Photo Credit: @iambioncasanders
Federal court once ruled it legal for employers to ban dreadlocks. There are young girls in middle school that are getting suspended for wearing their natural hair. It’s more than "just hair" when black women are getting fired from their jobs for the natural styles they choose to wear in their hair, not because of their actions.
It’s amazing to see the boldness that has overcome black women in the workplace over the past decade. Changing our hair can mean dealing with the blank stares, mindless questions, and microaggression in the workplace from non-black peers when you walk in with natural hair and no one else looks like you. But you’ll read that DESPITE this, black women are still staying true to themselves.
“Our natural hair is our Devine Crowns, and when we wear it, we often bring so much power that it makes others uncomfortable. I've had an experience recently after doing the big chop and coming to my corporate job where some people I would normally speak to in passing would not even directly look at me or seemed to attempt to avoid me. It's not my face, my face is the same so what would cause this behavior in others. I had to really think about this deeply because I could have almost internalized it like it was something I did wrong but then I realized. It's My Crown, my Divine Crown was the only difference and it brought so much power and energy that it became difficult for others who mostly wore a mask themselves, to stand next to pure light and divinity.
Thank you for bringing awareness and sharing our stories. I found my own level up through that experience and love myself even more than before. I'm thankful for the power my divinity as a Black Women holds!” - Bionca Sanders @iambioncasanders
Story time from Janece Dixon:
“I had someone recently reach for my braids and say, “I bet you hate when people touch your hair”.... as she touched my hair... I politely smiled and said “Please don’t do that 😁” *sarcastically af*
Sucks. Internally feeling like if you say something you’ll make a white woman feel bad and then it’ll just be more mess than necessary..
Be confident in your hair and your BLACKness and everyone else will fall in line. Your blackness is your power-suit.” - Janece Dixon
Janece’s story is just one of many uncomfortable experiences that occur in the work place as a black woman. Below you’ll hear different views regarding this subject.
“Don’t remove the kinks from your hair! Remove them from your brain!”
-Marcus Garvey
“Over the years black women have experienced criticism for the way we wear our hair in the workplace. It’s beautiful to see the way we’ve chosen to embrace our natural coils by rocking hairstyles that allow our respective hair textures to flourish. I applaud each and every black woman that has taken a stand to educate Wall Street that they don’t have a say over our hair. Our natural hair is God given, as well as the gift that spur forward the business we sow into daily.” - Jasmine Hart @iamjasminehart
“My concept of black hair in the workplace is that I do what I want. I honestly don’t care enough of what people think of my hair so I change it up as often as I please. My company is very lenient and casual where people of all races often go very bold with their hairstyles so I do not feel that I’ll be criticized for the hair I wear. I know I’m lucky in that sense since not every person of color has that support in their company!”- Jiselle Owens @thtfashionista_
“ Being black means that you are able to wear a lot of different hairstyle. So never be scared to wear your hair a certain way because at the end of the day the only person opinion that matters is yours. Period.” - Jasmine Choice @jazzyfrizzle
“ Thankfully I’m blessed to work for a company that doesn’t too much care about our hair choices but I find it crazy that some companies do. Nothing is more organic and beautiful than a black woman embracing her natural tresses. It’s 2020 and we are still being discriminated for our natural hair something we have no control over is just sad.” - Brittani Ford @teambrittani
“Black hair in the workplace to me is thinking twice before making a hair change. And if you do make a hair change, being prepared for the questions that come with it.” - Jodi Poteat @jodipetite