Black Hair: In the workplace and school

AKA2D '91 · #1 08-29-2002, 12:27 AM

A few weeks ago CNN-Talkback Live did a segment on a veteran city or county worker who had "twists". Her boss said that she had to remove the twists or she would be dismissed. Her boss, who on previous accounts commented positively about her new hairstyle. Yet, later insisted that she do away with the style or loose her job. The boss contends that the hair is not neat..yada yada. Whatever, that ladies hair was VERY neat.

This week locally, a student at a private school was asked to remove her cornrows from her hair. The school official said that students attending the school have to have styles where you are able to "comb through" the hair. They have tried to justify this by noting that a local black private (all boys) school does not allow braids or 'fros.

What's really going on? Aren't there bigger issues in the schools than if you can 'comb through' a person's hair?

Nappy_in_NJ · #2 08-29-2002, 10:05 AM

Here is a link that shows a piture of her hair.

http://www.savannahnow.com/stories/072602/LOChair.shtml

At work:
I agree that there should be standards, especially when an employee is in contact with the public. I DO NOT understand why African American hair is deemed offensive, unprofessional, unkempt and inapropriate. This is the hair I was born with. End of story.

At school:
If a student's hair was so dirty that they had lice or some other parasite, action should be taken because it puts the other childeren at risk, which is something that used to go on in my predominately white elementary school all the time.
If this is a private school, these childeren PAY to be there. The shcool needs to realize that their policy is culturally biased and adjust it.
I'm surprised that this girl is the first to wear cornrows.

Steeltrap · #3 08-29-2002, 11:54 AM

Jaysis, what does one's hair have to do w/one's job performance?

I just fail to see where braids are considered unkempt, or unprofessional.

Doesn't the government worker lady have civil service protection?

And I say this as someone who relaxes her hair.

pinkey08 · #4 08-29-2002, 12:19 PM

That should be considered racial discrimination. There is nothing wrong with wearing braids as long as they are not dirty and unkept. If I was her I would sue. Just like most companies and schools have a dress code maybe now they should have a hair code that specifies what they feel is appropriate. People should know by now that most African American people express themselves through their choice of hairstyles. There are more issues that need to be focused on besides braids and afros I mean come on now. Does that make me a less of a person just because I can't comb through my hair. That black private school is really hindering our pride and heritage by not letting its students at least be liberal with their hair. They already have to wear uniforms they could at least be able express their individuality with their hair styles.
________
Green crack pictures

nikki1920 · #5 08-29-2002, 03:45 PM

Umm, this is an office, so what does hair length have to do with job performance ability?! That clerk who wrote the "grooming" manual better be ready for a lawsuit b/c one is coming..

Ideal08 · #6 08-29-2002, 04:03 PM

Yeah, they're gonna get sued. I've heard that people have been told that cornrows are a "vacation" style. I'm like, maybe for you and Bo Derek, but not for us. The fact that we even still have to talk about this pisses me off. I cannot for the life of me figure out why the hell they can't just leave us the f--- alone. I'm sorry for the potty mouth, but that's how I feel. Heffas come to work, ain't washed they hair, and they cool. Stringy binches. We wear a braid, they get they pannies all up in a bunch. Chill out and do some work. Wouldn't your energy be best used on actual work? Like it has been said, it has nothing to do with job performance. None. I understand you need to be presentable at work, but I am tellin you, people take the mess too far. It's a control tactic. You let them control how you wear your hear, they will want to control what you wear, and how you talk. I'm not down for all that. Even if you are in sales, it shouldn't make a difference. That just says to me that it's ok to judge someone by how they look.

Ticks me off.

And WTF is goin on anyway????

Why couldn't my binch @$$ boss tell me not to wear cornrows???

Why is everyone getting law suits but me? Can I get a class action? Can I get someone to discriminate against me? Can I get paid? That's all I wanna know, can I get paid? Shoot, where she work so I can apply, lol.

Honeykiss1974 · #7 08-29-2002, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ideal08
Yeah, they're gonna get sued. I've heard that people have been told that cornrows are a "vacation" style. I'm like, maybe for you and Bo Derek, but not for us. The fact that we even still have to talk about this pisses me off. I cannot for the life of me figure out why the hell they can't just leave us the f--- alone. I'm sorry for the potty mouth, but that's how I feel. Heffas come to work, ain't washed they hair, and they cool. Stringy binches. We wear a braid, they get they pannies all up in a bunch. Chill out and do some work. Wouldn't your energy be best used on actual work? Like it has been said, it has nothing to do with job performance. None. I understand you need to be presentable at work, but I am tellin you, people take the mess too far. It's a control tactic. You let them control how you wear your hear, they will want to control what you wear, and how you talk. I'm not down for all that. Even if you are in sales, it shouldn't make a difference. That just says to me that it's ok to judge someone by how they look. Ticks me off.

And WTF is goin on anyway???? Why couldn't my binch @$$ boss tell me not to wear cornrows??? Why is everyone getting law suits but me? Can I get a class action? Can I get someone to discriminate against me? Can I get paid? That's all I wanna know, can I get paid? Shoot, where she work so I can apply, lol.

DAG!

RELAX, RELATE,RELEASE IDEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CTFU @ "Stringy binches" *lol*

oneinamillion · #8 08-29-2002, 08:41 PM

now isn't this grounds for a lawsuit???? Some people are so dam oooooold fashion and think that their way of life is so immaculate.

CrucialCrimson · #9 08-29-2002, 11:44 PM

I don't have a problem with difference of opinion as to hair as long as there is some consistency. If I can't wear braids, then Suzie can't come in with pink and purple hair. If a school, especially a private school, has consistent grooming and uniform standards, then they probably aren't running afoul of the law by saying no cornrows - but a public worker might have more reason to complain or sue, but it still might depend on policies and past practices - I think some police departments have been successful in banning braids and twists but a public office worker that doesn't wear a uniform might be treated differently. P.S., I have my own business and I don't allow employees to wear cornrows in my office because I think they are unprofessional - just like "unemployed" nails with everything except monopoly pieces glued to them, but some white folks play their cards by allowing every form of dress and hair under the sun and then they stumble over their words trying to explain why a black hair style offends them.

thesweetestone · #10 08-30-2002, 12:01 AM

What about those women who let their hair grow down to their asses that's what look nasty and unkept. That is gross.

I think cornrows are cute on men and women. If that person keep their hair neat I don't see the problem with them wearing cornrows.WTF!

FeeFee · #11 08-30-2002, 09:29 AM

The people obviously have too much time on their hands - or sipping/smoking some serious stuff

I see a potential lawsuit in the making.

nikki1920 · #12 08-30-2002, 10:37 AM

CrucialCrimson: so a worker with Alicia Keys' hairstyle would not be hired by you? Just trying to understand.

Ideal08 · #13 08-30-2002, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CrucialCrimson
I don't allow employees to wear cornrows in my office because I think they are unprofessional

What, exactly, makes them unprofessional? How can HAIR be professional?

Have you noticed in your experience that people who wear cornrows do less work or their work performance is worse than those with "more professional" hair-do's? Or does it cause a distraction in the office? Are locks treated the same? Do you think those are unprofessional, too? Are microbraids, or singles allowed in your office? And if so, why that style of braid and not cornrows? If the hair is neat and well kept, what is the big deal? Do people 'act' different based on how their hair is styled? I ask this because I remember having a dress code explained to me at a job and being told that when you are dressed too comfortable, you tend to act a little too comfortable. Do you think it's the same with hair? And I'm not attacking you or your opinion, I just really want to know. And I really want to hear what you have to say, because you are Black. I think that adds a different spin on this topic. Because, if it is a Black boss telling a Black employee how to wear or not to wear their hair, is it still racism???

CrucialCrimson · #14 08-30-2002, 12:16 PM

Alicia would not be working in my office - her look is fine for the music industry or on a basketball court but not in my law office. We have a very conservative dress code in my office and that's just the way it is - this applies to hair and clothes and yes folks have been sent home for wearing their lime green party dress to work. Casual gear does sometimes lend itself to casual attitudes and sloppier work that is why it is something that we do only ocassionaly and dress down does not mean casual to me. It's a small office, but I don't tolerate casual attire or casual hair - if someone presented a religious argument, I would take it into consideration but quite frankly if that were their case it would have been obvious at the interview and dealt with at that point. For those of you claiming that cornrows aren't "trendy" why weren't you seeing them 5-10 years ago and you probably won't be seeing them 5-10 years from now. Cornrows haven't been as big a problem with employees as other "colored" hair, tacky tracks and nails, excessive jewelry, etc. If you don't like it you are free to seek employment elsewhere - if you would hire an attorney that had someone looking like Latrell Sprewell answering the phones more power to you but that's not what my clients expect when they walk into my office.

mccoyred · #15 08-30-2002, 12:43 PM

Law offices and banks tend to be on the more conservative end of the spectrum. Whereas show biz is on the extreme other end. Most workplaces lie somewhere in the middle.

Quote:

Originally posted by CrucialCrimson
Alicia would not be working in my office - her look is fine for the music industry or on a basketball court but not in my law office. We have a very conservative dress code in my office and that's just the way it is - this applies to hair and clothes and yes folks have been sent home for wearing their lime green party dress to work. Casual gear does sometimes lend itself to casual attitudes and sloppier work that is why it is something that we do only ocassionaly and dress down does not mean casual to me. It's a small office, but I don't tolerate casual attire or casual hair - if someone presented a religious argument, I would take it into consideration but quite frankly if that were their case it would have been obvious at the interview and dealt with at that point. For those of you claiming that cornrows aren't "trendy" why weren't you seeing them 5-10 years ago and you probably won't be seeing them 5-10 years from now. Cornrows haven't been as big a problem with employees as other "colored" hair, tacky tracks and nails, excessive jewelry, etc. If you don't like it you are free to seek employment elsewhere - if you would hire an attorney that had someone looking like Latrell Sprewell answering the phones more power to you but that's not what my clients expect when they walk into my office.