Historical Black College, Hampton University bans Male MBA Students from Wearing Cornrows & Dreadlocks

Ghaliyah

I find that black people are the ones most offended by my natural hair.

Althea Robinson

Ghaliyah… what texture hair do u have and what is ur background?
Caramel

I would like to agree wholeheartedly with your comment. All this thing about the Corporate Business World not liking our hair. The more of us wear our natural hair, the quicker the Corporate World will get used to our natural hair which can be just as neat as anybody else’s. I have found much to my disappointment that white people seem to love natural hair more than black people. I do think sometimes we put up barriers and excuses which are not always necessarily there.
- Dkghe
  
  who is in coorporate america? whites mostly, so they are the one’s with the issue. blacks just try to conform to it, but whites are the real issue.
  - http://twitter.com/Preciousone617 Andrea Davis
    
    I disagree this article proves it the writer is Black . Like Caramel said and i agree whites love our hair its our people who have this issue that they feel relaxers texturizers are the answer to rising in corporate America or anywhere else for that matter which is ludicrous. Take our first lady shes relaxed but ironically her daughters aren’t. This is not slavery yall keep saying whites started the issues that was hundreds of years ago .Times have changed the person even back then who allowed it to control us and is still doing that is Black people end of story. That’s like someone saying oo you should not wear that outfit because i don’t like the color on you ultimately that’s their opinion, but you don’t have to let their view deter what you want to wear and that goes with hair. We cant complain if we don’t make a stand. Thats the issue no one stands up for nothing no more when it comes to matters that could seem bias and almost discriminatory.
Ktodd1289

I definitely agree with you Ghaliya! I am natural and work with majority whites and they love my hair especially at its wildest. When I do wear my hair wild or post a pic of my wild hair on facebook I have had comments from my black friends saying “I need to do something with that mess” or “I know you didn’t wear your hair like that to work” and it is very disappointing to hear that from my own people. My supervisor who is a white lady asked me one day do people get jealous because I am able to wear my hair so many different ways. I do think we do criticize one another too much, always focus on what others will think.

etsy.com/shop/oliviasbutterfly
- GRAND
  
  WHITE PEOPLE DEFINE THE COORPORATE WORLD. THIS IS WHERE THE ISSUE LIES.
  - Emlee
    
    White people may DEFINE IT but black people are the ones who choose to follow it. The point is we don’t HAVE to yet those in are OWN communities give us grief over that fact. Obvi some/many still idolize the look of powerful men and women from the past but when it comes to acknowledging that times are changing we seem to be the most behind. Regardless of who is trying to hold us down… well it just doesn’t matter. Our purpose will not be to target or mark anyone as an enemy but to stand up as individuals and tell everyone what freedom is. Wearing our hair in its natural state is freedom and so is relaxing it. So what if relaxing may be stemmed from insecurities or that someone somewhere feels natural hair is wild. We just have to show acceptance of different opinions and try to weed out some of the ignorance. We cannot and should not scapegoat any one group because of soreness from past or present offenses. The ISSUE lies in perspective.
Biele

black people are not the one’s who started it. whites have issues with your hair too
http://twitter.com/FMFashionMixer FMFashionMIxer

I agree, and honestly I wonder how many white people even know or care if our hair is natural. The only people who complain about my hair is my family because I refuse to wear it straight. So in their mind that must be reason why I am unemployed. As long as your hair is done that is all that matters.

Ghaliyah

I find that black people are the ones most offended by my natural hair.

AltheaRobinson

Ghaliyah… what texture hair do u have and what is ur background?
Caramel

I would like to agree wholeheartedly with your comment. All this thing about the Corporate Business World not liking our hair. The more of us wear our natural hair, the quicker the Corporate World will get used to our natural hair which can be just as neat as anybody else’s. I have found much to my disappointment that white people seem to love natural hair more than black people. I do think sometimes we put up barriers and excuses which are not always necessarily there.
- Dkghe
  
  who is in coorporate america? whites mostly, so they are the one’s with the issue. blacks just try to conform to it, but whites are the real issue.
  - http://twitter.com/Preciousone617 Andrea Davis
    
    I disagree this article proves it the writer is Black . Like Caramel said and i agree whites love our hair its our people who have this issue that they feel relaxers texturizers are the answer to rising in corporate America or anywhere else for that matter which is ludicrous. Take our first lady shes relaxed but ironically her daughters aren’t. This is not slavery yall keep saying whites started the issues that was hundreds of years ago .Times have changed the person even back then who allowed it to control us and is still doing that is Black people end of story. That’s like someone saying oo you should not wear that outfit because i don’t like the color on you ultimately that’s their opinion, but you don’t have to let their view deter what you want to wear and that goes with hair. We cant complain if we don’t make a stand. Thats the issue no one stands up for nothing no more when it comes to matters that could seem bias and almost discriminatory.
Ktodd1289

I definitely agree with you Ghaliya! I am natural and work with majority whites and they love my hair especially at its wildest. When I do wear my hair wild or post a pic of my wild hair on facebook I have had comments from my black friends saying “I need to do something with that mess” or “I know you didn’t wear your hair like that to work” and it is very disappointing to hear that from my own people. My supervisor who is a white lady asked me one day do people get jealous because I am able to wear my hair so many different ways. I do think we do criticize one another too much, always focus on what others will think.

etsy.com/shop/oliviasbutterfly
- GRAND
  
  WHITE PEOPLE DEFINE THE COORPORATE WORLD. THIS IS WHERE THE ISSUE LIES.
  - Emlee
    
    White people may DEFINE IT but black people are the ones who choose to follow it. The point is we don’t HAVE to yet those in are OWN communities give us grief over that fact. Obvi some/many still idolize the look of powerful men and women from the past but when it comes to acknowledging that times are changing we seem to be the most behind. Regardless of who is trying to hold us down… well it just doesn’t matter. Our purpose will not be to target or mark anyone as an enemy but to stand up as individuals and tell everyone what freedom is. Wearing our hair in its natural state is freedom and so is relaxing it. So what if relaxing may be stemmed from insecurities or that someone somewhere feels natural hair is wild. We just have to show acceptance of different opinions and try to weed out some of the ignorance. We cannot and should not scapegoat any one group because of soreness from past or present offenses. The ISSUE lies in perspective.
Biele

black people are not the one’s who started it. whites have issues with your hair too
http://twitter.com/FMFashionMixer FMFashionMIxer

I agree, and honestly I wonder how many white people even know or care if our hair is natural. The only people who complain about my hair is my family because I refuse to wear it straight. So in their mind that must be reason why I am unemployed. As long as your hair is done that is all that matters.

Caramel

I’m black British with my parents from Jamaica. I’m just curious to know with this article and not knowing the American system, are people who are from the Carribean or have parents from the Carribean allowed to attend this MBA course at this college and if that is the case, what do they do, since dreadlocks and cane/cornrows are part of their culture?

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=738336252 Audrey John Melzer

I’m a black American who’s father is from St. Lucia. It has been made very clear that while natural hair is OK with him, dreadlocks in a professional field (my sister and I are teachers) is not. As far as he is concerned (and most in the family) , dreadlocks are not a part of his culture. Regardless, my sister and I both had dreadlocks. My hair is now a loose natural and my sister still wears locks. I remember I huge disagreement between us all when my sister was pursing another job. He wanted her to cut her hair off into a TWA, because he thought it was more acceptable and professional than locks. He sited colleagues biases and prejudices toward folks who wear locks. Locks are not a part of every Caribbean’s culture.

I noted that this was the rule for “male” students, much like how long hair on white men is considered a no-no. I definitely don’t agree with this at all. but I can see how the dean came to this decision. It’s old-school. One question I have is about the length. Can a male student wear a short to medium- sized afro? Or are they all expected rock a caesar?
- Tiara Peeples
  
  In another article that I read stated that “tapered” short afros were acceptable.
  - Tiara Peeples
    
    *Another article that I read stated that the dean believes tapered short afros are acceptable.
Althea Robinson

I’m from the states (JERZEE Baby!! lol) and my parents are from Jamaica as well. Of course, anyone is able to attend the University / College. If it is a school policy it does not matter where they are from they would have to conform to the rules. And on the other hand.. Cornrows, braids, and dreadlocks are apart of all of “our” (blacks) culture.. We all stem from Africa.. some may be mixed inbetween, but our roots are from the motherland.. we just came on different slave ships..we have the same roots Period.

Caramel

I’m black British with my parents from Jamaica. I’m just curious to know with this article and not knowing the American system, are people who are from the Carribean or have parents from the Carribean allowed to attend this MBA course at this college and if that is the case, what do they do, since dreadlocks and cane/cornrows are part of their culture?

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=738336252 Audrey John Melzer

I’m a black American who’s father is from St. Lucia. It has been made very clear that while natural hair is OK with him, dreadlocks in a professional field (my sister and I are teachers) is not. As far as he is concerned (and most in the family) , dreadlocks are not a part of his culture. Regardless, my sister and I both had dreadlocks. My hair is now a loose natural and my sister still wears locks. I remember I huge disagreement between us all when my sister was pursing another job. He wanted her to cut her hair off into a TWA, because he thought it was more acceptable and professional than locks. He sited colleagues biases and prejudices toward folks who wear locks. Locks are not a part of every Caribbean’s culture.

I noted that this was the rule for “male” students, much like how long hair on white men is considered a no-no. I definitely don’t agree with this at all. but I can see how the dean came to this decision. It’s old-school. One question I have is about the length. Can a male student wear a short to medium- sized afro? Or are they all expected rock a caesar?
- Tiara Peeples
  
  In another article that I read stated that “tapered” short afros were acceptable.
  - Tiara Peeples
    
    *Another article that I read stated that the dean believes tapered short afros are acceptable.
AltheaRobinson

I’m from the states (JERZEE Baby!! lol) and my parents are from Jamaica, like yours Caramel. Of course, anyone is able to attend the University / College. If it is a school policy it does not matter where they are from they would have to conform to the rules. And on the other hand.. Cornrows, braids, and dreadlocks are apart of all of “our” (blacks) culture.. We all stem from Africa.. some may be mixed inbetween, but our roots are from the motherland.. we just came on different slave ships..we have the same roots Period.

Althea Robinson

I disagree with Audrey.. My dad has been a Jamaican Rastafarian and loc’d his hair just before I was born.. My mother is Jamaican as well and hated that he did that, especially with all of the prejudices he faced because of it.. Moreso, she was and still is not into that. However, I must say locs is most definitely apart of the St.Lucia culture, Caribbean island culture and most importantly the BLACK culture all together. please research your african history more. no sarcasm attached. We all stem from the same ROOT and to say it is NOT apart of our ROOTS is inaccurate.

Anonymous

I’m a Jamaican as well. living in Jamaica. What I have seen over the past few years is locs transforming from some counter-culture only for rastafarians to what is now a booming hair trend. Very fashionable, well maintained. Where I work there are so many managers, professionals etc with locs. It wasn’t always so accepted. But I guess left up to time, people will adapt.
- Althea Robinson
  
  my dad was almost killed by cops for wearing dreads back in the day.. he is a Rastafarian the cops blames it on mistaken identity. What does that have to do with knocking out all of a person’s front teeth, shedding their blood and beating them knight sticks. not that the person was guilty of anything nor was he fighting back or resisting arrest.. my dad got $20,000.. wooohoooo! what a great 12th Christmas eve present that was 22 years ago. smh. he had cops stop him prior to that and say they would get him. those r the same cops that did. – Other incidents were when my mom and dad were stop by a cop driving from Jersey to Florida and the cop said I stopped u because u look like this (a dread) u need to look like u look in ur green card (short cut).. there r 2 many more stories 2 tell.. but my dad just turned 60 and guess what? he still has those locs.

Althea Robinson

dont see my last reply so this is a test

AltheaRobinson

I disagree with Audrey.. My dad has been a Jamaican Rastafarian and loc’d his hair just before I was born.. My mother is Jamaican as well and hated that he did that, especially with all of the prejudices he faced because of it.. Moreso, she was and still is not into that. However, I must say locs is most definitely apart of the St.Lucia culture, Caribbean island culture and most importantly the BLACK culture all together. please research your african history more. no sarcasm attached. We all stem from the same ROOT and to say it is NOT a part of our culture is inaccurate.

quiet_listener

I’m a Jamaican as well. living in Jamaica. What I have seen over the past few years is locs transforming from some counter-culture only for rastafarians to what is now a booming hair trend. Very fashionable, well maintained. Where I work there are so many managers, professionals etc with locs. It wasn’t always so accepted. But I guess left up to time, people will adapt.
- AltheaRobinson
  
  my dad was almost killed by cops for wearing dreads back in the day.. he is a Rastafarian the cops blamed it on mistaken identity. What does that have to do with knocking out all of a person’s front teeth, shedding their blood and beating them with knight sticks. not that the person was guilty of anything nor was he fighting back or resisting arrest.. my dad got $20,000.. wooohoooo! Can u imagine seeing ur dad bloodied up and busted up because of his hair choices 4 ur 12th Christmas eve present. what a mess. smh. he had cops stop him prior to that and say they would get him for living in their area. those r the same cops that did. – Other incidents were when my mom and dad were stopped by a cop driving from Jersey to Florida and the cop said I stopped u because u look like this (a dread) u need to look like u look in ur green card (short cut) and nice and light skin (which he is very light).. there r 2 many more stories 2 tell… but my dad just turned 60 and guess what? he still has those locs.

AltheaRobinson

dont see my last reply so this is a test

Candace Bailey

He can’t be serious. I find it rather ironic that Dean Sid Credle mentions Martin Luther King Jr. in a statement that embodies the definition of segregation. Who is he to determine what is ideal or professional? Furthermore, most of the restrictions placed on dress/appearance in the workplace are ‘almost’ always for people of African/Afro descent. MLK was assassinated in 1968 and Charles Drew– neither lived in times of equal rights or freedom of expression.

I swear, titles don’t make you smart.

Anonymous

Has the dean seen the gorgeous model in the photo above? He might change his mind : ) Seriously though, I wholeheartedly agree with the incredibly astute statement that Cookie wrote.
http://twitter.com/Preciousone617 Andrea Davis

agreed

http://musingsofalover.blogspot.com/ Cookie

He can’t be serious. I find it rather ironic that Dean Sid Credle mentions Martin Luther King Jr. in a statement that embodies the definition of segregation. Who is he to determine what is ideal or professional? Furthermore, most of the restrictions placed on dress/appearance in the workplace are ‘almost’ always for people of African/Afro descent. MLK was assassinated in 1968 and Charles Drew didn’t even make it to the 60′s– neither lived in times of equal rights or freedom of expression.

I swear, titles don’t make you smart.

LouellaS

Has the dean seen the gorgeous model in the photo above? He might change his mind : ) Seriously though, I wholeheartedly agree with the incredibly astute statement that Cookie wrote.
http://twitter.com/Preciousone617 Andrea Davis

agreed

Althea Robinson

The first known examples of dreadlocks date back to East Africa and some parts of North Africa. Maasai men found in the regions of northern Tanzania and southern Kenya have been wearing dreadlocks for as long as they have survived. There hasn’t been official date of the “start” of Maasai dreadlocks, but it is a tradition that has been going on for thousands of years. Even today, Maasai men can be found easily donning their dreadlocks, with a tint of red color from the soil.

AltheaRobinson

The first known examples of dreadlocks date back to East Africa and some parts of North Africa. Maasai men found in the regions of northern Tanzania and southern Kenya have been wearing dreadlocks for as long as they have survived. There hasn’t been official date of the “start” of Maasai dreadlocks, but it is a tradition that has been going on for thousands of years. Even today, Maasai men can be found easily donning their dreadlocks, with a tint of red color from the soil.

http://www.facebook.com/yogiUSN Yolanda Yogi Harris

Big question here:
What hair style do the following have culturally and are not required to assimilate line {BORG}:
Jews with the curly locks and the hat
Muslim women from overseas received privilege before American Muslims
Moromon
Amish
Etc
Should I continue?
If American Mixed Black Races, don’t band together as these other respectable cultures, race, ethnic groups of people…..the African American, Black racial groups worldly in USA will new continue shackled by the continuous forced assimilation to whims if whim ever is Master.

http://www.facebook.com/yogiUSN Yolanda Yogi Harris

Big question here:
What hair style do the following have culturally and are not required to assimilate line {BORG}:
Jews with the curly locks and the hat
Muslim women from overseas received privilege before American Muslims
Moromon
Amish
Etc
Should I continue?
If American Mixed Black Races, don’t band together as these other respectable cultures, race, ethnic groups of people…..the African American, Black racial groups worldly in USA will new continue shackled by the continuous forced assimilation to whims if whim ever is Master.

Keke

This one is tricky. On the surface of it looks like discrimination but not sure it is. It is particularly targeted at black men not wearing cornrows or dreadlocks. I think cornrows and dreadlocks are not accepted in corporate America but women wearing box braids are because traditionally women braid their hair. And he is right traditionally men did not braid their hair or even grow it out. Okay maybe in some African cultures they did but corn rows and braids on men us a recent fashion.
We also forget that white people used to have elaborate hairs style just like Africans and African Americans from Victorian
era to even the fifties and their current simple hairstyles was at a point considered unkempt nd low class. Now this is the status quo. We are still attached to elaborate hairstyles because of the
nature of our hair and how our culture is developing. The problem is that because white culture is the status quo anything of it is deemed not the norm. So straight hair is deemed professional even though one time in history it was considered unkempt and too simple. I am personally on the fence. Fashion is cyclical. During the 20s men didn’t have elaborate hairstyles and that is what he is using as the basis or his argument, but look at traditional pictures of African guys and they did have elaborate hairstyles that were considered dignified. Maybe cornrows and braids are a resurrection of that. In terms of recent African American fahion then the look of the 20s for men then he has a point. Personally I prefer that look professionally speaking for black men and not just in terms of hair. Black men of that time took pride in being highly presentable and didn’t sag their jeans etc. Although there is some racial discrimination when it comes to black hair I think the message here is about young black men should go back to taking pride in their appearance like men of the 20s. At best this is sexism.

Keke

This one is tricky. On the surface of it looks like discrimination but not sure it is. It is particularly targeted at black men not wearing cornrows or dreadlocks. I think cornrows and dreadlocks are not accepted in corporate America but women wearing box braids are because traditionally women braid their hair. And he is right traditionally men did not braid their hair or even grow it out. Okay maybe in some African cultures they did but corn rows and braids on men us a recent fashion.
We also forget that white people used to have elaborate hairs style just like Africans and African Americans from Victorian
era to even the fifties and their current simple hairstyles was at a point considered unkempt nd low class. Now this is the status quo. We are still attached to elaborate hairstyles because of the
nature of our hair and how our culture is developing. The problem is that because white culture is the status quo anything of it is deemed not the norm. So straight hair is deemed professional even though one time in history it was considered unkempt and too simple. I am personally on the fence. Fashion is cyclical. During the 20s men didn’t have elaborate hairstyles and that is what he is using as the basis or his argument, but look at traditional pictures of African guys and they did have elaborate hairstyles that were considered dignified. Maybe cornrows and braids are a resurrection of that. In terms of recent African American fahion then the look of the 20s for men then he has a point. Personally I prefer that look professionally speaking for black men and not just in terms of hair. Black men of that time took pride in being highly presentable and didn’t sag their jeans etc. Although there is some racial discrimination when it comes to black hair I think the message here is about young black men should go back to taking pride in their appearance like men of the 20s. At best this is sexism.

Keke

What I find interesting about this debates is that it is a sign that black people are moving up in the corporate world. Yes yes there is discrimination and challenges but in the past there won’t even be a conversation about our hair. We would have straightened it just like white people to fit in. Because white people have defined the corporate world and a lot of things period they have had the space to decide what is professional hairstyles what is not. They have had the space to reject their former elaborate hairstyles and decide straight simple hairstyles is the way to go. We haven’t.due to the notion of good hair we have gone along with the status quo. The fact that we are challenging that is an indication we are becoming present in areas that we were not previously. And it is not just bout challenging white standards of beauty etc but having the space within black culture to determine what we consider professional or not professional. We forget that within white culture for straight hair to curly hair because curly hair is considered childish. Black people are negotiating the same things for themselves and we fail to see that because we think we are always challenging white standards of beauty. In a lot of African countries like Nigeria the Afro is not acceptable because it is considered unkempt or dada and it has nothing to do with taking on white standards of beauty but that it doesn’t represent their own standard of tidiness. So this conversation is more about black people negotiating the standards of beauty outside of any racial discrimination even thought there will always be undercurrents of that.

Keke

What I find interesting about this debates is that it is a sign that black people are moving up in the corporate world. Yes yes there is discrimination and challenges but in the past there won’t even be a conversation about our hair. We would have straightened it just like white people to fit in. Because white people have defined the corporate world and a lot of things period they have had the space to decide what is professional hairstyles what is not. They have had the space to reject their former elaborate hairstyles and decide straight simple hairstyles is the way to go. We haven’t.due to the notion of good hair we have gone along with the status quo. The fact that we are challenging that is an indication we are becoming present in areas that we were not previously. And it is not just bout challenging white standards of beauty etc but having the space within black culture to determine what we consider professional or not professional. We forget that within white culture for straight hair to curly hair because curly hair is considered childish. Black people are negotiating the same things for themselves and we fail to see that because we think we are always challenging white standards of beauty. In a lot of African countries like Nigeria the Afro is not acceptable because it is considered unkempt or dada and it has nothing to do with taking on white standards of beauty but that it doesn’t represent their own standard of tidiness. So this conversation is more about black people negotiating the standards of beauty outside of any racial discrimination even thought there will always be undercurrents of that.

Dolores

Although I disagree with “banning” students from wearing their hair a certain way, I do not think this is an attack on natural hair. The men the Dean cited, King, Ali, Drew all had natural hair – it was just short (but not so short that their texture was hard to detect). Because of that I think that this is more about hair length and styling choices for men. It is more acceptable in the corporate world for men to keep their appearance simple, including their hair. Even though locking is a natural style, it is much more elaborate than a short afro. Despite all of this, I think the school is going too far by banning students from wearing their hair a certain way. The school should just make suggestions about how they think students should present themselves for internships, jobs, and interviews.

Kendriana

I agree, certain hairstyles are not conducive to corporate America, just like mohawks, tattoos and male piercings. Let’s not make this more than it is…

Dolores

Although I disagree with “banning” students from wearing their hair a certain way, I do not think this is an attack on natural hair. The men the Dean cited, King, Ali, Drew all had natural hair – it was just short (but not so short that their texture was hard to detect). Because of that I think that this is more about hair length and styling choices for men. It is more acceptable in the corporate world for men to keep their appearance simple, including their hair. Even though locking is a natural style, it is much more elaborate than a short afro. Despite all of this, I think the school is going too far by banning students from wearing their hair a certain way. The school should just make suggestions about how they think students should present themselves for internships, jobs, and interviews.

Kendriana

I agree, certain hairstyles are not conducive to corporate America, just like mohawks, tattoos and male piercings. Let’s not make this more than it is…

Krmlwd

Way to go Hampton. An HBCU that internalizes an aspect of racism and act like something that is subjective is a fact. If thats the case then straight, relaxed, braided, wavy, all hair types, and dyed hair should be deemed unprofessional. Shoot having hair period should be unprofessional. Common sense, which I would assume a university to have, would know there is no such thing as a set definition for professionalism. Its whatever the ruling class (or business) wants it to be including aspects of the very existence and physical appearance of people. Not a good look HBCU. If blacks were the majority (power wise) then the hair, mannerisms, and style of the minority (in power) would undoubtedly be deemed unprofessional. Our business attire would not even be what it is today.

Really HBCU?! Really?

Sorry typo. I meant power wise for minority too.

Krmlwd

Way to go Hampton. An HBCU that internalizes an aspect of racism and act like something that is subjective is a fact. If thats the case then straight, relaxed, braided, wavy, all hair types, and dyed hair should be deemed unprofessional. Shoot having hair period should be unprofessional. Common sense, which I would assume a university to have, would know there is no such thing as a set definition for professionalism. Its whatever the ruling class (or business) wants it to be including aspects of the very existence and physical appearance of people. Not a good look HBCU. If blacks were the majority (power wise) then the hair, mannerisms, and style of the minority (in power) would undoubtedly be deemed unprofessional. Our business attire would not even be what it is today.

Really HBCU?! Really?

Sorry typo. I meant power wise for minority too.

Cece Knicks

I just see this decision as a lawsuit waiting to happen. All it takes is one international student or a west indian student claiming their hair as part of their religion. I see a first amendment lawsuit or applicants are going to be required to send in a picture with their application.
For me, this is not about racism because people of all colors don’t like natural hair and they have the right to their opinion. But, an opinion does not give anyone the right to tell people what to do with their body or what is growing out of their body.

Cece Knicks

I just see this decision as a lawsuit waiting to happen. All it takes is one international student or a west indian student claiming their hair as part of their religion. I see a first amendment lawsuit or applicants are going to be required to send in a picture with their application.
For me, this is not about racism because people of all colors don’t like natural hair and they have the right to their opinion. But, an opinion does not give anyone the right to tell people what to do with their body or what is growing out of their body.

http://www.believebeautonomy.com/ Asia Monique Mays

What I find to be most interesting, is that he feels he should set a “standard” on an image of his students, under what he deems to be the “right way” to dress. What he has failed to realize as a professional black man, is the change in what seems to be “professional culture.” Now I work in corporate. I’ve seen many a natural male AND female get a job and KEEP one because of their expertise, and as a PLUS how well groomed they are. I can state that I myself have gotten more compliments on my curls and waves from those that are white in corporate, than those that are in fact black.
I am not saying that we as a culture DO NOT like naturals in corporate, bu we have not come to fully accept it in the given field and or profession. But again, the white people seemed to have really embraced it.

http://www.believebeautonomy.com/ Asia Monique Mays

What I find to be most interesting, is that he feels he should set a “standard” on an image of his students, under what he deems to be the “right way” to dress. What he has failed to realize as a professional black man, is the change in what seems to be “professional culture.” Now I work in corporate. I’ve seen many a natural male AND female get a job and KEEP one because of their expertise, and as a PLUS how well groomed they are. I can state that I myself have gotten more compliments on my curls and waves from those that are white in corporate, than those that are in fact black.
I am not saying that we as a culture DO NOT like naturals in corporate, bu we have not come to fully accept it in the given field and or profession. But again, the white people seemed to have really embraced it.

JJB

I agree with some of the other comments, the only people who might be quelling natural hair, are OTHER black people. White people always love my hair and take benign interest. It’s mostly elder black people who take issue with our natural hair. Now of course that’s SOME of the older generation (I don’t want to generalize),but I live in the south and that’s how people think. My mother DETESTS! natural hair and doesn’t think it’s professional, but she says a lot of the women who work at her job wear their hair in locs or afro’s, and this is a federal job, so it’s not like it’s not professional. All of the women have bachelors degrees, or higher. Their all VERY educated, so it’s not like you can say anything about their educational backgrounds.

To be honest, I think a lot of the older generations are fighting these dreads and natural hair movements and see it with sullen disdain. When my Mom and grandmother talk about it they sound SO acrimonious, makes me embarrassed,lol! I just think it’s sad that these people can talk about embracing being black and talk about the oppression of our race, then in the drop of a hat talk about how “dark and black” someone is and how “nappy” their hair is.

The saddest part here is that you only notice these restrictions at the historically black colleges. Well, at least that’s the only universities I’ve heard take issues with outer expression. I remember all the dress codes they were putting in Morehouse college a few years ago and thought that was silly to. Notice how all of the larger-well known universities hardly ever take issue with what students wear. At the end of the day, these are adults and they shouldn’t be told how they should wear their hair or clothing.

His statement is just wrong on so many levels.

JJB

I agree with some of the other comments, the only people who might be quelling natural hair, are OTHER black people. White people always love my hair and take benign interest. It’s mostly elder black people who take issue with our natural hair. Now of course that’s SOME of the older generation (I don’t want to generalize),but I live in the south and that’s how people think. My mother DETESTS! natural hair and doesn’t think it’s professional, but she says a lot of the women who work at her job wear their hair in locs or afro’s, and this is a federal job, so it’s not like it’s not professional. All of the women have bachelors degrees, or higher. Their all VERY educated, so it’s not like you can say anything about their educational backgrounds.

To be honest, I think a lot of the older generations are fighting these dreads and natural hair movements and see it with sullen disdain. When my Mom and grandmother talk about it they sound SO acrimonious, makes me embarrassed,lol! I just think it’s sad that these people can talk about embracing being black and talk about the oppression of our race, then in the drop of a hat talk about how “dark and black” someone is and how “nappy” their hair is.

The saddest part here is that you only notice these restrictions at the historically black colleges. Well, at least that’s the only universities I’ve heard take issues with outer expression. I remember all the dress codes they were putting in Morehouse college a few years ago and thought that was silly to. Notice how all of the larger-well known universities hardly ever take issue with what students wear. At the end of the day, these are adults and they shouldn’t be told how they should wear their hair or clothing.

His statement is just wrong on so many levels.

http://appsapps.info/ app

When the business world shuns traditional black hairstyles, it is showing its racial and cultural bias, and expecting black people to try to be more white.

I find that this cultural and ethnic bias being endorsed and promoted at a historically black college, run by someone that has shown he has no knowledge of Black History, and can’t be bothered to take 5 minutes to research the history of both dreadlocks and cornrows, to be offensive and disgusting. Why are educational institutions being run by the uneducated?

If you endorse the business world’s idea of what is suitable for
black people, you are endorsing their racism and ethnic/cultural bias.

Black history didn’t begin on US soil, didn’t begin in the 1960′s.

In less than 5 minutes of web searching Mr. Credle could learn that dreadlocks have existed for
1000′s of years and their tradition goes all the way back to Eastern
Africa and some parts of Northern Africa, where Black History actually began.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreadlocks

He would also learn that at least 2 African kings were well known for wearing cornrows (Tewodros II and Yohannes IV of Ethiopia)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tewodros_II
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yohannes_IV

Furthermore, he would also learn that as part of the Black Nationalist Movement of the 1960′s and 70′s, African Americans were encouraged to shun the idea of conforming to white standards and stop straightening their hair and go for more natural, traditional hairstyles that better suited their hair type.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornrows#History

http://appsapps.info/ app

When the business world shuns traditional black hairstyles, it is showing its racial and cultural bias, and expecting black people to try to be more white.

I find that this cultural and ethnic bias being endorsed and promoted at a historically black college, run by someone that has shown he has no knowledge of Black History, and can’t be bothered to take 5 minutes to research the history of both dreadlocks and cornrows, to be offensive and disgusting. Why are educational institutions being run by the uneducated?

If you endorse the business world’s idea of what is suitable for
black people, you are endorsing their racism and ethnic/cultural bias.

Black history didn’t begin on US soil, didn’t begin in the 1960′s.

In less than 5 minutes of web searching Mr. Credle could learn that dreadlocks have existed for
1000′s of years and their tradition goes all the way back to Eastern
Africa and some parts of Northern Africa, where Black History actually began.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreadlocks

He would also learn that at least 2 African kings were well known for wearing cornrows (Tewodros II and Yohannes IV of Ethiopia)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tewodros_II
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yohannes_IV

Furthermore, he would also learn that as part of the Black Nationalist Movement of the 1960′s and 70′s, African Americans were encouraged to shun the idea of conforming to white standards and stop straightening their hair and go for more natural, traditional hairstyles that better suited their hair type.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornrows#History

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001670304308 Dillard-Ann Meeble

Potus sports a culturally expressive identity both in his name and the beautiful skin color of his beloved. Tearfully, places like Howard and Hampton can have a tradition of plantation values which rejects rich pigment and cultural legacy. Two-time Pulitzer prize winning Toni Morrison is a grand Howard grad regal in her salty-gray, full and long, natural locs.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001670304308 Dillard-Ann Meeble

Potus sports a culturally expressive identity both in his name and the beautiful skin color of his beloved. Tearfully, places like Howard and Hampton can have a tradition of plantation values which rejects rich pigment and cultural legacy. Two-time Pulitzer prize winning Toni Morrison is a grand Howard grad regal in her salty-gray, full and long, natural locs.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001670304308 Dillard-Ann Meeble

Potus sports a culturally expressive identity both in his name and the beautiful skin color of his beloved. Tearfully, places like Howard and Hampton can have a tradition of plantation values which rejects rich pigment and cultural legacy. Two-time Pulitzer prize winning Toni Morrison is a grand Howard grad regal in her salty-gray, full and long, natural locs.

http://www.facebook.com/rasaaron.dagriot Ras Aaron Da Griot

Just a self-hating Negro trying to produce more Self-Hating Negroes. Burn Fyah that!

http://www.facebook.com/rasaaron.dagriot Ras Aaron Da Griot

Just a self-hating Negro trying to produce more Self-Hating Negroes. Burn Fyah that!

Tyler Battles

how could you run a “historically black university” & ban hairstyles that have been traditionally worn by African Americans since the beginning of time ? I think Dean Sid Credle hates herself. She loathes black history and cries every night.

Tyler Battles

how could you run a “historically black university” & ban hairstyles that have been traditionally worn by African Americans since the beginning of time ? I think Dean Sid Credle hates herself. She loathes black history and cries every night.