US Airways Double Standard

Photo by Passenger Jill Tarlow

Last week we told you about Deshon Marman, the young guy who refused to pull up his saggy pants when asked by US Airways flight attendants. His refusal lead to him getting kicked off the plane by the pilot and then arrested by airport police.

So, why are we bringing this up again? Well, the picture says it all. A young kid showing his boxers is apparently offensive, but an old man in womens underware is perfectly fine for US Airways. This guy flew a week earlier than Marman and pilots didnt kick him off the plane.

The difference? Well, lets take a look

Marman is a young guy. The old man? Yeah, the old man is old.

Marmans fashion statement was stale. Weve all seen the saggy pants look at the airport. The old mans fashion choice screams LOOK AT ME. The platform heels may be over the top, but the blue underware coupled with the delicate cover up highlights his silver hair. The old guy is truly fashion forward.

Marman was flying out of San Francisco. The old man flew out of Ft. Lauderdale. Where San Francisco may be the most liberal city and accepting of peoples life styles, Ft. Lauderdale is just too old and tired to care.

Marman is a black guy. The old man is obviously not.

And that last item, well, thats the kicker. Was Marman singled out because he was black? The local San Francisco chapter of the NAACP thinks so and is joining Marmans side. The NAACP has asked US Airways to issue an apology to Marman and his mother.

An apology seems highly unlikely as US Airways has their non-existent dress code, yet an apparently highly subjective policy to “ask our passengers to dress in an appropriate manner to ensure the safety and comfort of all our passengers.” How the policy is applied is going to be the crux of the conversation between the NAACP and US Airways.

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