Dreadlocks Banned at a High School
 

School Bans Dreadlocked Student
Sun Sep 29, 2:28 AM ET

WHITEFISH, Mont. (AP) - A student with dreadlocks can't come back to class until she gets rid of her "outlandish" hairstyle, Whitefish High School officials say.

"It's not really my hair," said 15-year-old Kisteesha Lanegan, who hasn't been to school since the first day of class. "They're trying to mold me into a person that I'm not. My hair is totally irrelevant to education at the school."

Superintendent Jerry House said Lanegan was told she would not be able to attend classes with dreadlocks. When she showed up on the first day of school with the hairstyle, officials sent her home.

"We're not here as a fashion store or fashion occasion," he said. "If you want to dress in an outlandish way in your own time, that's your business. That's not our business."

Lanegan said the ban makes her as good as expelled.

At the end of last school year, school officials told Lanegan to get rid of the dreadlocks over the summer break. House said that gave her enough time to comply with a new policy banning dreadlocks and mohawks.

((sacastically saying)))...........

:mad: well, I can see how the current trend of mohawks are a real problem with student today :rolleyes:..

Who the heazey wears a mohawk? I do not appreciate how they tried to slide that in, I guess so it wouldn't seem so racial. :rolleyes:

Give me a break melanin-challenged people!!! If this is a public school, they should have much more important things to worry about than dreadlocks!

while this is undoubtedly wrong...the dreadlocks wearer is melanin-challenged (as honeykiss1974 put it) as well. I saw her picture on another message board. she says that she just wanted to do something different w/ her hair.

OMGoodness, Markmywords.........

1.)Seriously, IF this a public school, are there not more important things to worry about than this? :rolleyes:

2.) Why is this hairstyle condsidered "OUTLANDISH"? Hmmm..

Could someone please post a picture of the melanin-challenged Kisteesha :eek: Lanegan?

LMAO :D

See we as AA's can't blame these idiot melanin-challenged folk. How are we supposed to convince anyone that locs aren't "just" a style, when 'we' don't even appreciate the various form of natural hair?? Its like people are saying "yeah, yeah, yeah its so wrong!" but they turn around and say 'ooooh I betta get get my perm before these UGLY naps come in!" That's why they feel its perfectly alright to add locs, braids, and afro's in with outlandish styles. If we let them know as a people that our hair is NOT a style or costume or joke, then things would be different. Who am I kidding though, are black people gonna ever consider natural hair right, no!? They were wrong, and they don't even know how or why they were offensive!!

You'd really think so, huh?

You all know I have a story right? Right...

A few years back, we needed a band director. Our brotha decides to head for "greener" pastures. So, this young brotha hears about our school's vacancy. Mind you, we have just gotten this principal (current) who was told,but wasn't ;) that she had to get rid of her 'fro if she wanted to move up and dissassociate herself from the "black" professional orgs. :rolleyes:

ANYWAY, she takes one look at this dreadlock wearing brother coming for his interview and from what I was told, less than 10 minutes later he was out of the door. Let's just say that Ray Charles could see that it was his "appearance" that did not get him the job. It wasn't SAID, but shucks what else was it? He was certified, wanted the job... :confused: The job was given to a "good ole boy" who isn't even DEDICATED to these kids. The MAJORITY of these kids are yep...AA.

Well, the dreadlock wearing brotha went to the neighboring parish and their band ROCKS! LMAO! Any old school Maze, Cameo, you name it, they can play it! While our band is playing songs from the 80s that aren't even worth playing. :rolleyes:

So, I'm not surprised. What's next? Girls whose hair is nearly bald will get banned if they don't wear a wig? :confused:

Ask and you shall receive :)

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/NewsIm...-815013-80.jpg

@Honeykiss
 

Thanks for posting the picture.

HAMPTON, Va. - Afros are OK but cornrows and flowing dreadlocks are not for business administration students at Hampton University.

The hair code is part of a strict academic and dress doctrine for combined business administration students at the private, historically black university. The program allows students to receive a bachelor's degree and a master's in business administration in five years.

In addition to the hair rules, students must maintain a B average after their sophomore year, heed a conservative dress code, complete two internships and meet regularly with business leaders. We don't have problems with Afros," business Dean Sid Credle said Friday. "A nicely tapered Afro - that's fine."

Credle said the dress, grooming and behavior rules are intended to prepare students for the starched business world.

"When we look at the top 75 African Americans in corporate America, we don't see any of them with extreme hairdos," he said.

With the requirements, "they'll get very comfortable wearing a suit over a five-year period. When they get into corporate America, the transition will be easier," Credle said.

Aaron Wells, a junior from Fairfax, put away his earrings when he enrolled. He's got no complaints.

"It really gives us a very good model of what we should be doing in corporate America," said Wells, who hopes to pursue a career in finance. "We need to look the part as professionals."

Credle said only one or two students per year have not complied.

Entire Article

I understand the code, but I think locks should be okay. Just caution the students to maintain them well.

Thanks All Smiles for posting.

One of our neos went to Hampton. I'm going to ask her about this and the climate at that school.

Once again, I am not seeing the connection between hair and qualifications to do the job, and this comes from someone who is now wearing wigs/falls. :confused:

Funny, I don't consider my locs to be extreme.

And I suspect the 75 top African Americans in Corporate America began their careers before locs became popular. Who knows what their hair styles may have been if that wasn't the case?

My daughter wears her hair in finger-combed twists. Hasn't hurt her upward mobility.

The funny thing about this is that most of Corporate America is dressing down. You don't see a lot of suit and ties, at least I don't anymore. In my job I come into contact with various levels of managers and excutives (VPs, Directors, etc.) and they are rarely in a suit unless they have to go before the entire company or press.

And they looked nice when I saw you mama. :D I'm sure they're much longer now.

I understand what people mean when they speak of individual expression and being allowed to succeed despite personal expressions. However, out of curiosity, is there ever a line to be drawn? As you know people get locks for different reasons and some of those reasons include not grooming them at all.

I'm biased against people who APPEAR unkept, regardless of race, hairstyle or style of dress.

EXACTLY!

*and yes they are much longer :) *

Instead of banning these hairstyles, Hampton would do a better job of educating their students on the potential of bias, but even that depends on the industry. I was at an engineering/computer science awards banquet several years ago and there was a brother getting an award with locks past his shoulders. He was a Director level at Cisco. They were more concerned with what was *IN* his head than *ON* it. Now in some ultra conservative environments like Wall STreet, Banking, etc. this might be the case. That way, students can make the decision on if they want to conform or not.

I wonder if the ban on braids were gender specific??

I guess I'll see them in Philly. :p

She should get a haircut so she doesn't look like a slob.

What about those graduates who do not plan to work in corporate America? There are people with MBAs that work as educators, non profit workers, restauranteurs, entrepeneurs, etc. I am always outraged when I hear about racially based hair discrimination but this outrage has increased exponentially due to the fact that these requirements are being mandated by an HBCU.

Well, now people know what schools not to apply to if they wanna wear locs.

That's true but it is inconvenient for those students already in that program. I guess I was under the impression that it is a new rule.

It's relatively new. I see your point.

It's my understanding that Hampton has somewhat of a dress code anyway. They are a throw back, in a sense, to what many HBCUs were in an bygone era, it appears to me, in terms of trying to shape habits of deportment,etc. to prepare one for professional life. I think this is a positive thing overall.

An aside: back in the '90s when I was living in Southern Cali, I attended a District Council meeting of the Fraternity. The attire was (and is) business: suit and tie. An undergrad came in in casual attire and sat down, slumping in his chair, as if he was in a,high school classroom. The chair immediately stopped the meeting and instructed the young brother what was expected of him in group of professional black men in Omega.

Wonder what the attitude is about braids.

About 10 years ago I was working at a Tax Shelter department at Citibank and while they allowed me to wear braids, my "melanin-challenged" supervisor from CT made certain I knew she didn't think they looked "professional," and that she thought it "inappropriate" for a bank. :rolleyes: I wasn't even working with the public.

There was nothing wrong with them; just clean, well-kept cherokee braids. Go figure. I think some people are just threatened by our hair for stupid reasons.

On the converse: We had a "melanin-challenged" summer student at our church working with the youth and her dishwater blonde hair was dreaded too. She spearheaded a summer camp between a predominately white church and a predominantly black church. Both groups adored her and she said that was the first time a lot of those white kids ever saw black kids their age, and vice versa.

I wonder if those kids would have gravitated to each other if she wasn't the conduit...and I wonder how much of it had to do with the comfort she felt with herself and her hair. Chelsea (yep that was her name) was very together and very real, and very empassioned about peace and social justice. She's probably the only "melanin-challenged" girl I'd imagine in locs, and pulling it off authentically (not as a fad). She wants to do social work in Brazil I think.

I wish those days would come back again..the dress attire and many of the current hair styles leaves something to be desired. I'm in the minority that happens to agree with Hampton University.

Well I fully disagree with this!! This attitude at an HBCU is outrageous. This type of policy continues to perpetuate feelings of self hate in the young black community. Our hair is unique, no other group/race has hair like ours. As a Napptural woman I found that most negative comments come from Blacks and Caucasians seem fascinated by what my hair can do. Well I for one will continue to wear my twist and my big puffy fro to the office and I challenge anyone to look up in my face and tell me something negative about it.

I don't agree or disagre with Hampton's rule. IMHO Hampton is a private institution and can do whatever they please.

If someone doesn't like the rule he/she shouldn't go to Hampton.

If a current student finds the rule that important he/she should vote with his/her feet....and leave.

Hampton is NOT the only business school and its also NOT the only HBCU.

Susan L. Taylor Protests Hampton's Policy
 

http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur25880.cfm

Susan L. Taylor, the editorial director of Essence magazine, pulled out of a speaking engagement at Hampton University recently after learning of its policy on acceptable hairstyles for students in the five-year master's of business administration program.

"Braids, dreadlocks and other unusual hairstyles are not acceptable" is the university's policy as reported by Journalism's Richard Prince on April 12. Taylor, who has worn long braids for years, decided to protest the rule by withdrawing her participation at the school's 28th Annual Conference on the Black Family held last month.

"I recently withdrew my participation in the 28th Annual Conference on the Black Family at Hampton University,"

"I began receiving emails from numerous sources advising me of disturbing regulations disallowing locks and braided hairstyles for Hampton students," Taylor told Murray for his Monday BV Buzz column. "One such email included an Associated Press story headlined: 'University Bans Certain Hairstyles for Students.' As a businesswoman and public figure who has proudly worn my hair braided for more than 25 years, I was incredulous and felt insulted. My executive assistant, Debra Parker, contacted the university for clarification, and when she was advised that this was the school's policy, I easily made the decision to cancel my visit.

"The freedom to wear our hair in ways that celebrate our heritage is one of our 'rites of passage.' Students would benefit from learning how to care for and groom locks and braids and wear them in ways that are appropriate in a business setting," Taylor wrote on March 28.

Taylor said she even recommended that Dr. William R. Harvey, the university president, "reconsider this policy and invite informed image consultants to address students in your business program about how to make individual style work in the corporate environment. Perhaps the greatest challenge . . . students will face in the work world is remaining whole and true to themselves in environments that are often hostile to African-Americans. Staying connected to our community and culture is critical. Trying to transform themselves to fit into hardly welcoming environments has scarred countless numbers of Black people."

Ultimately, Dean Sid Credle of the Hampton School of Business is standing by the code, "and said a more clean-cut look can be an asset to almost any student seeking advancement in the corporate world," wrote Ieesha Mckinzie in a March 27th story on Black College Wire.

Re: Susan L. Taylor Protests Hampton's Policy
 

Hooray for her!!!!!! I am glad that someone of prestige and character took a stand against this incredibly belittling code. As a professional black woman I understand the need to appear well groomed and pulled together. I go to work rocking my very beautiful afro puff, twist or twist out. As I said before to equate braids or an afro to being unprofessional to me is simply self-hate. As blacks we do need to conform to main stream society to some extent. But must we give up our identity to have a career?

Unprofessional is a man strolling up in my office for an interview wearing a dangly earring, black jeans and white sneakers for an office position. Unprofessional is a woman trying to land a job as an admin. assistant while simulataneously trying to strangle me with her overwhelming perfume and sporting her bright pink lipstick and showing me way more of her thigh than I would care to see. Teach your students how to dress for success, Hampton. Teach them how to articulate themselves and they will be okay.

Bajan Delta:

I think that you are mixing arguments here.

The goal of Hamptons business school is to groom, direct, and create students who will become professionals at America's leading companies. Students should not be enrolled in such a program if they are there to make a political, cultural, or social statement with their hair or style of dress. I don't believe that the school is forcing any woman to wear a perm or dress or "act white" in any way.

As a salesperson, none of my white male co-workers could wear a mustache. It is seen as unprofessional. I on the other hand wore one (most Black men have them so it does not appear "unprofessional" on us.

Hampton's Business School is interested in the success of its graduates, not whether they can make "statements" and successful. They recognize that we have enough against us, why volunteer more ammunition for people to be discriminatory. It is true that appearence makes up more than 50% of the first impession.

The business of the Business School is "business", social activists are for liberal arts.

I have asked this before, can someone please show me a picture of a Native West African tribesman (Bantu) with braided or dread-locked hair. I have seen East African Cultures such as the Masai, but they are a very effeminate culture (although their warrir prowess is legendary). I have never seen any depictions of male slaves of America, Brazil, or West Indian with braided hair or dreads. Where is it in our culture that men wear their hair like women (as a desirable thing)?

How am I mixing arguments? I've not made any comments implying that they want anyone to "act white". If a woman's hair is not permed what styling options does she have besides braiding, afro, cornrows or dreads? Again my question is why is it that wearing one's hair in these styles considered unprofessional?? Since when is it that afros, cornrows or braids are considered a woman's style. You may not have seen depictions of west indian slaves with dreads but I have. But that is neither here or there because Jesus is depicited as a white man. For centuries many have believed that our strength and our essence comes from our hair. This is why Rasta's dread.

I'm not saying that students enrolled need to make a cultural statement, however for some (including myself) their hair is part of their identity and their spirituality. Would you conform if someone told you that were you not allowed to pray to the God you believe in? Somewhere someone needs to take a stand. If my blackness makes some uncomfortable then that would not be the company for me. As a professional, does my afro make me some how unprofessional? In addition it is against the law under Title VII act of 1964 to discriminate against anyone based on race, color, gender, national orgin, sex or religion. Any company with a policy banning these specified hair styles are open to litigation because this rule will largely impact Blacks.

Please see the following excerpt from Wikipedia:

"Dreadlocks, sometimes called simply dreads or locks, are matted ropes of hair which will form by themselves if the hair is allowed to grow naturally without the use of brushes, combs, razors or scissors for a long period of time.

See also an excerpt from the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

Dreadlocks are a universal phenomenon and through the ages, people of various cultures have worn dreadlocks. It can be said that what are known today as "dreadlocks" are one of the oldest and most universal hairstyles known.

Historical figures who wore dreadlocks include Samson, John the Baptist and King Tut. Like Samson, some Rastafarians consider hair as their strength and weakness will follow if cut. Others believe dreadlocks symbolize the mane from the biblical story of the Lion of Judah, which also is one of the titles bestowed upon all Ethiopian kings"

And also the King James Bible

"They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh." -- Leviticus 21:5."

I have a number of sources that you can refer to about Black Hair, I will be more than happy to share them with you.

does howard's business school practice this? from what i hear, it's been in place for sometime.

There is so much to say on this topic. Hampton is my hometown so I know all about HIU. I practically grew up on the campus. My Mom is a grad school alumni. My mom tried to convince my sister and me to attend but neither of us chose to go there. Hampton is a great school in many aspects but I can't agree with them on all of their policies. There have been quite a few incidents there that the students have had grievances with some of their policies. Some years back Pres. Bush, Sr. was chosen as the speaker for commencement services. I mean you would think that the graduating students would have a say in choosing their graduation speaker but the students were reprimanded and forbidden to talk to the media or to protest.

I'm really lost on this latest controversy because Pres. Dr. Harvey is very much the business man. He even owns shares of Pepsi-Cola. He is the very reason why there is still a HIU in existence. The school almost closed but Harvey came on board and turned the school around and it's been full steam ahead every since. I've always admired him for this. I am really interested in hearing his stand on this.

You would think that educated Afr. Ams. would be more concerned with owning their own businesses and enterprises as opposed to trying to conform to working for corporate America. I'm getting the impression that these students are being taught that corporate America is the cure all. I hope that I'm wrong. I mean for Christ's sake look at how many hip hop artists grasp the concept of ownership. They play the part to get the money and when they get the money they take the ball and run with it. This is not a fad for them. They really understand the importance of ownership. I applaud Diddy, JayZ, Nelly, etc.

As a matter of fact HIU has an incubator. For those that aren't familiar with incubators it's a hub where business owners can utilize office space, equipment, receptionists, etc. for a nominal fee. There are also a lot of free services that they provide (info on grants, business loans, business plans, angel investors, etc.) It's sponsored by the Small Business Admin. So I'm really wondering why these business students or better yet Hampton's School of Business isn't leaning towards ownership. The resources are right there at their disposal. I know that this 'hair' concept certainly isn't coming from the SBA because they promote diversity.

I had a business professor from China who opened my eyes about corporate America. He knew corporate America in and out. He taught us how to play the game but most importantly he taught us how to win at the game. His precise words were, you will never beat them at their own game that's why you must place yourself on the same level - ownership.

You can play the game and not lose your identity in the process. I really hope that is what Hampton is teaching. I mean if you are the best of the best and you are being recruited by top corporations I would hope that part of your goal would be to own a business someday and not continue to play a part.

I worked FT the entire time while I was a FT undergrad student so this stood out on my resume. I did my first internship in my sophomore year and then another internship my junior year and that company hired me as a Director of PR, I also started my first business at the same time. I was already making decent money at my other job due to several promotions so this new job was really a blessing. I didn't take that money and lose my mind. I was already investing so I began to increase my investments. I did buy a new car and move into a nicer place but the rest went into starting my first business. My business, not my job paid off my new car. My senior year I was stress free. I was able to reward myself with a cruise. That info from my business professor is what put me on this path.

I now own 15 businesses. I can and do wear my hair anyway I choose. I conduct business all over the world with all types of people. I have the ability to employ blacks who wear locks, twists, braids, perms, etc. This is how we break up this 'conforming' nonsense. One of my businesses is a consulting business and it is my goal to reach more of our people so that they can begin to think about owning their own businesses.

Re: Susan L. Taylor Protests Hampton's Policy
 

I hope Hampton won't punkout and change it's policy over this.

I hope that Hampton will wake up and smell the coffee. I am glad that Susan made a stand. Specifically forbidding certain hairstyles goes way too far; grooming should be the key, not personal style which is very subjective.

Why the business school and not any other program? Engineers, lawyers and premed majors (doctors, nurses) also work in a professional environment, many times in a corporate environment! Discrimination, I tell you.

I wonder if Hampton instituted this rule because of current popular male hairstyles. To be honest, I'm not sure that I would hire a man (in a corporate environment) wearing cornrows or long hair.

Do we have a generation of young men emulating stereotypical popular black styles/types of people? (thug is to pimp as cornrows is to permed hair)

I may be reaching here, but it's a thought.

Women, I think generally have greater flexibility in terms of hairstyles and appropriate clothes for work (white collar, at least) environments. Something that would be absolutely ok for a woman might get a raised brow or two if a man wore it.

Is it fair? No.


I'm undecided on this issue.

Hmmm, maybe this issue is so subjective that Hampton has simply decided to stay to the far right of the issue. It really is something that you have to be all or nothing about with respect to developing a policy. For instance, I do not think that braids are a professional look for men. If I had a son I wouldn't let him wear braids, and I would hesitate to hire a man w/braids (well-maintained or not). However, I see nothing wrong with dreads. Furthermore, I think that a woman with an afro 2-3 inches long is fine, but something like 5 or more inches, again is fashionable but not professional. How does a school articulate something like this? It certainly opens up the door to a lot more debate and discussion, which they may not be interested in doing. Perhaps while they may recognize that there are many successful African Americans in the business world who wear a variety of natural styles, the time spent reviewing and educating students on where the boundary lies btwn acceptable and unacceptable is counter productive. It seems that their decision is not to deny anyone's culture or spirituality, but rather to instill in their students what they already know is acceptable. From there, the students can feel free to express themselves as they please, but starting from a solid basis of appropriateness.

Finally, what is classified as 'professional appearance' is actually quite rigid for men and women of all races. For instance, long hair (including facial hair) on any man is usually not considered professional. Women are not suppose to wear their hair below shoulder length, and earrings should be no larger than a coin (I believe). Short sleeve shirts or unbuttoned suit jackets are considered unprofessional for men as well as pants or heels over 2 inches on women. Of course colors that deviate too far from the standard gray, black and blue are also traditionally unprofessional. Now of course we see successful people who don't fit this mold every single day. However from an educational perspective we were taught what was 'technically' professional dress, and then encouraged to use our good judgement depending on the industry, location, and office environment. Perhaps this is what Hampton is trying to do with their students.

You've made my very point. To you, your hair is a socio-political statement. What the school is trying to inculcate in their students is to BE ABOUT BUSINESS. That is their concentration and focus. To train professionals. Corporate America doesn't care where you think you get your strength from. If I believed that my strength emanated from my branded Omega arms, would I be justified in exposing them on every sales call? Would a proud Son of the Confederacy be justified by wearing a confederate flag lapel pin on his suits?.

There are accepted norms for every profession. Flamboyant defense attorneys can wear ponytails and cowboy suits. District attorneys don't. One of my white collegeaues wanted to wear a Dale Earnhart mustache in honor of his hero. Boss said no, shave it.

My response was directed at men wearing braids and dreadlocks. Its fine for a woman to wear her hair in a natural state. I never said that women should be forced to wear perms Braided hair is a woman's hairstyle and a man should not be wearing such to work .

Biblically, I know of no passages that mention dreads. Samson was a Nazerite, a priestly order that was forbidden to cut their hair. If you assume that he was African, that could connote dreads, but if he were a typical Semite, then it would just be long hair.

John the Bapist by the Bibles own description, was an unkempt wild man. If his hair was anything like dreads, it would be because it was never combed and matted from living like a vagrant.

Using Wikpedias description of "dreadlocks", is that what a company wants representing to the face of the public?

Do you know any Ethiopians or Somalis that wear dreads. None of the thousands that I see runnig the parking lots in Atlanta seem to wear them. But being that we are derived from West Africans, I still don't see the cultral connection to "dreads". Senegalese, Gambian, Akan, Yoruba, Ibo, Angolan. Never seen a depiction of a man of these cultures with braids or dreads.