Key terms explained:
1. Stunting
Verb; To show off one's wealth or the appearance of wealth, aware it may cause ill feelings and or envy in others.
2. Stunt
Verb; to floss or to “ball so hard mothafuckas wanna find you” (That shit cray!).
3. Stunter
Noun; Someone who engages in the act of stunting.
I thought it would make sense to set this final part of the 'Live & Maintain' 3-part special with a definition of this remarkable concept. From reading parts 1 & 2 you knew that you should be Saving and I know you knew too well about Spending but what do you REALLY know about Stunting? Fear not, I'm here to tell you...
For one, the word also means different things in other contexts such as 'false' or 'pretending'. However, keeping up with the two previous blogs, this context will look at the term ‘stunting’ in the financial sense.
How to tell if you’re a stunter:
1. Do you take numerous photos of material possessions and publish them for the world to see?
You know those photos on Instagram where the person artistically shows off their designer top, jeans, watch, belt and trainers all in one image and have the cheek to put "just chilling" as the caption. Or those girls who twist up their ankles to ensure the red bottoms of their Loubs are prominent in the shot just so you know that they own a pair? This is stunting.
2. (To the ladies specifically): Have you perfected what I describe as the 'chicken wing' arm?
This is how I see ladies cradling their bags so that it swings flawlessly from the elbow for all to see? This to me is stunting. Not so much due to the designer but more about how they carry themselves because of the bag. Are you carrying your Louis bag or is it carrying you?
3. Do you dress head to toe in matching designer?
You know those guys who are always Gucci’d out. Whether it is in a rave or in the library they're a walking brand ambassador. I'm talking: the woolly hat, scarf, shades, top, belt and even shoes to match. Why you even would need to wear the full winter collection to a sweat-box uni rave eludes me completely. Or to make matters worse, the brothers who wear Gucci, Louis & Prada all AT THE SAME DAMN TIME!!!
Stunters! –the lot of ‘em.
All jokes aside, as funny as it is to describe, I actually chose to write about this topic for a good reason. Stunting is a real problem and without excluding any of my readers, especially for young Black people...
I've always been astounded by what we choose to do with our money. It could be argued that when a Black person has a bit of money to spend, a large proportion of the time that money is spent on buying something to show their peers that we’re living a certain life or can afford to buy certain things, (regardless of whether or not this is actually true). We buy flashy cars only to drive back to council flats, tuck our tops into our belts to showcase the designer and go into unplanned overdraft in order to fund the purchase of exotic hair:
"Don't get it twisted, this aint Remy, this is the finest hair this side of Rio de Janeiro. Straight Braz bay-bee!"
Really?
What I find mind-boggling about it all is we have a tendency to forget who we're buying these things for. Are you buying for yourself or are you buying to show off to others? Are you buying that designer item because you genuinely believe it’s nice and can afford it or are you purchasing it to show that you have it and to portray to others that you can afford it? Ladies, why must you explain the origin of your weave?
Instead of sharing a story about the travels your purchased hair has been on, why not just glue a label that says "Made in Peru" or stitch the National flag onto your scalp- surely it'll save you having to promote? If you really bought the hair because of its quality why should you have to state its exclusivity? Unless someone explicitly asks you where you got your weave from I'd have to conclude that the reason you're telling them is to seek some sort of "ooooh, ahhhh" recognition or portray the idea of being better.
Similarly my fellow men, if your designer belt is "just a belt" why have you tucked your trench coat inside your jeans? I'm sure if your belt was from Peacocks it would be a different story entirely. Speaking from personal experience of owning one, I know that these expensive belts are bought mainly for stunting reasons. Sure it may be fine leather and last a long time but there are also belts of similar if not higher quality for much less money. If you got the belt solely with the intent of holding up your jeans with a bit of quality why is it that you copped the most flamboyant of all designs? Big buckles draw attention to the designer and of course yourself but what a tacky way of doing so- especially when you're not even being paid for your services to the brand.
What I'm trying to emphasise is that the concept of purchasing items only to flaunt to others is nonsensical. We're spending money to promote brands and luxury goods at the expense of others. Its’ intriguing that we'd rather spend money trying to put others down and make them feel inferior as opposed to trying to elevate each other. I'm not saying that this is the direct intention every time someone stunts but it is certainly true of some.
How to avoid Stunting: avoid being ostentatious with your purchases
Os·ten·ta·tious
Adjective: Characterized by vulgar or pretentious display.
In other words, being ostentatious means to display an appearance that is flashy or tasteless. Having an outfit of full Louis V monogram print, wearing the shiniest jewellery or donning the largest sized logos would all be examples of this type of behaviour. Some may be wondering what's wrong with doing this if you like to but I'd just like to ask you this quick question: How many times have you seen wealthy non-Black people showing off their wealth by wearing big name brands for all to see? Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs all being prime examples. If these people who can easily afford to stunt but choose not to, what makes us as young adults living completely opposite lives feel we can justify it? Moreover, why do we do it and what are we trying to accomplish?
It is no surprise why some may struggle ever to have a good lifestyle they can maintain because instead of saving the money or investing it they'd rather buy something to make them look like they have money- how does this make any sense?
I had to stop myself a few weeks ago from purchasing the re-released Jordan 4’s because I couldn't justify why I wanted them other than the fact I knew people would wonder where I got them from and secretly hate me when they realised they were sold out by the time they’d even seen them on me. Before I pressed ‘add to basket’, I thought to myself: after I post photos of them online, wear them a few times to get one or two people asking me where I got them from, the novelty will run out and I’d still be down £105 because I wanted to stunt. It's not by force we must buy every "exclusive" product out- this is just clever marketing to target the vulnerable who'd rather fill up their wardrobes than fill up their mum's kitchen- US!
Why do we Stunt?
I feel that we're influenced heavily by the culture we can most easily identify with- popular culture. By that I don't mean pop music but rather what is popular to us in terms of all influences. Music for instance- I'm a massive Hip Hop fan but I think that too often we can get lost in the lyrics and music videos some artists publish where they brag about drinking expensive champagne, driving cars worth houses and getting customised/exclusive attire. This is all great and fine for them because for most, that life wasn't the same for them growing up so they feel stunting now makes sense. However, for us, our lives aren't like that now yet we still choose to stunt and emulate these same people. Whether that means drug dealing, being fraudulent, using others to buy us things or draining our student loans- we too feel the need to stunt.
The choice of whether or not to stunt is one for us to make at the end of the day. Although I may have specifically directed my attention to young Black people, do not for one second believe that this trait is restricted just to this group of people or that it is an innate part of our biological make-up. I just find that compared to all the other races, we would rather spend money proving our wealth as opposed to creating it through hard work, sharing it with others or better yet, providing others with the secrets to create their own.
In the future, if you do feel the need to stunt just ask yourself "who am I stunting for?" Buying things now that are too expensive or frankly unnecessary purchases isn't going to help you get the lifestyle you're trying to display. Live life as fulfilling as you possibly can whilst maintaining a solid, financial foundation that your future can be built upon. If that can be achieved, further down the line you’ll probably discover that you can genuinely afford all of these lavish items you seek but hopefully by then you would have realised why they aren't even important. Everyone deserves a treat now and again and of course I too have some expensive items in my collection but just use your head, spend only what’s left after saving don’t make stunting an excuse not to save.
So to conclude this topic:
1- Try to SAVE more
2- Try to SPEND less
3- Try to STUNT minimally
... and that in my opinion my friends is how to Live & Maintain.
Mr. Adz
