Jessica loves her natural look. She does not wear makeup or straighten her hair. She is very confident in who she is; she does not feel the need to change. Tonya feels the same way. She loves her natural beauty. Both women are in their twenties and work in the same company. They are both training to be financial advisors.

The company they work for has a strict dress code. It very clearly states in the employee handbook that all financial advisors should be professionally dressed—business suits preferred. Hair should be neatly done, not obstructing the face. If male employees have long hair it must be pulled back. Long hair on male employees is not preferred but accepted. Hair can only be two natural tones. No excessive makeup. Nail color cannot be neon nor can nails be excessively long. All employees must represent the professionalism of the company in their appearance during work hours and company events. Any employee that does not meet these expectations will earn a strike, three strikes resulting in a three-day suspension without pay. Both women are fully aware of this policy.

On Monday both women get ready for work in their respective homes. They both shower, get dressed—women’s pant suits and button up blouse—and they both style their hair. Both women part their hair down the middle and tuck it behind their ears. Neither woman straightens her hair, they simply “wash and go”. At work, Tonya is given a strike for her appearance. Her boss told her that her hair was unprofessional, yet nothing is said to Jessica about her appearance.

At a different company two men are being interviewed for a job, Steve and John. This company has the same dress code as Jessica and Tonya’s company. After very little deliberation, it is decided that Steve is the best candidate because “John couldn’t even look decent for his interview.”

This is Jessica, this is Tonya, this is Steve, and this is John"

African Americans are discriminated against in corporate America because of our hair. We are told that the texture of our hair is unprofessional and how it grows out of our heads is not good enough for the workplace. To conform to these demands, we must shave it all off, burn it with continuous straightening or chemically treat it. The “natural hair in the work place” debate is yet another example of forced assimilation. African Americans are still being forced to conform to white ideals because just being black is not good enough. What gives a company the right to say the way you were born is unprofessional? And why is this not deemed as discriminatory?

This subjective policy used across corporate America is the result of systematic racism. Prejudice is so engrained in our everyday lives we do not even notice it. In the scenario of Tonya, she did not break the dress code. Her hair was neat and not obstructing her face. The only difference between her and Jessica’s hair was the texture. Society tells everyone that curly is bad and straight is good. Companies should not be allowed to punish employees because of the texture of their hair. Dress code policies need to be less subjective. It is unfair an downright discriminatory to leave it up to preference.