"I don’t see this happening anywhere in America."
This response is exactly why I started this series; Would you alter your hair for a job?
The vast majority of non-Black people have no idea that Black people are routinely asked—sometimes even demanded—to change their natural hair. We’re not talking about simply adjusting a hairstyle or changing hair color. This goes deeper: we are talking about altering the very texture of our hair—the way it naturally grows.
African hair textures are often not even mentioned in workplace dress codes, and when they are, it’s usually to exclude them. Locs, cornrows, bantu knots—hairstyles that are natural for Black people and reflect our cultural heritage—are frequently banned or labeled “unprofessional.”
This is the reason I flipped the script and began asking non-Black people these same questions. Can you imagine if people, regardless of their race, were required to get their hair into cornrows, bantu knots, or even alter their hair to form locs just to meet a dress code? It's unthinkable for most, but for Black people, this is a real, lived experience.
Here are just a few examples of hair discrimination cases that have happened quite recently. These stories are a reminder that this issue is far from theoretical—it’s ongoing and impacts people in tangible, often harmful ways.
1. Chastity Jones v. Catastrophe Management Solutions (2013)
In Alabama, Chastity Jones was offered a job, only to have the offer rescinded when she refused to cut off her locs. The company claimed her locs were "messy" and did not align with their grooming policies. The case made its way to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld the employer's right to impose such a policy. This decision sparked national outrage and a broader conversation about the legality of such discriminatory practices.
Read more about the case here.
2. Deandre Arnold (2020)
Deandre Arnold, a high school student in Texas, was told he could not walk at his own graduation unless he cut his locs. The school district cited dress code violations, but this case gained national attention for targeting cultural expressions. Arnold was later invited to the Oscars and recognized for his courage.
Watch his story here.
3. Gabrielle Union and America's Got Talent (2019)
Actress Gabrielle Union faced workplace discrimination while on America’s Got Talent. She was told that some of her hairstyles were “too Black” for the show’s audience. Her public departure from the show raised concerns about how the entertainment industry treats Black women and their natural hair.
Read more about Gabrielle Union's case here.
4. Andrew Johnson, New Jersey Wrestler (2018)
In a shocking display of racial bias, New Jersey high school wrestler Andrew Johnson was forced to cut his locs on the spot by a referee or forfeit his match. This public incident, caught on video, demonstrated the lengths to which individuals are asked to conform to biased grooming standards.
Read more about his story here.
5. Tameka Swint (2019)
Tameka Swint, an elementary school student in Chicago, was sent home because her braided hair with beads violated the school’s uniform policy. This case highlights how school grooming policies often disproportionately target Black children’s cultural and personal expressions.
Watch the story about Tameka Swint's story here.
These are only a few cases. We found 169 cases and still work on the list but I hope the point is clear. These news stories illustrate an ongoing, deep-rooted problem in America. If you're someone who doesn’t see this happening, I encourage you to explore these stories. Hair discrimination is real, and it’s about much more than just hair—it’s about the right to exist as we are, without being asked to alter a fundamental part of our identity just to fit in.
Please stay tuned as I continue this series, sharing more stories and responses to the question: Would you alter your hair for a job?
Let’s continue pushing for change, for equal hair rights, and for a world where our natural beauty isn’t just tolerated but celebrated.
If you find this read valuable, please share. For more support download my book: BAD Hair Uprooted, the Untold History of Black Follicles.
Download BAD Hair Uprooted, the Untold History of Black Follicles
Check out the 169 cases of Hair Discrimination lawsuits.
