There is still a stigma that says, locs are not professional despite what you are doing in your professional or educational life. Tamon George is a good student in every sense of the word, which is very obvious since he was qualified enough to attend the conference in the first place. He represents everything the organization should be about as well and would be an asset to them if only if they would get out of their own way.
His disqualification is beyond superficial and discredits everything he has worked so hard to gain over his educational and professional life. This country drives me insane with what they say is important versus what they do to support what they talk about.
I would never in a million years imagine having a young person with that much drive and determination, with such a bright future perfect for the future leaders of this country and deny him the support he needs because of his hair.
We know the importance of hair to us as individuals, and we talk a lot about some hairstyles not being socially acceptable among a variety of social groups including mainstream media, fashion and sadly in education too.
Personally I think that we will continue to have these problems until we can somehow give how we wear our hair the same type of relevance we give to issues surrounding discrimination with regards to skin.
This isn’t easy especially when you we are still fighting the skin issue even today. If you ask someone what makes loced hair unprofessional they probably would have no idea what to say. Maybe the issue is a matter of sex, which means that as a man, you should not wear your hair long, loose or loced.
If this is the case, I can certainly understand why Tamon would accuse the Fund of being sexist because women can have long hair and men cannot.
There is a petition on Change.org with the sole purpose of ending the Dread loc discrimination policy of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. We are asking that if you agree with Tamon’s position and you support this cause that you go ahead and sign the petition. We have more than enough followers here to give him all the signatures he needs.
My wish is that he is able to represent other students and other people subject to the same discrimination which is just a roadblock for the future of bright capable individuals. We do not have time to have these types of ridiculous rules and regulations when we have a country in need of great leaders, black leaders at that.
If you want to read more about Tamon’s story and sign the petition please click here.
Shynisha Jay says
Wow! As a MBA student, this is really disheartening. His hair looks neat and groomed. There is absolutely no excuse for him not being allowed to attend an academic conference…the Thurgood Marshall Leadership Institute at that! We can be so discriminatory towards our own people. It’s just sad!
Luca Kuckuck-Skarsgård says
what?
Tasha Thomas says
That’s bs. Plus this event is for students from 47 HBCUs, now you know that’s a shame. It’s neat, what if he’s Rastafarian and they did this?
Rivian Jones says
We have more pressing issues in the Black community then this. Ppl are getting abused and killed over there skin color and y’all are up in arms over some hair smh.
Leone Ross says
It is part of the same continuum of oppression, prejudice, lack of respect, historical and contemporary hatred and self-hatred…
Leotta Michelle Davis says
I think all of this goes hand in hand.
Rivian Jones says
Which battle is more important? There is a video up on my FB right now of a little girl crying her eyes out. Want to know why? Kid’s at school told her they didn’t wabt to be friends with her because she is black. Who battle is more important?
Rivian Jones says
@leotta Yes and No
Tiavia Nelson Fields says
Why do you think people aren’t allowed to be concerned about more than one thing? I am capable of being disgusted by this story and the stories featuring Innocent people being shot by police. One may be more Important than the other but both need to be addressed
Rivian Jones says
@tiavia First of all I wish ppl would stop focusing on police, because Darren Wilson did what a lot of officer’s would have if attacked. Secondly your a individual care about whatever you would like. I will say this though seeming as women on this page have divided over hair texture, I kind of feel like the pot is calling the kettle black with some of you. I mean the same negativity that was done to this Man by other black ppl, is the same negativity that goes on in these post. I mean and when it starts happening I see a small group of natural and relaxed women trying to restore peace. So let’s talk about that why we are on this topic.
Nikki TheBeautiful says
^^^None of that made sense.
Charelle Brewer says
What are you even talking about? Both stories are equally important!!
Andrea Caldwell says
Well, You ARE commenting on a HAIR blog. Move on to the “more pressing issues” if the discussion is not for you. Ijs
Natalie Clark says
This is where the slippery slope begins. I understand your concern that larger issues are looming. And this is a piece of the larger very important issue.
Rivian Jones says
@nikki it wasn’t for you move along
Tamika Reese says
She lost me sounds like she wants to be seen or start a debate about what is more important we are all different so different things effect us smh
Rivian Jones says
@andrea I can comment on whatever I want. If that bothers you move around. #TooEasy
Rivian Jones says
@tamika who do you speak of that is starting a debate?
Tamika Reese says
You
Natalya Piper says
I mean this IS a page about Black hair so…
Tia Jenée says
Andrea Caldwell I was about to say the same thing, it’s a hair blog!!
Sandra Brooks says
Sucks for the people in that event. The universe didn’t want him to grace that place with his presence. He probably had an idea one of those people would of stolen.
Okuhle Mzinyathi says
Just like Nelson Mandela said, “The struggle Continues”
Nina Simone says
Very disappointing
Thedra Renee White says
Rivian Jones it’s more than just hair it’s folks not accepting our heritage,my friend was told that her hair is holding her back now she is willing to change it so she can get ahead, next they will tell her that her big butt is distracting and she needs to downsize it, there is not a latter big enough in this world to change me for white America , I love my big,lips ,butt and my natural hair It’s about them accepting who we are
Lisa Williams says
So true
Tila Brown says
How is his hair an issue, its actually nice looking and professional
Teresa Jessie says
Seriously? Their loss.
Tina Waters says
Wrap it and put it under a turban. Wonder what they’ll have to say about that.
RaSheedah El-Amin says
Touchè!!
Korle Menegbo says
Tamon don’t give up on what you want, you don’t go around telling anyone how to wear their hair. And no one should ask that of you, instead of praising you for your drive talent, and educational achievement. They make it about something that shouldn’t be an issue, your hair.
Lovely Gettnit says
I just don’t understand what hair really has to do with the whole experience in the first place smh
Jasmine Bartley says
Laila P. Davis, Christian Truss
Wendy Gray says
Bea Donna can you believe this in 2014 and at an organization bearing Thurgood Marshall’s name…. Sharon
Sharon L. Bryant says
I just don’t understand this type of craziness. There are real problems in the world. Why would this org be engaged in hair policing? Embarrassed for them.
Donna Emm Ell says
That is sad, but I was not surprised. Some of the most judgmental on the hair issue have been black people. I once heard Steve Harvey say he told his son he couldn’t wear locs because when he looked around he didn’t see lawyers (I guess the son wants to be a lawyer) with locs. The hair bias is real, and strong.
Bea Stewart says
This is just shameful, Thurgood I’m sure is turning over in his grave!
Sharee Brinson says
What the big fucking deal about his hair. He got it nicely put up. Samething happen at a guy at my job
Catrina Speights says
Success in life will be the best way at getting back at this ignorant act .
Cheree Davian says
What does his hair have to do with his brain??
Charlene Cha LaBranche says
Hair really
Rowanna Logan says
Racism. Still exist now at its highest form.
Jennifer Arlinsky Watson says
W.T.F.??????
Jasmin Reynolds says
This sounds just like my brother story except he couldn’t join his high school baseball team because he had dreadlocks. His coach wanted him to cut them off but my brother refused.
Pretty O Small says
Similar situation here with nursing, but its a “no locks policy”
Precious says
I’m not sure why you said that you don’t view the organisation as sexist. If they’ve banned locs for male participants that is sexist. Furthermore, I’m shocked by the direct discrimination as it breaches all kinds of anti discrimination legislation. Usually institutionalised racism and sexism is indirect so that they don’t open themselves up to a civil suit. And this happened in Washington where the Black president lives? That’s crazy. I hope Tamon demands answers as rules ( such as this) which disproportionately affect predominantly black people’s ability to participate in education or the workforce are illegal. I don’t know why an organisation comprised of the brightest people wouldn’t know that?
Tshego Masemola says
What is it with the west and it’s hatred for black hair
Precious says
I always thought that the ppl who hate our hair do because they can’t wear their hair in the same styles and it look so good. Jealousy. We can wear ours a different style 365 days a year if we want. The Caucasian people I know are limited to 1-5 styles a year if they’re lucky. White people don’t want to be upstaged at work or threatened by our beautiful hair they’d much prefer us to conform so they can feel safe. An even better trick is to try and get us to hate our own hair, to believe it stops us from being successful when the simple truth is they can’t handle being upstaged.
Charelle Brewer says
Just sad!!
Precious says
I’m sorry I didn’t mean to post so many times, I wasn’t sure if the comment went through. I found more to the legality of this if anyone is interested:
”Acting Dean of the School of Business and Public Administration at the University of the District of Columbia, Sandra Grady Yates, EdD showed her disdain in an electronic communication sent to President Taylor. An insight into that communication revealed she stated, “TMCF’s ‘policy’ of ‘no dreadlocks for males,’ announced in Mr. Lilly’s email is discriminatory on the basis of personal appearance and gender and – on its face – violates the DC Human Rights Act. See DC Code 2-1401.01 et seq.” However, the president did not stand moved by his decision at all. In fact he replied in a response, “While I respect your feelings about the TMCF Leadership Institute policy, we stand by our decision to prohibit Leadership Institute participants from wearing dreadlocks at the conference (unless the dreadlocks are maintained as part of a sincerely held religious belief).” Even though he states, unless the dreadlocks are held as a religious belief, no official from TMCF ever reached out to either of these men to determine if perhaps their dreadlocks were associated with or maintained as a part of a sincerely held religious belief!”
Charlene Lakeyshia Townsend says
Seeing that he has neat and groomed hair in this photo leads me to believe that’s bullshit! Hair doesn’t define anyone! Look how Albert Einsteins hair was, looked like he hadn’t combed it in forever. Lol! Gotta call b.s. On this one!!
Precious says
That is so true. Gosh you just reminded me of when I wore cornrows to my new school in England age 11 and this crusty old white male teacher said something and I said it’s my culture – he told me to take my culture somewhere else. Meanwhile the social class 5 white kids whose parents never combed their hair could come to school any kind of way and spread nits and that would be just fine. Lol. It’s shocking even in post modernity how backwards our institutions are. The personal is political and the politics of hair is most worthy of our attention because oppression is insidious. They would love us all to believe ‘it’s just hair’ nothing racist or particularly important.. Afterall. ”The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist.”
Tanya Ramsey-Levine says
They already think we are stupid..first lets make sure we can spell—-CONFERENCE!!
Second, it doesn’t matter as long as he was a NICELY GROOMED MAN he should have been allowed into the conference.
Nichelle Eggleston says
Sad! Because we are more than just out hair and attending a conference on academics proves this.
Sends a wrong message!
Teannae Miller says
This makes me sick. Our culture should be recognized for everything not just what “white society majority” sees as appropriate. It was a conference for goodness sake!
Sonarisa Mztwotone Jones says
Unfair. Total disdain for black hair
MissUnderstood Richness says
‘I am not my hair, does the way I wear my hair makes me a better person?’ India Arie
Iyauna Dearing says
Wow! This racism is crazy
Tabatha says
I’m an MBA student and that is so darn sad! Unless they put something out ahead of time about what people should look like then they should have allowed him to come. His hair looks well kept. I could understand if it looks “old and had an odor ” to it, but clearly that is not the case with him. I would love for someone with dreads, locs, braids what have you open up a business and then say no to those with fades and high and tights, and relaxed hair. Then they will see the absurdity behind not getting an opportunity because of how you wear your hair. That’s just dumb. This dude could have the know how to make companies sore to great heights and they won’t even know it because they are hung up on his hair. Have I mentioned that this is dumb?
Sasha Tajaré says
For real??? Like, have they not listened and learned ANYTHING from India Arie’s song “I Am Not My Hair”!??!? Apparently not..that’s just plain malarkey…smh.
PrincessRockie says
Its unfortunate that this young man suffered from this institution’s ignorance. To think that the whole purpose of HBCUs is to teach us about ourselves and cultural appreciation. Yet, they would have the gaul to do the exact thing they were created to fight against, discrimination… Go figure… Sometimes, we can be our own worst enemy and those stuffy suit and tie negros continuously white wash themselves instead of opening their eyes to what’s really going on…