That is a really good description, both of Kelly and of the hat thing. It’s the old catch 22, if black people don’t make an effort to stand out, they’re invisible, if they do, it just gets them stereotyped into another kind of invisibility.
Me personally,I’ve learned that you need to listen very carefully to successful people who affect eccentric dress. It usually means they’ve either got the extra stuff needed to succeed despite genuine eccentricity or else its a calculated attempt to get you to underestimate them. At least, that’s the assumption I’ve learned to start with.
Not unlike my assumption when someone tries to come off all “now I’m just an old country lawyer” on me. My initial response is to put my hand on my wallet, keep my mouth shut, sign nothing, and watch and listen closely. Sometimes, they’re just buffoons, but never assume it.
In Militaryworld, of course, deviation from expected norms of dress make you automatically unworthy of serious consideration.