Dreadlock Discrimination: US Court Rules it is Legal to Deny Employment To People Who Wear Locks

A United States Court has ruled that it is legal to fire, or simply not hire a person based on if that person wears dreadlocks. During a time when people of color are now embracing their natural hair now, more than ever, this ruling comes as a blow to the natural hair community.

The suit was brought by a woman in Alabama, Chastity Jones, who was fired after being hired at a company called Catastrophe Management Solutions, in Mobile, Alabama. After hiring Jones, the human resource manager commented on Jones’ dreadlocks during a private meeting. Jeannie Wilson, the HR manager told Chastity Jones during a scheduling meeting that, “they tend to get messy, although I’m not saying yours are, but you know what I’m talking about,” referring to her dreadlocks. Wilson then told Jones they would not bring her on board with her dreadlocks, and terminated her job offer.

According to NBC, the suit by the EEOC claims:

“this was a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964’s Title VII, arguing that dreadlocks are a “racial characteristic” that have been historically used to stereotype African-Americans as “not team players” and as unfit for the workplace. Therefore, claiming that dreadlocks do not fit a grooming policy is based on these stereotypes and inherently discriminatory, as dreadlocks are a hairstyle “physiologically and culturally associated” with African-Americans.”

The court of appeals disagreed. They ruled that CMS’s:

“race-neutral grooming policy” was not discriminatory as hairstyles, while “culturally associated with race,” are not “immutable physical characteristics.” In essence, traits in a person’s appearance that are tied to their culture but are otherwise changeable are not protected and can be used to deny job offers.”

These types of restrictions, especially against African Americans with natural hair styles have also been carried out in schools and businesses across the country. This is just further proof that the fight for equality and fairness in this country still continues.

Source: NBC News