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Black Americans in Harlem at this time were no longer forbidden from wearing more fashionable clothing. Being able to wear whatever clothing as they desired, blacks typically took this freedom of fashion as an opportunity to dress in extravagant clothing in order for people to look at them for the first time as fellow human beings. This was the beginning for many blacks to live their lives without being held back from society.
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By this time, Harlem became known for its clubs and dancers. Many African American women would show up to these dances such as the ones in Harlem and show off their curly hair. Tight and small curls were so popular that many ended up getting perms so that they did not have to spend as much time everyday curling their hair. These curls were seen as feminine and sparked a major difference in past hair styles.
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Black American women dressed more formally at this time to be taken more seriously and allowed to put forth war effort. White and black women were facing sexism in the work force and took this as an opportunity to show the desperate world around them that they can be as useful as men by working together. African American women typically wore a modest, knee length dress that hugs the waist. Short and curly hair was still a big trend.
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Women and men of all races came together to fight against segregation by often parading through streets with signs that read "We shall overcome". African American women asserted their independence by wearing business suits such as a a pencil skirt included with a fashionable hat. Black women also wore poodle skirts, the same as white women did at the time.
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As Motown, a record company grew to popularity, many people were shocked at their clothing choices. Bright colored dresses that could blind and puffy hair with an impossible amount of volume sparked the nation's fashion industry. Many lost the tight curled hair and classical dresses and followed the looks portrayed by Motown. Motown is significant to Black American history because it signed black men and women who were successful in the music industry, changing the way whites perceived blacks.
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Motown encouraged a lot of new trends and fashion statements. Many artists signed by Motown rocked afros at this time to symbolize the Black is Beautiful Movement. Once blacks earned the right to vote in 1965, many African men and women stopped straightening their hair and allowed it to be an afro, expressing their racial pride. Once blacks first began to show their afros off, many people were shocked and disgusted. Over time it began extremely popularandMotownhelpedencourageblackstorockanafro.
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Rap began around the 1970's but its popularity boomed by the mid 1980's. Many African American rappers such as Dapper Dan tried to gain attention from high-fashion labels but were turned down. By remixing brands such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci, Dapper Dan made custom-made clothing that expanded on their fashion ideas, reaching out to the rapper community and gaining popularity. Sunglasses, gold chains, and baggy jeans below the hips were soon owned by most of the male community, black or white.
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Rapper Dapper Dan still influenced the fashion world by creating additional looks that spoke more to the black community. Black Africans continued wearing gold chains but now were also wearing colorful windbreaker jackets and pants. Will Smith wore them on Fresh Prince of Bel air, inspiring viewers to keep up with the trend.
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Many African American women wore bright and flashy earings and dresses that were hard to miss. Slightly tinted pink sunglasses were a major item along with shutter shades, popularized by hip hop singer, Kanye West in his music video, "Stronger". Sweat bands and blonde highlights waved the nation.
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Founded in 2013, the Black Lives Matter Movement demands equal opportunities in life as all other races are given and campaigns against violence. Many parades show different fashion statements that symbolize equality such as jackets with spray painted words on the back that say meaningful quotes to get society's attention about racism present in our country. Many African Americans wear dark hoodies to represent Trayvon Martin's murder, symbolizing the injustice of black people in America.
