A friend of mine called me to calm her down before an interview. While releasing the nervousness and uncertainty that we all experience before a possibly life changing moment she said, “I think my hair is to kinky for this interview.” I reassured her that no employer would care that her hair was kinky. They know you’re a black woman as soon as you enter the building. I don’t think what I said helped but the real question is this: Is your natural appearance as a Black person a detriment when in Corporate America?
Chris Rock’s documentary “Good Hair” highlighted some of the thoughts of why African Americans spend BILLIONS of dollars a year on “Whitening up.” On the documentary, a young woman said that she got perms because having a afro is unprofessional. Conversely, another interviewee said, “Its amazing that not altering my appearance as an African American makes me extreme.”
My personal experience from having “Dread Locs” is that older African-Americans and those influenced by older African-Americans are the only people that have a problem with natural African hairstyles. Most Whites are curious and/or fascinated by natural hairstyles. Many will ask, “Is it possible to do that to my hair?” The closest thing to a negative comment I’ve ever received was when applying for a management position at Enterprise Rentals. They have a written policy that men cannot have hair passed their shoulders nor facial hair. (other than a well trimmed mustache)
My brother-in-law, who has locs nearly sweeping the floor, told me something a long time ago that I believe as true. If an employer has a problem with you being you then you probably don’t want to work for that employer. Having the hair you were born with is not the same as having a swastika tattooed on your face or dying your hair bright pink.
As the Late Bernie Mack said in House Party 3, “If people don’t like you for you are, F*&% ‘em with handcuffs on ‘em and crazy glue on their lips… F*&% ‘em!
What do you think? Are dreads, braids, kinky twists, afros, and other natural hair styles not acceptable in the corporate arena? Furthermore, do you think darker complected people have a harder time getting jobs than lighter complected people? Look around your office.
Are dreads, braids, kinky twists, afros, and other natural hair styles not acceptable in the corporate arena?
I think that you should be accepted for who you are and that style is a form of expression that is granted to each person as an individual. Being in various corporate settings I have seen how corporate america looks down on expression not allowing us to wear are hair naturally in locks, even if they are supremely well kept, which I totally disagree with but at the end of the day I’m not the one doing the hiring or the firing. We have come a long way but we are not there yet.
Furthermore, do you think darker complected people have a harder time getting jobs than lighter complected people? Look around your office.
There are others of various complexions at my job but again we are still the minority. One of the highest ranking women in the entire corporation is African-American, not to discredit that but we still have a long way to go. When I interviewed here for the first time I was on my way out and another African-American male asked if I had worked here because he had never met me I told him no but I’m interviewing. To make a long story short we had a brief discussion, he gave me an additional recommendation and I only knew the man for all of 10 minutes, that’s a step in the right direction but we still have a way to go.
I’ve worked for a non-profit, local gov’t and now fed gov’t as a contractor. I wear my hair either straight or kinky/curly/big. I get more side-eyes from other African-American women who wear their hair straight all the time than I do from anyone else. I’m always taken aback at that reaction. On the other hand, White people react postively and usually ask why I don’t wear it like that all the time. I feel like my hair matters less than getting my job done well.
From what I’ve seen today it has become more accepted as long as your hair is in a well kept manner. I wear my naturally curly, kinky (whatever you want to call it) hair to all interviews and have yet to get a position because of it. Actually my “white” supervisor hates when I straighten my hair.
Well this blog definitely hit home being that I’m a sista w/ locs. I posted a vlog on youtube about “good hair” long before chris rock’s movie. The feedback from my vlog was great! I received many compliments on my hair.
There is a european aesthetic of beauty that most african american woman try to uphold. By chemically altering our hair & changing our noses we reinforce that standard. Most of us are not taught to fully appreciate our natural beauty, while other races admire our skin tone, lips & hips. That is so weird to me. We usually look to tv, movies, internet & magazines (entertainment) to tell us what’s beautiful.
Paul Mooney said it best, “Black women relax their hair so that white folks will relax. They ain’t wearin it nappy cause white folks won’t be happy!” This is true in hollywood and in several other cases. However, we cannot be afraid to be who we are.
In the 60′s & 70′s african americans made afros cool. Everybody wanted one. Remember james brown “I’m black and I’m proud!” Too bad it was short lived. Some of those same people rocking afros in the 70′s look down on today’s youth for sporting natural hair styles. The african americans that look at others with disdain for wearing their natural hair texture are brainwashed. My “blackness” is not a burden. In fact, it is the spice of life.