| tamara (not pictured) asks:
i’ll get straight to the point. should i straighten my natural hair for interviews? i have been wearing my hair in it’s natural state for almost three years now, and i love it. recently i have begun interviewing for internships. i’ve had 8 thus far, and no cigar–which is highly unusual for internship placement. i’m asking for feedback and am gettting lovely reponses. however, that does not get me a placement. a sista’ in my program lovingly told me that the problem is my hair. i know she very well might be right. i think before the scissors are in hand, all naturals consider the biases they may have to encounter. do you think it is wise that i straighten my hair until i get a job, then revert to natural once i have passed probation? i’d appreciate your and other bellas’ thoughts on this matter. thanks! |
great question tamara! though not a new one, i’ve seen this debate beat until the cows come home. and now, like you, let me get straight to my point or answer: NO you should not straighten your hair for interviews and here’s why.
after reading your question it became apparent to me (well, that’s not TOTALLY true as it’s always been apparent) that being natural still has its workplace obstacles. however, i believe that with time, as we grow to appreciate ourselves even more, others outside of our culture will do the same. it’s true that we teach people how to treat us – i’m a big believer in this.
though there will always be that one off or a couple off of people who don’t understand or get natural hair – let’s just be real here – how is that in any way, shape or form your problem? we can’t save the world, and truth be told if you are worried about getting a job and your hair looking too black – because that’s really what your hair, my hair and most of the women who read this blog hair says – then what’s the difference between that and worrying about how black your skin looks or how full your lips or nose are, how “ethnic” you sound when you speak or how big your butt looks. i know what your are saying, “i NEVER worry about those things!” and i know you don’t. of course you don’t worry about those things because those are the things that make up who you are as a black woman – just like your hair. would you get a nose job for an interview or a butt reduction? how about temporary skin bleaching just to get a job. if those things sound ridiculous it’s because they ARE.
i could play devil’s advocate here and say yes, pull that okie doke on ‘em and blow out before the job if you think the robert e. lee confederate brotherhood interviewing you will have a problem with your hair and then come to work angela davis’d out but why all the work – all the singing and dancing? think about it – would you even want to work for a job like that anyway? say you do straighten your hair and get the job because you’ve appeased your employer but when you do decide to show the real you, you are pulled aside and told that your hair is not “professional enough”, where does that leave you then? are you going to suffer at the hands of ignorance to break off your hair from the heat damage that you will surely get from keeping up with the “straighter is greater” joneses. i thinks not.
prep your natural hair hair in a pretty style for your interview and go in there and kill them with your wit, intelligence and work ethic. if you don’t get the job because your hair is too black, then it’s their loss not yours. no need for shucking and jiving to get a job. i know you are no auntie thomasina. what did fantasia say in that song? oh yeah, “if you don’t want me then don’t talk to me/ go ahead a free yourself.” take me, my kinky hair or kick rocks. that’s my motto and it can be yours too.
what say you ladies? have you ever straightened your hair to get a job? how do you feel about this? if you were in tamara’s shoes what would you do?
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“however, i believe that with time, as we grow to appreciate ourselves even more, others outside of our culture will do the same. it’s true that we teach people how to treat us – i’m a big believer in this. ”
i love the quote above. it comes from the answer to this question. truthfully the answer is right. i think if our mothers and the mothers before us did the statement above we wouldn’t have this problem. this is the reason i big chopped by permed hair… we have to be the generation that learns first how to treat ourselves in all of our states (natural, permed, weave) and in doing that …just like all the other cultures around us…we will be able to actually teach others about what we love about ourselves. yes people will close doors in your face but ask yourself if they are that stupid to not look at your qualifications …it probably would have been a long and hard battle just to work with them any way.
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