posted September 13, 2007
) Dr. Jean Howard-Hill |
"So far I've talked to 512 students and told them, 'You need to pull up your pants and quit showing your underwear,'" Dr. Howard-Hill said.
She is also organizing a Chattanooga African American Males Dress For Success Day that is now set for Oct. 8 at the University Center’s Tennessee Room. African-American male students who come to the luncheon dressed in dress shirts, dress pants and ties will receive a free meal.
Dr. Howard-Hill said students without dress shirts, dress pants and ties can get them donated, and she said 100 Black Men, the Urban League and local business leaders are paying for the lunch.
Dr. Howard-Hill said the students almost universally are heeding her message. "They tell me, 'Yes m'am.'"
But some of her faculty colleagues have been critical in e-mails. Dr. Howard-Hill said, "I've gotten some hateful mail. I'm just not understanding that. It's very discouraging."
She said she believes young African-American men who do not dress sharply have little chance of getting hired for a good job.
Dr. Howard-Hill said, "I'm tired of seeing our young men going off to prison." She said more young black males are in prison than attending college.
She said the trend of wearing pants slung low started "grew out of the prison system" and has been copied by many youths.
She said having a good appearance "is a matter of employability." She said landing a good job is one step away from going to jail.
Dr. Howard-Hill said in a letter urging support for her campaign:
"Thank you for agreeing to be a member of the Don’t You Hear Me Crying Campaign Consortium. Indeed it is a labor of love and concern to address some of the challenges facing young Americans. This is why your decision to be a participant is so welcomed and appreciated.
"I have enclosed information on the Don’t You Hear Me Crying Campaign. We are presently engaged in the African American Males Dress For Success Day, and we need your help in this campaign that is crucial to the success and welfare of our youth. As you know many cities are debating the enactment of laws to require young men to pull up their pants. Our neighboring city of Atlanta is one of those cities. This is not just an issue that impacts other cities and communities, but it also is one that affects us. Rather than go the route of enacting laws, we have begun a campaign to address this issue, among the many other issues facing our youth of all races. But first, we need your help in addressing this issue.
"For those who do care, together I invite you to join me in this effort to reach our young men. On Oct. 8, 2007 is an opportunity to participate in a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga African American Males Dress For Success Day to change the image of the African American males in higher education. You can help by donating ties, dress shirts, dress pants, cologne, socks and shoes. You may also donate towards buying those who are dressed properly and with their pants up, a $10 lunch. We are in the process of raising $4500 to provide lunch to at least 450 young men. Should we receive more, we will be able to accommodate more.
"African American men, we need you to participate in encouraging our young men on the 8th. Those participating will be able to dine at the University Center’s Tennessee Room at UTC, from 11:00 to 1:00 with these African American young men in a white table cloth, china formal setting for lunch, and will have the opportunity to impact their lives through conversing with them during this time. You also can help by assisting in distributing this brochure to other African American men and encouraging their participation. Also, please take this leaflets and letters, and pass it on to a young person. On the last page is a space where you can join in with your support for this cause, by placing your name in the blank space.
"Additionally, we need participating restaurants to partner with us on that day. All you need do is identify your restaurant as an African American Males Dress For Success Day participant, make whatever donation you feel comfortable with through discounting of meals, and allow those who are donating to drop off their $10 or whatever amount to you. You need only to keep track of the donations, and from those donations, let us know the number of individuals which your restaurant can provide a meal for those young males properly dressed. These donations will go toward the next African American Males Dress For Success Day which will target Chattanooga State, and local high school students within the next two months. If you wish to be a participating restaurant, please let us know.
"Participants at whatever level may call Mrs. Dee Frazier or Ms. Dorothy Tate at 423-296-8928 or me at 544-9696 with your donation, or to participate or to receive handouts. Or you may e-mail us at pulluppants@gmail.com. Checks should be made out to: Don’t You Hear Me Crying Campaign.
"All of us are needed to change this generation; one person a day, one person a week, one person a month or one person a year. If we all do our share in loving and reaching youth, we could count the numbers in significant ways. It’s not a one person’s crusade, it is a village crusade. So come join me!"
Dr. Howard-Hill can be reached at
Jean-Howard-Hill@utc.edu
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