Tsaord From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 5078 times:
A friend of mine told me he went to a job interview and he told me the "white" interviewer told him that his dreads are considered an Extreme Hairstyle. My question is why? Dreads, Braids, and Locks can be kept nice and neat for the work place and all African Americans don't go to work with bogus hair styles. I've seen some other hairstyles thats considered extreme! Like those punkers with blue, read, and pink hair! So why are Dreads, Locks, and Braids considered to some an extreme hairstyle when its apart of our culture?
AeroWesty From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 18839 posts, RR: 64 Reply 1, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 5078 times:
Quoting Tsaord (Thread starter): I've seen some other hairstyles thats considered extreme! Like those punkers with blue, read, and pink hair!
Were they working at the company where your friend applied?
Tsaord From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 5055 times:
No but I have seen them in other places or past jobs I have had. This isnt the first time I've heard of a black male/female being told their Locks/Braids/Dreads would to be changed to be considered for employment, or some asked to change their hair style. I could understand if their hair was down right BAD. But many people who have those type of hairstyles can keep them up, nice, neat, and well looking so why would some people's in some cases "natural hairstyle" be considered extreme?
AeroWesty From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 18839 posts, RR: 64 Reply 3, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 5052 times:
Quoting Tsaord (Reply 2): No but I have seen them in other places or past jobs I have had.
Then you're judging one company by the standards of another. Doesn't work that way.
Bill142 From Australia, joined Aug 2004, 8320 posts, RR: 9 Reply 4, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 5040 times:
Quoting AeroWesty (Reply 3): Then you're judging one company by the standards of another. Doesn't work that way.
It's probably the opinion of one person more then an entire company. I work in a pretty conservitive place and if someone had dredlocks, particularly if it was a cultural thing, wouldn't be considered extreme. Whilst being conservitive, diversity is encouraged.
FlyingTexan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 5006 times:
Black people are not accepted in many corporate American environments – contrary to the ‘we do not discriminate’ line of horseshit they feed you.
It’s a bigoted racial and cultural bias. Unfortunately. This is far more prominent in some regions of the US than others. And society can try and legislate it all they want, but you can’t legislate the stupidly out of some people.
Cfalk From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 4992 times:
Quoting Tsaord (Thread starter): A friend of mine told me he went to a job interview and he told me the "white" interviewer told him that his dreads are considered an Extreme Hairstyle. My question is why?
Because they are ugly, and some customers are likely not to appreciate being served by someone with hair that looks filthy.
Quoting Tsaord (Thread starter): I've seen some other hairstyles thats considered extreme! Like those punkers with blue, read, and pink hair! So why are Dreads, Locks, and Braids considered to some an extreme hairstyle when its apart of our culture?
I wouldn't hire them either.
Quoting FlyingTexan (Reply 5): Black people are not accepted in many corporate American environments – contrary to the ‘we do not discriminate’ line of horseshit they feed you.
Why are you bringing race into this? Are you a hatemonger?
JetsGo From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 2964 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 4983 times:
Quoting FlyingTexan (Reply 5): Black people are not accepted in many corporate American environments – contrary to the ‘we do not discriminate’ line of horseshit they feed you.
BS. It's people like you who continue to set us back with statements like that. Many companies would love none other than to employ a high ranking African American to use as positive PR.
767Lover From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 4976 times:
Quoting Tsaord (Thread starter): A friend of mine told me he went to a job interview and he told me the "white" interviewer told him that his dreads are considered an Extreme Hairstyle.
No offense, but I highly doubt this happened. There are so many "rules" about what can and cannot be said or asked during interviews that it is highly unlikely any legitimate interviewer said any such thing.
BaylorAirBear From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 2913 posts, RR: 52 Reply 10, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 4972 times:
In my opinion, dreadlocks and braids are a hygiene issue because they can not be thoroughly washed regularly. Cleaning them does not go beyond a rinse. Then, the wearer gets dandruff and odor.
Sounds like Tsaord is injecting Race into the issue where it has no business. Like BaylorAirBear said:
Quoting BaylorAirBear (Reply 10): In my opinion, dreadlocks and braids are a hygiene issue because they can not be thoroughly washed regularly. Cleaning them does not go beyond a rinse. Then, the wearer gets dandruff and odor.
Race has nothing to do with it. It has to do with customers and collegues having to deal with a guy who looks like he treats his hair with earwax and never properly washes it.
ANCFlyer From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 4951 times:
Quoting 767Lover (Reply 8): No offense, but I highly doubt this happened. There are so many "rules" about what can and cannot be said or asked during interviews that it is highly unlikely any legitimate interviewer said any such thing.
Pardon me, but it's quite believeable. And it is something that occurs quite often. In fact, it occurs in my Department. In the APD. In the AST.
In fact, the dress standards for my Department specifically forbid dreadlocks beyond a certain length; hair of an unnatural color - be that orange, pink, blue, whatever; tatoos that are off color, etc.; fingernails that are too long and might interfere with the operation of a weapon (and have similar color as the unauthorized hair).
It's not discrimination - rather a standard of appearance an employer wants for his/her company. If the standard applies all around - no problem.
You wanna work for them, here's the standards for appearance. It's your call.
It's about presenting a professional image.
As for the dreadlocks - that isn't strictly an African American issue . . . how many non-African Americans have you seen with them? Plenty.
Halls120 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 4949 times:
Quoting 767Lover (Reply 8): Quoting Tsaord (Thread starter):A friend of mine told me he went to a job interview and he told me the "white" interviewer told him that his dreads are considered an Extreme Hairstyle.
No offense, but I highly doubt this happened. There are so many "rules" about what can and cannot be said or asked during interviews that it is highly unlikely any legitimate interviewer said any such thing.
I suspect someone is embellishing a story they've heard to provoke discussion. In the federal government, those of us that hire are are routinely provided training on what you can and can't say at a job interview.
Quoting BaylorAirBear (Reply 10): In my opinion, dreadlocks and braids are a hygiene issue because they can not be thoroughly washed regularly. Cleaning them does not go beyond a rinse. Then, the wearer gets dandruff and odor.
Any hairstyle that is "different" or "unique" is going to create controversy, regardless of the race of the wearer. As CFalk notes, someone wearing dreads are going to have problems getting hired, just like someone with a "punk" or "goth" hairstyle. Like it or not, there is a "uniform" one wears to a job interview, and it includes grooming standards.
Tsaord From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 4897 times:
Quoting Cfalk (Reply 6): Because they are ugly, and some customers are likely not to appreciate being served by someone with hair that looks filthy.
Well thank you for your honest opinion. Like I stated above. There are a lot of African Americans who can keep their hair style neat and not FILTHY as you put it. I wonder how they get along in Jamaica.
Alberchico From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 2685 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 4884 times:
Quoting Tsaord (Thread starter): A friend of mine told me he went to a job interview and he told me the "white" interviewer told him that his dreads are considered an Extreme Hairstyle.
You just realized that now??? Even in high schools some principals are picky about those kinds of hairstyles..
short summary of every jewish holiday: they tried to kill us ,we won , lets eat !
Tsaord From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 4870 times:
I knew some people were weary of those types of hair styles for whatever dumb reasons. But I don't understand how can you say thats its an extreme hair style particularly when a certain race/group of people wear them and some for Religious reasons who keep them nice and neat? I can see if the person just has them all over their head. But just like a person with a brushed fade can look nice and neat, it can look "extreme" if he walks out the house and not brush his hair.
Soku39 From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 1797 posts, RR: 10 Reply 19, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 4862 times:
CFalk you've lost some respect from after saying all that. Dreads can be kept neat and clean smelling quite easily (I know, my brother has them)
I'm in full agreement with FlyingTexan's view of "keeping us back", there is no reason for any of us blacks to be keeping the wool over our eyes regarding hiring practice in corporate america and everywhere else, to do so is a mistake.
Quoting JetsGo (Reply 7): BS. It's people like you who continue to set us back with statements like that. Many companies would love none other than to employ a high ranking African American to use as positive PR.
To me that simply black people to you are simply puppets for good PR, that they might not be getting hired because of their skills, but for PR. I hope you might see my problem with your thinking there.
Quoting 767Lover (Reply 8): No offense, but I highly doubt this happened. There are so many "rules" about what can and cannot be said or asked during interviews that it is highly unlikely any legitimate interviewer said any such thing.
Pal, you better believe they can (and do). Also I'd like to point out as the story was quoted, he was told, not asked.
Quoting BaylorAirBear (Reply 10): In my opinion, dreadlocks and braids are a hygiene issue because they can not be thoroughly washed regularly. Cleaning them does not go beyond a rinse. Then, the wearer gets dandruff and odor.
Absolutely untrue, my brother simply washes them after every soccer practice. He twists up the loose ends after he gets out of the shower, and yes he does this every day, black people do shower every day believe it or not... (I know I'm takin' it to an extreme, but c'mon what a lame argument ya had there).
BaylorAirBear From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 2913 posts, RR: 52 Reply 20, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 4846 times:
Quoting Soku39 (Reply 19):
Absolutely untrue, my brother simply washes them after every soccer practice. He twists up the loose ends after he gets out of the shower, and yes he does this every day, black people do shower every day believe it or not... (I know I'm takin' it to an extreme, but c'mon what a lame argument ya had there).
That's good that your brother takes pride in his appearance. While I stand by my original statement, I will say that it applies more to braids, also known as corn rows. The only way to properly wash braided hair is to remove said braids. Every person that I have ever asked, and I have asked, say they simply rinse the surface of their hair to avoid the time prohibitive process of rebraiding their hair after every shower, which can take hours and usually requires a hairdresser. That goes for whites, blacks, hispanics, and smurfs.
DeltaGator From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 6341 posts, RR: 16 Reply 21, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 4806 times:
Quoting ANCFlyer (Reply 13): As for the dreadlocks - that isn't strictly an African American issue . . . how many non-African Americans have you seen with them? Plenty.
Those would be the TrustFundarians and on white folks dreadlocks just looks ridiculous.
"If you can't delight in the misery of others then you don't deserve to be a college football fan."
767Lover From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 22, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days ago) and read 4772 times:
Quoting ANCFlyer (Reply 13): Pardon me, but it's quite believeable. And it is something that occurs quite often. In fact, it occurs in my Department. In the APD.
Your Department is not the same as Corporate America.
Cfalk From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days ago) and read 4756 times:
Quoting Tsaord (Reply 15): Well thank you for your honest opinion. Like I stated above. There are a lot of African Americans who can keep their hair style neat and not FILTHY as you put it.
I absolutely agree. But not in dreadlocks or braids, without completely combing them out. You might get the surface clean, but the oils building up inside those dreads are probably enough to lube your car.
Quoting Tsaord (Reply 16): #2 Race matters because how many Caucasions wear that hair style?
I've seen a lot of high school and college-age white kids with them. Looks even more dumb.
Quoting Soku39 (Reply 19): CFalk you've lost some respect from after saying all that. Dreads can be kept neat and clean smelling quite easily (I know, my brother has them)
Perhaps you are right, but I just don't see how it is physically possible.
And remember folks, it's all about impressions. If an employer needs to hire someone who has to deal with clients, he has the right and the obligation to hire only people whose appearance and presentation will offend the least number of people.
Plain, simple fact: If you want a good job, get a haircut, dress conservatively, and speak properly with correct grammer.
If you want to work in a place where they don't mind Jamaican clothing and hairstyles? I suggest moving to Jamaica.
Halls120 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 24, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days ago) and read 4747 times:
Quoting Soku39 (Reply 19): Dreads can be kept neat and clean smelling quite easily (I know, my brother has them)
Yes, they can. But one of the attributes of dreads is their low maintenance. One of the paralegals that work in my office told me that one of the reasons she switched to dreads is that she got tired of getting up every morning and having to "fix" her hair.
25 Migfan: Have any idea what it takes to get your hair looking like that? My college roommate had them, and they stunk! It wasn't just him, it was the dreads.
27 Jaysit: At my very blue chip law firm, we have some African American attorneys and secretaries sporting braids, and we even have one partner sporting dreads.
29 FLY777UAL: I clicked on this just to see what it was about. Unfortunately, I don't know how to do a screen capture and post what I am seeing because it was quite
30 N1120A: Your mind is narrower than a lane on the 110 There is a reason those oils are called "essential oils". In fact, I worked with a guy who had long hair
31 SlamClick: Assuming you mean "a part" (two words) meaning a component of, and not "apart" meaning separate from... Whose culture do you claim dreadlocks to be p
32 Daedaeg: CFalk, I find it interesting that whenever there is a discussion about black folk, your name shows up. Based on your comments in this discussion and p
33 DeltaDC9: Here is the thing, I have worked at or for dozens of Fortune 500 companies, and I have found that when you interview, they expect you to commit compl
34 QR332: Personally, I think that dreadlocks can look professional if they are worn the right way, but at the same time, I don't see it as discrimination again
35 SlamClick: I helped work the booth for a friend's company at a FAPA job fair once. There were airline booths there and two majors were actively recruiting pilot
36 Cfalk: Well, I'd tell him to take his "essential oils" and get outta here. And how about sweat, dirt, polution and everything else that gets in your hair on
37 N1120A: The whole point is that the oils natually "wash" his hair. Afterall, the whole point of shampoo is to mimic the oils in your hair as closely as possi
38 Cfalk: Bull. I bet you you will have a veritable biological and chemical laboratory on your head if you wear your head in dreads for a few weeks. It's just
39 N1120A: You really need to take some blood pressure medication or something.
40 MD-90: That sounds disgusting. Shampoo isn't soap, it's detergeant.
41 JCS17: Can we get some context here? I mean, was he trying to get a job in sales or a warehouse?
42 Captaink: Although rastafarianism is big in Jamaica, you are going to see alot more people without dreadlocks than people with. I dunno what to say to this. My
43 Soku39: Well I do and it looks horrible if I don't brush it a couple times a day. To get it lookin like Denzels (waves) you're going to need to brush it ALOT
44 Baylorairbear: I thought this was funny. I was reading this thread while logged out earlier, and couldn't help but notice the irony. I assume adds are placed based o
45 Cfalk: OK, I didn't know that. I always thought you woke up like that, maintainance-free. Sorry. Would be nice.
46 DeltaDC9: Thats the thing, at that point all you are doing is trying to get past the first cut. What that recruiter thinks is all that matters.
47 DavestanKSAN: So you could be wrong about dreads or braids as well? Just sayin....... Dave
48 IAirAllie: I like the short little twisty dreds, the ones less than an inch or so. I think that done right they look clean and well styled. The long nasty ones a
49 DeltaDC9: Dude, thats basically maintenance free compared to my hair.
50 Dougloid: They look stupid and dirty. How can you take a guy seriously who looks like he slept in a dumpster and decorated his head with goose turds? It just ai
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