Black Hair: In the workplace and school

[Nappy_in_NJ]

Originally posted by astrikingbeauty
Nappy & Happy:
You're right it's her place of business and I stated an opinion toward her NOT you!!!!! Now what I wanted to state is my business and you know what...I'm not asking you to agree with me, I could care less if you do or don't.
I still stand beside what I said

I don't recall you you stating an opinion. It was more like an attack. Anyway, if you want YOUR business to stay YOUR business don't post it on a message board.

Originally posted by astrikingbeauty " now what"!!!

Now I can agree to disagree and engage in a healthy debate but there is no need to antagonize me.

Thank You

[miss priss]

Unfortunately in America, mostly EVERYTHING is based around what is accepted in "White" America. Our hairstyles are merely an extension of our culture...they understand that totally. If it looks unclean and unkept then it becomes an issue with anybody.
WE as AA have a problem with our hair ...WE have a tendency to try to straighten our hair to "fit in" professionally...not to say that straight hair isn't a style choice....but We think that White America will not accept our hair choices.
True corporate America wants to appeal to ANY culture that is the flavor of the month that will make them money. Image plays a large role in this because it depends on the image the company wants to portray. For example, I was watching CNN and they had a AA female anchor woman who had the thick braids. Once again,itdepends on who you are tryng to appeal to.
Personally, I think white people are in awe of our hair. Alot of them think it is "cool" of what we can do with our hair.
I believe moreso than anything having what I call Ghetto-do's(ya know gold beads at the end of EACH braid, green , orange or loud colored braids, 50 hairstyles on ONE head like a swoop bang,ringlets jheri curl, twists ...OMG )would turn any professional off. Know that's what really scary!

[astrikingbeauty]

Originally posted by Nappy_in_NJ


I don't recall you you stating an opinion. It was more like an attack. Anyway, if you want YOUR business to stay YOUR business don't post it on a message board.

and in your opinion it was an attack. Look girl it's a big difference between an opinionated statement and an attack. You want an attack go watch WWF. I'm not about to go bout for bout with you on this one. So get a life!!!!!!!!
RE: "I should have known" . WELL NOW YOU KNOW "HELLO"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[oneinamillion]

woah, woah, woah Ladies!!!

Let show some respect. What's going on today!!!! I'll check back in much much later on!!!!!!

[Nappy_in_NJ]

Originally posted by miss priss

Personally, I think white people are in awe of our hair. Alot of them think it is "cool" of what we can do with our hair.

I totally agree with you. I have to answer questions about my hair all the time especially before I went natural. I often wondered if I was the first AA person they have come in contact with.

All in all, I do understand why companies feel the need to set standards when it comes to employee appearance. While we may only want to rock cornrows and twa's others may want crayola hair. My main beef is when compliance to a policy would require a relaxer like in the initial post. I can only get a comb through my hair when it is wet. Hopefully a discussion like this will be unnecessary in 5 years.

[lovelyivy84]

What is going on here?

One of the cardinal rules on THIS board has always been respect.

astrikinglybadmanneredperson, you aren't showing any, not to CrucialCrimson, not to NappyInNJ. Get a grip.

[Afrochic]

Originally posted by Nappy_in_NJ

Nappies: There are businesses that will accept our hair. Let's find them and move on.

I agree 100%

[CrucialCrimson]

Originally posted by astrikingbeauty
C.C. why don't you cut all the crap and just say it and be finished!
"to come into your place of business one has stray away from their African roots; with perms, and wigs". You are so pathetic!!!!! You speak that one who signs their name on the back of a/the check has lessor say.......... oh how so stupid. Entertainers, Entrepreneurs, Health Professionals are always signing their name on the back of a check. Go get a life. You can say what you want to say after this post.....because I've said what I had to say!!!!!

African Roots! Please, have you ever been to Africa!

[lluvmook98]

astriking...

It is not your opinion that is the problem, it is the tone of the message and the seeming lack of respect that comes across.

I know you don't care what I think but that is exactly the problem, we are discussing others caring about our right to our own hair texture but then we don't care about respecting one another with our tone and comments.

Speak to others as you would want them to speak to you.

(We all know those people who will curse you out then want to fight if you did the same to them )

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by astrikingbeauty
C.C. why don't you cut all the crap and just say it and be finished!
"to come into your place of business one has stray away from their African roots; with perms, and wigs". You are so pathetic!!!!! You speak that one who signs their name on the back of a/the check has lessor say.......... oh how so stupid. Entertainers, Entrepreneurs, Health Professionals are always signing their name on the back of a check. Go get a life. You can say what you want to say after this post.....because I've said what I had to say!!!!!

And you are an utterly rude creature who needs to get a life yourself. Were all the rolleyes necessary?

Showing out, whether on a message board, or what have you, isn't very becoming, mature or ladylike.

People with college educations can agree to disagree, while exercising civility and decorum. Why don't you try it?

[astrikingbeauty]

[i]Originally posted by CrucialCrimson

I don't allow employees to wear cornrows in my office because I think they are unprofessional [/B]

I'm not concern about any of you who differ from my thoughts. I can roll with it. I haven'tdisplayed a distasteful toneness in my message. What is this the religion forum. My goodness....so what are you saying a person can't express their thoughts. Now if I were cussing and all that stuff it would surely be a different story. You people who pretends like you are soooo offended are ridiculous.

And CC in re: to have I been to Africa....yes I have in my African roots, my African history books, my concerns about my African and/or African-American sisters and brothers who are constantly misread by black folk like you. You don't have to directly go to Africa to be aware of what's going on. So what are you saying the only way to feel the pain of 9-11 was to actually be in the World Trade Center or even NYC. Girl get a grip....your head is probably mo' nappy than anybody who ever posted here from the day this whole website started. And you sit there talking about "professional this and professional that". See one has to watch out for someone like you. I know your type just by your talk. You probably think Tupac is the scum of the earth and Micheal Jackson is God.

I won't be responding anymore to this hogwash. If you people are in agreeance with CC, then more power to you. I'm not going to knock you. Alot of you are just college black folk anyway, when you experience life more you're understand.

All I can say is you're only doing the Asians a favor by keeping their wigs shops open and making them richer than Black America will ever be. CC you say cornrows are unprofessional. I can't even believe it!!!!!!!

I'm not even worried....you mark my words you're be constantly bumping heads with folks here and in the work force. I'm the only person who has been honest enough to tell you the truth. Everyone else is just scared of you.

Tootles, off for GOOD!!!

[miss priss]

ASB you are entitled to an opinion and a right to speak your mind...but there was absolutely nothing strikingly beautiful about your post or your attitude! If you want people to listen to what you have to say then you must be willing to listen also. Your post was obnoxious and rude and CC I hope you have two good hands because she needs to talk to one!

[Krisco]

The thing I have the biggest problem with is the underlying assumption that natural nappy hair is in need of some kind of approval. The "natural hair is fine, if its not unkempt" attitude. Has anyone EVER heard this said to a person who wears relaxed hair??? Why do so many assume natural hair is regularly unkempt???? A lot of people in general need to get there heads out of the clouds, be honest with themselves, and then get educated about those roots we've run from for so many years. Nappy hair is just that, white america made us believe that our hair isn't right, it can't be conservative, its outlandish, its ugly. Then our gererations before us unfortunately taught most of us this as we grew up. The thing I have to say is, please dont come at a natural hair wearer and let them know their hair is ok, as long as it neat and kempt. I am sure most of all you ladies who actually know people, or you wear your natural hair know that most natural heads have the cleanest hair in the world. I wash my hair nearly everyday in the summer, when I was permed...let's just say it wasnt nearly that often, and I'd go weeks when I had to maintain "tha style" can I get a witness???? So logistically who would be more unkempt, per se??? Neat and conservative doesn't have to mean straight as possible, I'm sorry it just doesn't. Forgive a sister whose NATURAL GOD-GIVEN hair texture and coil pattern, that doesn't lie flat and limp. I know the difference between conservative and wild...nappy hair can be both believe that! If you want to make a difference in this ongoing hair war, start by realizing that straight hair is not the standard anymore. For some it will always be, but for many that time has came and went. A style choice is one that is NOT influenced by societal pressures of acceptance and normality, to me that is what permed hair(for most, let's be real) is...a style pressure not a choice.

[Ideal08]

Originally posted by astrikingbeauty
I haven'tdisplayed a distasteful toneness in my message. What is this the religion forum. My goodness....so what are you saying a person can't express their thoughts. Now if I were cussing and all that stuff it would surely be a different story. You people who pretends like you are soooo offended are ridiculous.

I see you haven't been around AKA Ave. too long, however, we DO have rules and structure over here. There was a distasteful tone in your message when you called CrucialCrimson pathetic. We don't allow name calling in this forum. If you have something to say to a fellow GCer, then please, do it by PM. It doesn't take cussing to offend, so no, it is not a different story. And then to call someone else ridiculous. You have a lot of nerve. Please be cordial or get your posts deleted. Thanks.

[allsmiles_22]

African-American Hair Flair: Is it Too Much for the Office?
By Angela D. Johnson

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* 2004 DiversityInc.com
July 08, 2004

In the course of a year, a month or even a week, African-American women may change their hair from kinky to chemically relaxed, basic bob to braids, short to long, or jet black to brassy blond. For many, hair serves as an outlet for creative expression.

"It's something that is primary in our culture," said Mikki Taylor, beauty director and cover editor for Essence magazine. "Our mothers begin the process by adorning and styling our hair in the cradle. When you come of age with that sensibility, it's not difficult to see how that would carry out in our womanhood."

Dallas Morning News Reporter Linda Jones, a 20-plus-year veteran of natural hairstyles, including braids and dreadlocks, said, "Being able to embrace an African-inspired style is very freeing*. It's important to not feel as though I have to do any major altering to my characteristics to feel accepted by society."

But is this form of expression welcome in the workplace?

Taylor says reactions range from complete acceptance to disgust; however, most African-American women have not let the negative reactions sway their styling options.

"I think the desire to express ourselves certainly overrides it," said Taylor, regarding any second thoughts African-American women may have about a hairstyle. "When you celebrate your beauty, there is no facet that you want to deny at the expense of going to work."

Pamela Johnson, president of Nia Consulting & Development, a Richardson, Texas-based diversity consultancy, agreed that African-American women should sport the hairstyles of their choosing; however, she cautioned that they need to be prepared to face the potential consequences.

"When you wear your hair in a certain way, you run the risk of stereotyping," said Johnson.

Johnson provided the Afro, which was popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s, as a historic example. African Americans with the puffy hairstyle were, at times, assumed to be militant. Today, some people may believe that anything other than straight, chemically relaxed hair is inappropriate in a business setting. Others may be closed-minded enough to think that those with dreadlocks are unkempt, marijuana-smoking Rastafarians.

"That's what you run the risk of when you're in corporate America," said Johnson. "Not everybody wants to fool with the dynamics of fighting those battles."

Jones has gone a couple of rounds with colleagues over her hair. She has been the target of questions, such as "How do you wash your hair?," questions she said never were asked of her co-workers of other races.

"People question your grooming, hygiene and sanity when you decide to go natural," said Jones.

Given the increasing diversity of the business world, it's understandable that people will be curious about their co-workers' appearance. However, sometimes co-workers' curiosity extends beyond asking a simple question to encroaching on one's personal space.

"I've had a co-worker* take the liberty of putting her hands in my hair," said Jones. "I was annoyed that she felt she could take liberty in doing that."

In response to this personal invasion, Jones sent an e-mail to her co-workers requesting that they refrain from putting their hands in her hair and suggesting that they consult books about African-American hair care to learn more.

While Jones' story is an example of a co-worker who crossed the line, Johnson, who admits that she has had people ask if they could touch her hair, said "There's nothing wrong with asking questions as long as the questions are respectful and not meant to be judgmental or critical."

If people's questions are motivated by prejudice, there's the potential for them to make judgments about other aspects of the person, Johnson said. These hair-based prejudices could keep someone from getting a job or impede one's path up the career ladder.

Companies have the right to establish the boundaries for what they consider a professional appearance. Hair-based bias is not illegal; however, an employee may be able to argue that the prejudice is a form of racial discrimination.

Taylor said that while lawsuits rooted in hairstyle discrimination were prevalent in the 1980s, there are far fewer today. Taylor credits the decrease to African-American women's continued insistence on wearing various hairstyles in the workplace despite the potential for negative reactions.

Jones, an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in mainstream publications, such as Newsweek, Glamour and USA Today, and ethnic publications, including Essence and Black Enterprise, said her ethnic hairstyles never have been a job impediment. She believes being in touch with her African heritage actually has given her additional insight in covering global subjects, such as the multiracial elections in South Africa or the black Hebrew Israelite community in Israel.

Ultimately, Johnson said hair shouldn't be a workplace issue. She said people need to look beyond superficial elements such as hair in order to see a person's true character.

"Hair is only a small part of what makes an individual who they are," said Johnson.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luckily, I've received nothing but positive responses about my many hairstyles. My co-workers are always asking "what's next".