Melphine Evans is suing her former employer, British Petroleum Oil Co., for unspecified damages, citing "race and gender discrimination, harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination". Defendants include BP Products North America, BP West Coast Products located at her former office in La Palma, California, and nine of her former colleagues. Evans claims that she was fired … [Read more...]
12 Year Old Told to Cut Natural Hair or Get Expelled
An Orlando private school is threatening to expel a student if she does not cut and shape her natural hair. Faith Christian Academy is a PreK-12th grade private school located in Orlando, Florida. 12-year-old Vanessa VanDyke has been a student at the school since 3rd grade. School administrators have given her one week to comply, or she will be dismissed from the school … [Read more...]
VIDEO: PSA – My Natural Hair Is Beautiful
Earlier this year we brought you the story of an Ohio school’s alleged ban on wearing Afro Puff hair styles as will as Twisted Braid styles. Then there was word that Tiana Parker, a second grader in Tulsa Oklahoma, was forced to quit her elementary school because of her dreadlocks hairstyle. These are just two stories of the many that we've heard where young black girls are … [Read more...]
“Black Hairstyle” Acceptance In The Workplace
Photographer Endia Beal has taken the “Acceptable Black Hairstyles in the Workplace” controversy to a whole other level. In her photographic series “Can I Touch It” Ms. Beal explores gender, race and generational gaps by taking a group of middle aged white women to a Black salon and giving them all so called “Black” hairstyles. Afterwards, she took head shots of them in those … [Read more...]
4 Ways to Teach Your Kids to Love Their Natural Hair
There’s a saying that goes, “If you’re not into your hair, you’re not into yourself.” If you really think about this for a moment, it’s not too far from the truth. Bad hair days tend to make for plain ol’ bad days overall. When your hair looks great, you feel amazing, and your day tends to go even better. Believe it or not, a lot of self-esteem lies within the strands of our … [Read more...]
One Man Examines Why He Did Not Want His Wife to Go Natural
The natural hair explosion seems to be taking over certain parts of the United States. African American women everywhere are getting away from the relaxers and some are even letting go of their weaves. They are owning and wearing their hair in its natural state and embracing their coiled coifs and natural roots. Just turn on any television and you will see Black women and … [Read more...]
Why Is Skin Tone Still OUR Issue?
Are you color struck? Do you find yourself saying things like, "She is so pretty to be so dark!?" or telling someone, "You better keep her out of the sun, you don't want her to get to dark." or my favorite when looking at someone's newborn child you say, "Oh don't worry she wont get too much darker." To be "color struck" as defined by UrbanDictionary.com is: To have an … [Read more...]
Relaxed Without Permission: 3 Ways to Ensure That Your Kid’s Natural Hair Stays Safe When Away From Home!
For the second time in the past few weeks I’ve been told similar horror stories. In both situations children with natural hair were sent for short visits with relatives and were returned with relaxed hair! In the first story the mom sent her two daughters to be with their dad and stepmom for Spring Break and the stepmom put relaxers in both girls hair. In the second story … [Read more...]
Accidental Friends – Our Blended Family Story
I have this friend and I want to tell you about her. She is so super cool. I've known her for about 15 years. We met in my home town in Indiana. She is very kind and always helpful. She is a hardworking, God fearing Christian woman with her own catering business in Indianapolis. She refers to my son as "our son" and I love her daughter. In fact her daughter has spent the … [Read more...]
The “N” Word (Nappy)
No, not that "N" word. The other one. The word "nappy". Can we talk about the word "nappy" for a minute? Do you cringe when you hear that word as a description of a certain texture of hair or do you embrace it? After watching a natural hair tutorial on YouTube where a woman describes a child's hair as having a "nappy" texture I read the comments. People were sounding off … [Read more...]
Accepting Your Child’s Natural Hair Texture
What words would you use to describe your child's hair texture? As you ponder that question think about which descriptive words you will use and consider if those words are positive and uplifting to your child. Thick. Curly. Kinky. Nappy. Coily. Some of these words are accepted and some are rejected. 4a. 3c. 2b. are commonly used abbreviations for a hair typing system that … [Read more...]
Hair Today Gone Tomorrow: How Your Hairstyle Can Impact Your Employment
Do you think you hairstyle is preventing you from landing your dream job, or at the very least a job? This was a shared concern amongst a group of women who participated in a Georgia State University panel discussion titled “Black Women, Their Hair & The Work Place – A Dialogue.” During the discussion panel members discussed the belief hair texture of black women could … [Read more...]
10 Tips to Help You Start Managing Your Child’s Natural Hair
It can be very intimidating when you start to think about how you will manage your child's natural hair. If you are anything like me then you never really got to know your own hair so it may be difficult to understand your child's natural hair. I started getting relaxers when I was 14 years old. Prior to that my mother paid people to do our hair. When I had my own daughter … [Read more...]
My Husband Didn’t Like My Natural Hair
Last year I was in our bathroom twisting up my hair for the night when my husband walked in and made the comment, "Why don't you wear your hair like you used to?" At first I didn't realize what he was talking about so I replied with the proverbial phrase when you haven't been listening to closely to your spouse, "What did you say honey?" Unaware of the war he was about to start … [Read more...]
Meteorologist Loses Her Job After Responding to Natural Hair Comments
Negative comments on KTBS 3 News' Facebook page led meteorologist, Rhonda Lee to respond. Though she spoke in a professional and positive manner, Lee lost her job shortly after. On two separate occasions, Lee addressed negative comments on the Shreveport, Louisiana stations' social media site. In the first instance in October, a viewer by the name of Emmitt Vascocu commented … [Read more...]