What do you say to people when they ask about your kilt?

[MacBean]

....

There are blacks and first people in the Americas with indisputable Highland heritage just as there are white Highlanders living in Africa, etc. Anyway, it's abundantly clear you don't have to have Scottish heritage to wear a kilt. It's a question of time and place. At certain times and in certain places, a kilt isn't going to get commented on, but at others, it's likely to attract discord. It's obviously your choice how far "out there" you want to be.

[davidg]

she's threatened that I am back in contact with biological family and have no need of her anymore....

Don't get me wrong on this because I do not defend your mum in any way. It may also be that what you believe is spot on but there may be another side to this and all I ask is that you consider it

Could it possibly be that your adopted mum is jealous and fearful that she might lose you? She has raised you and now she sees you trying to find your biological roots. You are behaving, in her eyes, like the stereotypical black man rather than the coloured white boy she raised. You are wearing a kilt in an effort to get close to your Scottish connections, which inevitably exclude her, and contacting your biological family may be seen by her as you not needing her any more. In other words she may feel rejected as a mother

Of course, none of this may be the case, but perhaps it would be fairer to give her a chance and explain your own feelings of being rejected by her. Try including her in "your" family by buying her a nice tartan shawl, tell her frankly how much you love her but that you have a need to know where you came from. It may work, it may not, but if it does work you will both be happier

[tundramanq]

As a self-taught psychologist, mum may have stopped reading after Sigmond Freud and has really warped ideas on psychiatry. He was pretty messed up himself and wrote from his own experiance most.

[Four]

To a French Canadian male co-worker: Because it's 30C (86F) out and you are wearing jeans.

To a wannabe white kid posing as a gansta who greeted me with a "Nice skirt ******!":

Well - it was kinda of rude but basically compared the amount of female companionship I got in a kilt compared to him in his poser clothes and a suggestion of what sort of education some of my actual ****** friends would be happy to give to a rude little straight boy.

Rather out of character but satisfying.

you just say "It just makes it easier to rail your mother"

[thecompaqguy]

As a self-taught psychologist, mum may have stopped reading after Sigmond Freud and has really warped ideas on psychiatry. He was pretty messed up himself and wrote from his own experiance most.

They are all nuts, to be honest.... The only shrink I liked was Frasier :mrgreen:

@davidg, nice hypothesis (I'm trying to sound intellectual), but to be honest, when you adopt, it's no different from fostering, the child doesn't become YOURS because they bear your surname. That's the only legal difference. My mum may mean well but even by any non-kiltie's standard, alleging that all kilt wearers are potential transexuals or at best effeminate is just plain wrong. She also knows you dont ever allege such a thing of a West Indian

I'm not bothering with my adoptive family anymore. She should know as a shrink you attract what you fear, so it looks like now I'm back with my biological family. My birth mum named me Alexander, you can't get more Scottish than that :mrgreen:

I like to be an individual, being in England, the kilt may not be commonplace, but it's something people have all seen. It's part of national dress, even if it is more for formal occasions. Yes people may react different ways when they see anyone in a kilt, be they black or white.

Sometimes it's good just to blend in with others and be in jeans, other times, if I feel like, I'd wear my kilt

[tundramanq]

CG - you sound very well balanced in spite of "amateur help" and I find your perspectives and tactics quite good. And yes I am a big Fraiser fan also.
Hang in there guy. Chuck

[TBruce]

Unfortunately, it seems you were the unwitting recipient of an ethnic slur. "Mick" is a term (ignorant) people use when referring to people (they think are) of Irish descent and who they think are "beneath" them. It's probably why he looked at you the way he did when you told him to have a nice day. If something like that happens again, have some ammunition ready.

All and all I blame it on ignorance. I don’t think the gentleman meant it as an insult, But then again... Who knows. As for Ammunition, he was black, and here in the States… One must really watch what is said… You know the door only swings one way. Anything said that may offend, or shed light on it, might give cause to me being called a racest.....

[thecompaqguy]

All and all I blame it on ignorance. I don’t think the gentleman meant it as an insult, But then again... Who knows. As for Ammunition, he was black, and here in the States… One must really watch what is said… You know the door only swings one way. Anything said that may offend, or shed light on it, might give cause to me being called a racest.....

I thought about my remark, I can't justify what this guy did. There is too much Political Correctness now, over here in the UK we don't call it Black Coffee, it's "Coffee without Milk"...

[lassmanac]

what a great thread!

On Africa: I have lived here in Senegal (West Africa) for the last two years. I have traveled quite extensively and have never.... ever seen anyone (other than myself) in a kilt.

I have only worn my kilt a handful of times, and when i do, i mentally prepare a checklist of comebacks for the inevitable comments and the dozen or so people that ask The Question.

on "skirt" -- It's only a skirt if i have something on under it. - or - you can only call it a skirt if i've shaved my legs.

On The Question, depending on how it's asked -- Lipstick if I'm lucky. - or - Traditionally.

Also, keep in mind i work at for the Government and everyone i work with is pretty well educated and traveled. Today i wore my kilt to the office and received my fair share of The Question and some rather loud catcalls from the women in the building.

All in all, my kilt was very well received and our public affairs officer put me on the Embassy's facebook page.

[fr. frank]

i must either be oblivious or just exude an air of "I don't give a rip" because I haven't noticed noticed a problem. I have had men come up to me and thank me for wearing a kilt and then telling me about their grandfathers who wore the kilt until their death. The only obvious negative comment came from a drunk woman who was quickly educated by her friend after which she issued an apology, tucked her head, and walked away.