Written By: Geanna Gwinn
It’s the start of the fall semester for many college students. Back to school shopping is on a rise, as the beginning of the school year tends to be a time that students show their creatively constructed school outfits for the new year. Students at Clark Atlanta University, Historically Black University in the Atlanta University Center, might have expected the same routine as previous years, going shopping, and showing up and showing out their first week back to school. However, Clark Atlanta University Students, other HBCU students, and several spots on the internet express their thoughts on the recent change in Clark Atlanta’s school dress code. On social media platforms such as Tiktok and Instagram, incoming students have reported that they are required to wear uniforms throughout their first week of school.
One Clark student on Tiktok, @miraclethevoice, breaks down common misconceptions about the “Clark Atlanta Uniform” situation. She says that it is not a uniform, as it is not for the rest of the school year. Also, she believes with the incoming class of 2029 being the largest freshmen class in history at Clark Atlanta University, they wanted to do something new for the freshmen, she claims while they’re implementing this temporary freshman dress code for this year and every year after that. Also, the dress code is implemented for five days. Unrelated to the freshmen dresscode, she explains that there are some other dress code rules for all students such as no pajamas, no durags or bonnets, and nothing too short which are rules upheld from 8 am to 5 pm during class hours. She states she is relaying information and wants people to know the truth about the situation instead of making assumptions. Link to video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6V5Jx77/
Some Freshmen had a rather positive outlook on the situation, as they felt that the uniforms weren’t going to hold them back or stop them from expressing themselves. Another Clark student, @barbiedollsiyah, records a video on tiktok with the text on the screen reading “pov: uniforms didn’t stop us” as she and another Clark student film a dancing video. Link to video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6Va2kQ5/
Another Clark Student, an upperclassmen expresses her thoughts on the matter, acknowledging that this was not a policy that she had to follow her freshman year. Student, @thedes1gner respectfully discusses the matter, not recording her new peers, and she even praises students who made creatively styled outfits. However, she is glad that she didn’t have that policy her first year. Link to video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6VafYKG/
Although some people had more indifferent reactions, and some wouldn’t want the uniforms for themselves, and others didn’t feel as impacted by the policy. A first year student, @alexismariah555, places text on her video staging, “scrambling back to my room after class to take off the uniform my college made all the freshman wear the first week,” she writes in the caption, “i was depressed the whole hour i had to wear it (we all still looked cute tho).” Link to video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6bq4BkS/
Some of the trending searches I’ve observed when searching for “Clark Atlanta uniform” posts on Tiktok have been:
“clark atlanta uniform policy”
“clark atlanta uniform freshmen”
“clark atlanta uniform ideas”
“clark atlanta uniform first day”
“Why does clark atlanta have uniforms now”
It seems that many were staying tuned to how Clark Atlanta’ first year students were going to handle their new dress code. And of course, they handled it effortlessly, and with so much creativity, flyness, and style.
The amount of knee high converse I’m seeing in the outfits makes my heart happy, one for my personal reasons, because for one I got my knee high converse last summer, hoping to see other knee high converse enthusiasts, and two it’s delightful to see young adults take control of their narrative and their expression. First off, this is one of my favorite looks, and I might be a bit biased because I also wear knee high converse. The styling is quite layered, and I love how this outfit stayed true to the polo, but did something maybe not as conventional. It’s very classic to layer a shirt over a corset with a button up, but I like how this particular combination with the polo gives this a balance that makes it dress up but still feel like an everyday outfit. To me, knee high converse can be casual or even dressed up in a more elaborate way. What I appreciate about this outfit is there are so many pieces of it that have their own character, and that the converse are balancing and not taking over the outfit. Each part is whimsical and interesting! I mean i’ve even worn knee high converse with a blazer and a pencil skirt, so who is to say it doesn’t have range. I enjoy seeing whimsical, playful, and colorful outfits on Black women and girls, as we deserve to be joyful and have expressions that range.
Next, what stood out to me with these outfits was also the contrasting elements such as the polo with the checkered skirt and the sweatsuit with the embroidered logo poking out. The student on the left’s outfit features a very classic and 2000s matching set that makes the Clark logo polo seem almost natural since the sweatsuit has logos for the Clark logo to be peeking out.. Although this cannot be controlled because the polo is a must, I also enjoy the contrast between the other student’s skirt and the polo, I just think it makes the most out of the situation and the uniform vibe in a way that is fun. I like when elements “clash” or differ slightly, it makes for more interesting outfit combinations, even with pattern mixing I feel this way.
As for a last favorite, however I do have more of course, but for the sake of analysis, this look I found to be very unique with the spiked headband and the chained crosses and what seems like two shirts that she turned into a skirt. It has a nice amount of edge but also gives me spiked headband 2010s vibes or when people used to take a lot of photos with their headphones, there is something edgy and cool about this look to me. Reminds me of when I used to put studs and diy my jeans into short and diy my school supplies. DIYing can make people act more creatively and that is the energy of this outfit for me all around.
As a result of the rules, my HBCU siblings gave the most appropriate and likely response that young educated, creative Black people would have which is making something from what they have. Clark freshmen made the most out of what they had.
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