mekka okereke Dec 15, 2022

Q: Why do Black people care about hair representation so much?

Answer 1: Go to your favorite non-Google search engine. Do an image search. Search for "professional hair." Now search for "unprofessional hair." Let me know when you see it.

Answer 2: Go to trends.google.com. Do a search for "unprofessional hair" over the past 12 months in the United States. Notice that most of the results are in states where it was legal for employers to discriminate against employees with "unprofessional hair."

Show threadmekka okereke Dec 15, 2022

Congress passed the CROWN act that would prohibit employers from discriminating against natural Black hair in jobs.🙂 But of course, GOP Senators are blocking its passage.😑

In 2022 USA, hair as it grows naturally out of a white head can be considered "professional," but out of a Black head is "unprofessional."

The search queries include Black folk trying to figure out "You mean I can't get a job or get into college with unprofessional hair? But I just got a haircut? WTH is professional hair?"

Show threadChristo OlivierDec 15, 2022
@mekkaokereke I have no words to express my horror learning about this from you today. Living in Europe, I had no idea that this kind of madness was going on in the US. How can this discrimination be justified by anyone?!!
Show threadJD Harvey

@christo Subtle, systemic racism. The world is full of it. The white body is set as the “professional” example for society, then deviating is seen as “unprofessional.”

Don’t think Europe is immune. Here’s a story from The Guardian regarding hair discrimination in the UK published Oct of this year. The WORLD is full of it.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/28/we-need-to-push-hair-discrimination-fight-moves-to-uk-workplaces

‘We need to push’: hair discrimination fight moves to UK workplaces

Campaigners welcome guidance to prevent discrimination in schools and set sights on employers

The Guardian
Dec 15, 2022 at 1:11pmWeb
Show threadChristo OlivierDec 15, 2022

@runningpunk Thank you for highlighting that to me. I only disagree with you about one thing, I dont think this is subtle at all. The world is indeed full of it.

At least in the UK article you hihglighted it is clear that the EHRC has set a clear precedent, but it would have been way better if it never needed to be fought to begin with.

I just weep when I see this type of crap. It makes me furious.

Show threadJD HarveyDec 15, 2022

@christo Subtle in the way it isn’t Nazi salutes, KKK hoods, or racial slurs. It can be explained away and justified as “professionalism,” which makes easier to swallow for some people.

It should make you furious. And it would be great if people didn’t have to dedicate so much energy to fighting racism. But the foundations of white supremacy where set hundreds of year ago, across many cultures & nations, and it takes time and work to dismantle.