du-rag

A silk-like material worn around the head of black males as a fashion statement. It wraps around the skull, with a small flap hanging down in the rear, over the neck. Du-rags originated in prisons in the 1970's, to try and simulate the long hair of a (male)female inmate, so the (male) males, could easily tell them apart. It was originally black, but many colors are in use today. Now banned in most prisons of today, du-rags have moved into main stream black fashion, and the use no longer signifies any sexual connotations. Court cases in New York City have supported the use of du-rags at work, when employers complained that it was not "appropriate". Black men have even been seen in a business suit, coming from work, wearing a du-rag. Bald Black men (with no braids) also wear du-rags. A du-rag, under a baseball cap, it also gaining popularity. The word derivation is "Hairdoo rag"