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The policy read: “For general
hairstyles: dreadlocks or “twisty” hairstyles are not
acceptable. Hair carvings are not permitted. Hair color is
to be of one of the original colors. No hairstyle is to call
attention to itself. Spikes and Mohawks are strictly
forbidden. No exaggerated hairstyles. The AP/Dean will make
the final ruling on hairstyles and colors. Further along,
for Gentlemen it read: 6) Hair is to be neat, clean,
properly combed, does not extend beyond the bottom of the
collar or in some way obscures a student’s face. (No
dreadlocks).”
Once people received word of
this taking place, through Facebook, they rallied behind the
student and her family. A protest was organized and people
wrote into to the school to express their disagreement with
the policy. After these events occurred, the policy was
changed slightly, and the student was permitted to keep her
hairstyle. She attended the school and also graduated at the
top of her class. In other policies that have been shared on
various media outlets, the language also has read that
“Afros, twisties, braids and beads” are all unacceptable
hairstyles in schools.
Earlier this fall, the 11th
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against a lawsuit filed
by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against a
company in Mobile, Alabama that refused to hire someone
because of his “dreadlocks.” While the EEOC argued that this
ruling was against the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title VII
citing dreadlocks as a “racial characteristic”, the court
rebutted with the argument that a hairstyle can be changed,
but skin color cannot.
This is an argument that seems to be unsupported because it
is most often specific to African Americans. While
Caucasians may wear dreadlocks, the cases of the hairstyle
being banned or inappropriate for school, work and in some
cases, leisure, typically pertain to African Americans.
This argument is
on-the-other-hand silenced with regard to gender equality
and same-sex marriage. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 gets
thrown into this social battle, even though individuals can
choose their partners and now can change their gender. If
the court can uphold a decision for people who make those
choices, then people who choose to wear locks as their
hairstyle should also be given the same rights. This is not
an act or statement against the equality movement, just like
Black Lives Matter is not against police.
Indirect racism has been
taking place in schools and workplaces for many years, and
it doesn’t get the same response from people as the overt
racism being imposed on African Americans by police and
politicians.
Bans on hairstyles most often
worn by African Americans has become more of an obstacle in
recent years as more people are wearing natural hairstyles
which include locks. From students in schools around the
world, to adults in the workplace, there has been a war
waged against Black Identity while lobbyists, courts and
organizations fight for equality in gender identity.
The frontline has become so
wide that it seems impossible to penetrate or go around. The
war against Black Identity was waged during slavery, when
slaves were shaved or prohibited from grooming, then their
hair was called “dreadful.” Then it was upheld after the
Civil Rights Act was passed because those who wore natural
hairstyles were considered militant and rebellious.
When cosmetology began, it
was only being taught in small private schools. Its
curriculum was only established to cater to the European
woman. The curriculum has not changed much in the last 90
years and yet African Americans make up a huge portion of
professionals and consumers in the forty-billion dollar hair
care industry.
According to the American
Association of Cosmetology Schools, 12 percent of
individuals in personal appearance occupations are African
American and 21 percent of businesses in the salon industry
are black owned.
A 2013 Nielsen report
concluded that, “With a current buying power of $1 trillion
that is forecasted to reach $1.3 trillion by the year 2017,
the importance of connecting with African-American consumers
is more important than ever.” It further states that 46
percent of purchases made by African-American households are
to beauty supply stores for hair care products and tools.
These statistics show that
African Americans do have the power to fight the war against
racial identity. It isn’t just about boycotting companies
that want black dollars or putting money in black-owned
banks, it is about making changes in the foundation of the
beauty industry.
The state of Ohio has some of the harshest regulations for
cosmetologists and natural hair stylists, yet Black students
still enrolled in large numbers, knowing that the curriculum
doesn’t support the complex hair care needs of the
African-American consumer.
There are books published for
black hair care that are never used in cosmetology schools
because it is not a requirement in any state in order to
receive a license to practice. The black hair care book is
outdated and a natural hair care book was published in 2013,
yet there are few schools who are accredited by states, that
offer the state required curriculum in order for individuals
to become licensed in natural hair care. These are barriers
that can be broken with the right bills and laws in place to
require the cosmetology industry to make changes to
accommodate African-American hair care practices.
This is important because if
black hair care had been a part of the normal cosmetology
curriculum, it would be less of an issue when it comes to
what is acceptable to employers and other establishments.
Gender equality is less of an issue in 2016 than in 2014
because bills were created and laws were passed to
accommodate the growing LGBT community.
It is more acceptable now to
see a gender-neutral bathroom or a same-sex marriage than it
is to see an African-American woman wearing locks to her
job.
It is a fact that the more
African Americans refuse to assimilate to the European
standard of beauty, the greater the problem it is for others
to accept us. This has to change, so that the discrimination
against Black Identity decreases. #BlackHairMatters |
