the university and I really I really
22:22
hope all of the HBCU the other ones
22:25
follow suit and do the exact same thing
22:28
so that they're consistent and they can
22:30
start reinforcing um how
22:35
students should dress. Okay. So with
22:37
Tuskegee University policy, this
22:40
discussion goes beyond clothing. Um it
22:44
touches on preparation, responsibility,
22:47
professionalism,
22:48
personal freedom, and how colleges
22:52
equip students for life after they
22:55
graduate.
22:56
So these are healthy. We want to keep
22:59
that dialogue going because they
23:01
encourage us to examine our own options.
23:08
>> All right, guys. Um my final thought is
23:11
you know education has always involved
23:13
more than textbooks and examinations.
23:16
You know it includes character,
23:19
discipline, communication,
23:22
leadership and professional development.
23:25
You know people will continue to
23:27
disagree about this policy and it's
23:29
okay. You know that's perfectly
23:31
acceptable. You know what matters most
23:34
is those conversations remain respectful
23:38
and informed by the complete policy
23:41
rather just in social media headlines
23:44
that's running rampant right now. You
23:47
know, I want to thank you guys tonight
23:50
for spending part of your eating with
23:52
J&B Live podcast. As Doc B said, it
23:56
wasn't going to be a long one, but we
23:58
wanted to share this with some of you
24:00
guys that haven't been aware of what was
24:03
going on in Alabama.
24:06
>> Okay, guys. So, we do appreciate you
24:08
guys. Was staticky. Um, I think most of
24:12
you heard Bro's final comments. Um, like
24:15
you said, we do appreciate you guys and
24:18
um, just really, uh, thank you for
24:21
spending a little time with us because
24:23
we do appreciate you guys. Much love to
24:26
those of you who've been rocking with
24:27
us, those of you who are joining in
24:30
right now. We got Candid 0365,
24:33
Darren Phillips, and let's keep it real.
24:36
We do appreciate you guys. Thank you for
24:38
being a part of the JB family.
24:42
>> All right, everybody.
24:45
I am Broker J3.
24:47
>> Okay guys, and I'm Dr. B.
24:51
>> And remember guys, y'all know what our
24:52
motto is. Let's talk about it.
24:56
>> Okay guys,
24:57
>> have a great evening guys. Thank you so
24:58
much for joining us.
25:00
>> Okay guys, and until next time, we love
25:02
you. Thank you for joining us.