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Barbershop Aims To Dress Up Youth -- With A Cut In Price

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A barbershop in north Minneapolis is giving customers more than haircuts. They're giving them life lessons.

H|W Men's Room just launched a program called "Step Your Game Up. It's about changing the attitude and attire of young black men.

"It's about self-image, especially young black boys," said owner Houston White "Kind of a call of action and challenge for young boys to start to see themselves in a different light."

White says if you look in the mirror and don't see the image of success, then you need to step your game up and change some things.

"The baggy pants, the haircuts," said White. "You see this image of a black male, he must be gang banging, not educated, not serious, not to be taken seriously."

Times are different now, according to White.

"When I was growing up, we used to see older guys wearing suits. They taught the younger guys how to dress and now there seems to be a disconnect," recalled White.

To change this, the shop offers reasonably prices suits and accessories for the men. It's about looking the part.

"Part of it is your uniform. Basketball players wear uniforms. Presidents wear suits," added White.

"I think it's really good to get young kids out of the mindset you know, dressing like their peers, sometimes dressing like their peers is not professional or it won't allow you to make it in the real world" said Kelvyn Henderson, a customer.

They also talk about etiquette and what it means to be a gentlemen.

"I just hope they realize the sky is the limit," said White.

Sonya Goins, Producer
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