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Cultural Style Appreciation: Straight Outta Compton

CA_ Straight Outta Compton fcbk-2

i.e. 80’s West Coast African American Style Interpretation

You’re probably wondering why I’m creating a “cultural appreciation” post for the recently released movie, Straight Outta Compton, right?  Well that’s simple to answer.  American culture (no matter the race, creed, or area) needs to be better understood.  So now you’re probably wondering what a sustainable life + style blogger has to say on that matter.  I may not have much to say politically, but I’ll let the facts speak for themselves.  I will start with this quote.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness:
only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

As an “African-American” (that’s what the government papers call me), I can say I haven’t had the “typical African-American” experience.  But who has?  I’m from Northwest Arkansas, and my friends from Southeast Arkansas have had totally different life experiences from me.  A white person in Alabama may not be able to relate to a white person from New York.  So on and so forth.

It is crazy to think that the same injustices happening to people with brown skin today were happening just the same in the years surrounding my birth nearly 30 years ago (late 1980s), which were the years that Eazy E, Dr. Dre and Ice Cube formed a group called NWA – Niggas With Attitude.  In the movie, Straight Outta Compton, those three men show how police brutality was an inspiration behind many of their rap lyrics.  They were considered “gangster rappers,” but the movie tells the story that they were rising up against what they felt was oppression of the minority by the people in power.  Not to give too much away, but in the movie there was one scene where a young Ice Cube was exposed to gang members threatening the life of a student on his school bus, and another scene where he was harassed by police while trying to simply cross the street to get home.  In both cases, he was a simple bystander.  I also respect the fact that the movie shows the truth of all sides of the story.  Eazy E started out as a drug dealer.  He knew that it would either land him in jail or in an early grave, and he had the mental strength and financial standing to step away from that lifestyle.

So, back to the “African American” lifestyle.  What is it, exactly?  My experience is totally different from Ice Cubes, Dr. Dre & Eazy E’s.  This should teach us to not generalize a person’s life experience based on race or stereotypes.  Stereotypes are not negative until they are used in place of actually getting to know someone.  This counts for police profiling, as well.  To think that my skin color could one day easily cause me to be killed by a police officer or a civilian who profiles people due to irrational fears is almost unfathomable, and not to mention it just sounds ABSURD!  But isn’t that the reality we are witnessing today, and the reality that generations before us have seen again and again?  Social media may have amplified our knowledge of wrongful police deaths, violent hate crimes and unfair punishment for the officers and civilians that kill innocent people, but this ain’t the first time.  I constantly pray that each time it will be the last, though.

 

Cultural Influence:

After a weekend of thrifting and watching Straight Outta Compton, I was inspired to share my interpretation of west cost style in the 1980s-90s.  A major theme I took from the costume design, which accurately reflected the real life style of the group, was the Black & White color scheme.  I’m not sure if this was popular to pronounce their non-affiliation with gangs, or if the neutral colors were just very popular – but crisp, clean black and white clothes were what I saw the most of.  Their looks were also sporty with several Raiders team gear.  As Ice Cube said, when asked “what does a Compton kid do when he gets so much money from rapping?” – he buys more raider gear and curl activator.  Can’t forget those Jheri Curls!

Style: Straight Outta Compton

A 21st Century Woman’s take on Non-Gang Affiliated West Coast African American Men’s Style in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

(You see how specific I had to get?  That should serve as a reminder that there is no way you can generalize or oversimplify the American experience.)

photography by Stephanie Drenka

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Thrifted Banana Republic skirt

Thrifted Simply Vera Wang heels

simple black t-shirt with sleeves cut off

Target chain necklace & bracelet

The Beanie Bar beanie (support small business!)

 

They say we’re all straight outta somewhere… I stay Straight Outta Thrift Shops!
Old World New - Straight Outta Compton - Straight Outta Thrift ShopsUntitled design-4CA_ Straight Outta Comptonxoxo, dolls & dudes

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  8. First, let me say thank you for channeling the 80s with your awesome finds! I am loving this entire outfit. I loved this movie and it’s crazy that you get to really see the perspectives of their lives as they were happening. My fiancé and I were like oh so this is why Ice Cube was pissed back then. Oh this is when these riots broke out and so forth and the real beginnings of “gangsta” rap. Really educated us on the struggles behind the lyrics.

    I’m from the east coast (tristate area – born in NYC then grew up in CT) so we know more about New York (i.e. Biggie since I was born in the 90s) and my mom growing up with the early rappers (she used to hear Dougie Fresh beatbox in the park and went to the same high school as LL Cool J lol). So fun to get to relive this experience an appreciating the culture! Thanks for sharing 🙂

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  14. Wow, this was a great read!
    Love your quote, ” This should teach us to not generalize a person’s life experience based on race or stereotypes. – oh so true.
    And of course it goes without mentioning that you look absolutely fabulous!
    xo
    Carrie
    CS Gems

    Reply

  16. Well you betta drop some knowledge on this blog girl! Love everything about this post and that movie was one of the best I have seen in a long time. It’s still just bamboozles me to see police brutality wrecking our communities and bodies in 2015 and the movie is (sadly) more relevant than ever.

    And I love the specific caption and calling out cultural appreciation for this distinct time and style.

    So much love girl!

    I’ve been wondering how I can seamlessly work in social justice topics and conversations into my blog (since it’s 100% fashion) and you did it oh-so-well.

    Looking fabulous as always.

    xx
    Kaylah

    Reply

  19. I love EVERYTHING about this post! I love how you integrated everything so seamlessly. It took me a moment to realize after reading that this wasnt just a fashion post. Seriously a great job on great content and lovely style.

    Reply