Susan L. Taylor Protests Hampton's Policy

CrimsonTide4 · #1 09-30-2002, 04:17 PM

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.

Honeykiss1974 · #2 09-30-2002, 04:29 PM

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

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

..

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.

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!

markmywords · #3 09-30-2002, 04:38 PM

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.

Honeykiss1974 · #4 09-30-2002, 04:40 PM

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

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

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

Steeltrap · #5 09-30-2002, 09:54 PM

Could someone please post a picture of the melanin-challenged Kisteesha

Lanegan?

Dionysus · #6 09-30-2002, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Steeltrap
Could someone please post a picture of the melanin-challenged Kisteesha Lanegan?

LMAO

Krisco · #7 09-30-2002, 10:14 PM

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!!

AKA2D '91 · #8 09-30-2002, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974
If this is a public school, they should have much more important things to worry about than dreadlocks!

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.

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...

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.

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

Honeykiss1974 · #9 10-01-2002, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Steeltrap
Could someone please post a picture of the melanin-challenged Kisteesha Lanegan?

Ask and you shall receive

Steeltrap · #10 10-01-2002, 06:27 PM

Thanks for posting the picture.

allsmiles_22 · #11 01-22-2006, 12:21 PM

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

CrimsonTide4 · #12 01-22-2006, 12:44 PM

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

Thanks All Smiles for posting.

Steeltrap · #13 01-22-2006, 12:55 PM

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.

ladygreek · #14 01-22-2006, 05:42 PM

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.

smlwonderdst · #15 01-23-2006, 02:21 PM

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.