Basically, African Americans Intimidate Caucasians

As a African American, you should know that Caucasians are intimidated by your Favor, your Power, and your function in Society.

When you walk into the room it changes the entire atmosphere.

Wow, that was hard for me to read because it smack me in the face. I am an african american sister that sports an afro on a daily. I have been growing my hair natural for a year and I am usually very proud of my hair. I love the looks I get from it, good and bad because I feel like I made a personal choice that I knew not everyone would agree with. I hate to think that it would be something that could potentially hold me back. I guess I never really thought about it that way and honestly feel a little nervous about it. It’s so crazy that I have a job interview tomorrow. As a matter of fact, I just got the new right before checking the loop and reading that story. I guess I have to just take it for what it is and continue to PROUDLY ROCK MY FRO.

African Americans need to know one thing.
Caucasians don’t like you, they simply tolerate you.

Once you understand and accept that fact, information like what was presented above, will be a lot easier for YOU (as a African American) to understand.

187.

The Most Intelligent Post I have read today is this one:
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
JUDAH said

“Honestly, the Glamour magazine article was very forthright. The job market from the interview and hiring practices all the way to the standards of promotion are based more on pychological evaluations than actual ability or aptitude. You have to be a good “team player”. The powers that be cannot risk a maverick that will infiltrate corporate America and actually be concerned about helping their own people. Standards have been set in America concerning facial hair and how one wears their hair because the mainstream associates those things with a mentality. That’s why the magazine editor said that “those POLITICAL hairstyles have to go”, lol. When caucasians see a negro in the workplace with an afro, dreadlocks, or cornrows, they may get offended, they may not, but they certainly make a mental note. Even looking at the war against Islam, the media is trying to get the American populace to associate beards with terroristic activity. To me what alot of black people don’t grasp is that America is not a melting pot, it’s a caucasian country with other races living amongst whites who have to assimilate as quickly as possible to “succeed”.”

* I didn’t have my laptop computer with me today, until NOW, So I wasn’t able to log in, thus the reposting of things I wrote earlier….

Some people act like white people have to accept them the way they are. To paraphrase what was said earlier you might THINK they like you, but they’re just tolerating you.

So all this talk about growing your fro’s, go right ahead. IT”S YOUR RIGHT. But don’t expect them to conform to YOUR standards. It ain’t your company.

So start your OWN shyt. Give lectures at black community centers for youth at risk on how to empower themselves so that they don’t have to “conform” and start their own businesses as well. I don’t think the main issue here is just about HAIR. That’s just a catalyst. It amazes me that what people don’t realize is that the SAME THING is being said here over and over. It’s just being put into different contexts. If you really look at some of the “differing” opinions, most of them are expounding on each other. In other words, they’re ALL valid points. Take the time and intelligence to put them TOGETHER. We’re all smart here, so why can’t we look at the “gray” shadings of this argument and realize there is a common thread here?

I hear you #224!

this has been an issue for awhile

how the fuck is an afro a political hairstyle? wtf is a political hairstyle anyway? i aint never heard of that

ppl dont wear afros and locs to make a statement, it is a style like any other, and i agree with whoever said do they think our hair just comes silky straight? and 36, they dont have the right to say what our hair should look like

yes presence is important, u should always keep yourself neat and clean, i could see mohawks being unacceptable and outrageous colors but come on, white folks just gettin outta hand, they need to learn about shit before they just try to say no to it and dont even know why

I agree with # 3 and # 17. Not really much more that I can say about this that I haven’t already said on the Stereohyped site.

I’ll say it again anyways…Rock a modest hairstyle until you get the job or are at a level where you can rock whatever the hell kind of hairstyle that you’d like. But until then, keep it MODEST. Pull that fro/dreads back into a ponytail if you want that corporate job. You don’t want anything that will draw too much attention to your looks. They just want you to work!!

yes 48(tasha) i do remember that, what a shame!

Good Afternoon Everyone:

I’m an 34 year old african american woman who wore locs for 4 years and unfortunately they prevented me from moving forward in corporate america. Unfortunately until you get your feet planted in your dream job, you must play by the corporate rules. Credentials are not enough when it comes to African Americans working in corporate america. Unless you’re an entertainner and or artist and are truly getting paid well for your craft, we must play it safe. It’s easy to wnt to emulate a lot of beautiful hairstyles we see on television and or the movies but those people are in entertainment so they can afford to have red/orange and blue hair. They can have tatoos all over thier body but if we want to succeed in corporate america we can’t. We have to make it first then be stylish. Good luck to everyone in thier endeavors and God Bless!!!!!

@ BILL

That’s an interesting statement. But given the latest events, Michael Richards, Don Imus and now this Glamour editor, do you think the opposite might true? That we DON’T intimidate them as much as we think. After all, that was pretty bold of her, no?

Wonder why that is? It almost seems like we’re going back in time. I remember how it was growing up in the 70’s late 60’s.

Perhaps it has something to do with the current events of late ( the David Banner, no snitch, bitches ho’s, rap lyrics and he n-word issues) that have been getting media attention and they sense the divisions among us. Nothing like the ol’ divide and conquer, I always say.

Just a thought.

bambam said:
@ BILL

That’s an interesting statement. But given the latest events, Michael Richards, Don Imus and now this Glamour editor, do you think the opposite might true? That we DON’T intimidate them as much as we think. After all, that was pretty bold of her, no?

Bill Said:

My brother Bam.
The reason why I feel Caucasians are intimidated by African Americans is because they feel they have the liberty to make statements like Micheal Richards, Don Imus and MANY OTHERS make on a daily basis.

Don’t think that this just of “water cooler” talk is recent.

We, African Americans are just NOW being privy to their conversations because we’re in the “information age” .

With the advent of the Internet, Satellite Radio, Cable TV, Cell Phones, I pod’s, etc, etc, we now have more information at our fingertips

We can now goggle a person’s name and be able to access every hateful speech that person has ever uttered.

Don’t feel for a minute that Caucasians are only now feeling comfortable enough to talk freely about how they REALLY feel about us.

They have been talking freely all along.

WE just didn’t know it

Peace

Correction:
Don’t think that this particular “water cooler” talk is ONLY recent.

I had a cousin who went to an interview at Target. It was a thing where, they were practically hiring people on the spot; that’s how bad it was.

He got turned away at the door.

Coincidentally, at the time he had long dreadlocks. Yes, a lot of companies are still VERY discriminatory towards ‘fros, locks, twists, ESPECIALLY cornrows, etc. I once heard of a school that outlawed cornrows as quote-unquote ‘gang affiliated’. Political hair?! Goddam, can’t a black person choose to not try to look like a gotdam european and STILL get a job.

The comments here are interesting, this whole thing is a game you can play by the rules of the whites or make your own rules. Until black people unite and start owning successful business then we will continue to be in this position.

How the hell in Gods name is being NATURAL offensive to people.
Majority of black people come staright from the womb with a damn AFRO!
How in Gods name is that wrong!!!!
Is it better to fry your brains with a damn relaxer to please IGNORANT people!
They got me vexin being time!!!!Ggggrrrr!

I mean Big time.
IGNORANTS!!!!

First off, I’m not buying Glamour anymore.
Second, since when did hairstyles become political? I can understand in the 60’s or 70’s, but this is the 21st century. It’s hard to believe that this Glamour editor hasn’t seen a black hair magazine while walking down the magazine aisle at Walgreens or Wal-Mart.

Also, having good hair is not the solution nor is it any more accepted. I wear my hair down and curly all the time, and still earn some crazy looks from people. No matter how neat and tame I keep it.

I think they are equating certain hairstyles as “political” because they see some locs, braids, and fro’s as radically different styles that are out of the norm. This is intimidating to some Caucasians because they feel that the person may be trying to make a statement with their hair like, “I’m Black & I’m Proud!” In their workplace they don’t have time to figure out if you are a ticking time-bomb. Sounds silly, but true.

I am just hearing this as well. She should be fired for being a backwards ass. Thinking african-american women have to reform to the so called acceptable “do”.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3GVTGNcGNeY

To #3, Your statement is inaccurate and is part of the problem.
I am a corporate attorney and in addition to being a black woman, with locs, in a conservative field, I also litigate commercial controversies in trial and appellate courts throughout the country.

I had locs when I went through law school, when I interviewed, and when I was aggressively recruited to my current position. I have found that people respect a person who respects himself or herself.

I never made apologies for my locs. They are middle of my back length, I wear them in a bun some days, other days I wear them wavy. No one has ever ASKED me to make an apology for them. My field is dominated by caucasian men who come from old oil money.

They hired me because I am GOOD at what I do.

Black people spend so much time trying to fit what they think white people want them to look like, sound like, etc. that they don’t have time to master their fields.

Master your field and learn self love. If you let people defne something as basic as your hair–something that grows naturally from your body–you are opening yourself up to being a puppet forever.

By the way–I not only wear locs with my suits–but I look damn good doing it.

As for the junior editor at “glamour” until she has a title and career path that exceeds mine–she is not qualified to give me career advice.

Nefertari

I THINK THAT CERTAIN STYLES MAKE POLITICAL STATEMENTS RATHER WE WANT THEM TO OR NOT. CERTAIN COMPANIES REPRESENT A CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC AND IF YOUR APPEARANCE DOES NOT APPEAL TO THE DEMOGRAPHIC OR THE ENVIRONMENT, IN FEAR OF LOSING THEIR DEMOGRAPHIC, THEY WILL NOT HIRE YOU. I ONCE WORKED FOR THIS INVENTORY SERVICE, THAT PROVIDES INVENTORY FOR WALMART. WE WERE TOLD THAT WAL-MART HAS VERY CONSERVATIVE CUSTOMERS, AND WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SHOW BODY PIERCINGS, TATTOOS, OR WEAR CERTAIN TYPES OF CLOTHING OR HAIRSTYLES.

WHEN I AM AT WORK OR IN ANOTHER PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT, I COVER MY TATTOOS WITH MAKEUP, OR WITH CLOTHING. I NOW REGRET GETTING TATTOOS, BECAUSE TATTOOS ORIGINALLY REPRESENTED REBELLION AND THE BIBLE ALSO SPEAKS ABOUT CARVED IMAGES ON THE FLESH.

IF ANYONE IS DISPLEASED WITH A COMPANIES POLICY, DO NOT WORK FOR THAT COMPANY.

#246 you are VERY lucky & good for you!!! Glad you shared your experience, but that was NOT what my friends & I experienced while in Law School.

We can’t have anything of our own. We had to create a culture from scratch because the whites stripped it from us, we can’t name our kids what we want to though other ethnic groups maintain cultural names and we can’t wear our natural hair to work because someone deems it unacceptable to be who you are. To all the Madam CJ Walkers in here that is co-signing and perpetuating the bs that is noted by the chick from Glamor…you continue to hold us back. And before I get attacked, know that Madam CJ did exactly what “Sleep” and “BigMa” is doing…Advocating for changing from who we are to what we think “they” will accept.People sing her praises and i commend her for being a hustler, But the bottom line is no matter how much relaxer, straighten combs and flat iron and bleaching cream and whatever else crap that was created to help us “conform”, you are still a N*gga to them.

They will always find a way to prejudge us and discriminate against us. Corporate America feels that people who wear their hair natural are more likely to check their asses when they step out of line. Thats why they dont want people who wear natural hair working for them. A young man above said he went to HR and thats what they don’t want. Natural hair does come across as a political statement because the minds of white America has not changed. They are just less overt in their racism. So natural hair triggers the same response in them it did during the civil rights movement. If they changed their minds about how they view us as a people they wouldn’t care how we wear our hair.

Whats interesting is that corporate america doesn’t care when they market alcohol and cigarettes and unhealthy food to people who wear their hair natural because they know who spends the money in this country…but they let a well educated and qualified person of color with an afro slip by. They don’t deserve you.

I shake my head at those who agree with the Glamor chick because you will help her bs further along. I wear my hair natural and I work with mostly blacks in the non-profit sector and i get the same mess that is being posted here from black people. Why don’t you straighten your hair? Is what they ask and I ask them why do you straighten yours? Whats crazy is they dont even know why. But I know my hair is natural because this is who I am.
Who are you? And will you continue to let someone else define you?

I must say that for the first time in a long while I have actually enjoyed reading most of the comments within this topic forum. Its refreshing to finally be able to have an actual exchange of dialogue without all the irrelevant drama.Its really just everyone stating their own opinion and exchanging ideas. COOL!

You control the dynamics of how things are run and what others can get away with when you STOP supporting / buying the product. If enough people STOP purchasing Glamour magazine - for even a month or two - it would hurt the bottom line, their pockets! I agree with the other lawyers who aren’t supporting Glamour mag. BOYCOTT until something is changed and the woman has to take accountability for her actions. If she was just a ‘junior staffer’ then why was she allowed to speak law firm.

*speak at a law firm. [My bad.]

I just decided to go natural myself, and this is the main reason why I am hesitant to go on job interviews. What does my hairstyle have to do with anything? As long as I do my job and come to work on tine then there shouldn’t be a problem. I never liked Glamor magazine, but not for any particular reason. Since they are not continuing to print Jane magazine anymore, they wanted to continue my subscription for the rest of the year with Glamor. I stopped that real quick.

@185 you are very IGNORANT to make the comments like you are making. i see you have bought into the “good hair, bad hair” mentality. and for the record, i dont mind at all having what YOU would consider “bad hair”. its beautiful to me and thats all that really matters in the end.

Like India Arie said “I am not my hair. I am not this skin. I am the soul that lives within.”

The statement does not surprise nor shock me, it’s how people feel and that’s unfortunate.

@161: It would spark a stop wasting your damn time and money and hating yourself movement.

I wear dreadlocks. I work in a law office and none of my collegues have any issues a about it. My hairstyle has not caused me any setbacks in the corporate world.

I’m a white collar professional who rocks a natural..and honestly, if it wasn’t for the media play I wouldn’t have known about this issue.

Neither myself nor any of my girlfriends has read Glamour in about 10 years…and it looks like we haven’t been missing anything.

That girl is just mad that her hairstylist can’t get her to look as beautiful as those strong Black, educated QUEENS.

Being in the military, I experience some of this same rigamaroo when it comes to what a professional hairstyle should look like.

Just another way folk think they can hold us down…

I am astounded by some of the comments posted. It is offensive that one is not hired for skill but by lack of a certain hairstyle. If one choses to wear their hair natural, the way God created them, by all means go for it. One should not be subjected to CHEMICALLY altering their hair in order to get a job. This is 2007. I should not, nor will not, conform to a standard of beauty outside of myself. To those that say they will not hire based on a hairstyle, shame on you. You are missing out on excellent employees.

@249

You hit the nail right on the head! Nice comment!

Hair should not be an automatic determing factor on rather a person is qualified for the job or not. As long as a person keeps their hair clean, neat and orderly, that should suffice. We were not all born with “straight” hair. There are even white people I know who have kinky hair, and they are corporate execs!!! Just goes to show we still live in a racist, biased world. If some one doesnt want to hire me because they dont like my hairstyle, I dont want to work for them anyway.

What’s scary about this post is the comments coming from some of the backwards as NEGROS who read this site. How can you ever expect a society to progress and truely be multicultral if you continue to ascribe to a standard that states that white people define what is attractive and proffesional. Imagine if white people had to live in a world where they had to chemically burn out their hair, sew in fake hair, where wigs, sit in the haird dresser for hours getting their hair set and curled once a week or put a metal comd over an open flame to tame their tresses on a regular basis just to fit in?

You know what, she’s right, these are politcal styles. These styles are saying Fuck YOU and your FUCKIN standards of beauty. I’m not going to force myself to try to look like you to earn a fucking living. The way god made me is just fine.

I appluad my sisters who refuse to conform. Proffesional hair is hair that is neat, clean and well maintained. There is nothing unkempt about braids, locs or afros. It is all about how you choose to style and maintain them. I see white woman going to work everyday with their hair looking a hot mess. But is straight, therefore it’s okay. Well, I’m over that bullshit. I’m sick of seeing black woman walking around with European silky hair. If that’s your style that’s fine, everyone has their own prefence when it come to their individual look. But it’s ridiculous that we are EXPECTED to hide and wear a mask in order to be accepted by society. I think some white poeple look at us in weaves and wigs and laugh on the inside.

And BTW, some people where locs for religous puposes - rastfarians.

@249…..APPLAUSE!!

I’m also laughing at people’s ignorance. So the same company that is so racists not to hire you because you wear your hair natural is going to be progressive enough to further your career when you straighten your hair? NEWFLASH - your still black.

I recommend you try to find an actually progressive company with progressive leadership that is smart enough to know that talent comes before anything. This is why I don’t work in corporate America. One big rat race with black people “running in place”, think white people somehow forgot that they are infact black. We’ve been straitening our hair for how many generations now? And that has gotten us where? Exactly. I never heard of any battle that was one by blending in. Wake up my people!

I have a couple things to say myself. I think that it is wrong for people to go by names, hairstyles, and race to qualify for a job, that is not right at all. I have a ethnic name and I’m currently attending school for Accountancy, so I know that I definitly will be working in a conservative environment and I’ll have to look good on that interview to get my dream job (CPA). I’m so proud of everyone that is keeping thier natural hair and locks despite working in a coporate enivornment. Those attitudes give others inspiration to do them. However I think some of you are downing people who do get relaxers, wigs and etc and that too is wrong, yall are basically doing the same thing. I have a subscription to Glamour and never have I been unhappy with the magazine but I’m writting a letter to them right after I get off of here with my concerns about this situation. I hope this makes sense because my mind was racing when I wrote this!!

@AHSATAR - good luck finishing school and preparing for your interviews. If you haven’t already read the commet from #117 he/she posted some guides that are good to follow for the corporate/business world. It has nothing about the hair PC crap that the post is about- it talks about looking presentable and confident. Investing in a nice suit and wearing it in all your interviews because none of your interviewers will know, is a good advice.

See this is the stuff that makes corporate america dictate what is Acceptable for an ” African American” first of all I have wavy hear translated to European american style a perm and ur telling me its acceptable, and you can walk around with wet hair… but not me. If I have a business suit, look presentable-dress slacks, shirt, tie….then what?. Okay first u tell me how to dress, then you tell me how to act and think, and now my “hair”. Who made you the judge, oh this is coming from people who justified slavery by using Christianity. I might lose my job in corporate america for this but … why don’t you, put away those stirrups, high water pants, and that mulluck?? the 70’s ended and by the way just because u have a suit jacket with high water pants and socks with Christmas trees, that’s professional. My observations on conservative corporate america, always quick to juge, but not look in the mirror…..kick rocks and dueces

187 hate to say this but ” European-Americans, whites…whatever.. are now the minority….do your work before u speak times are changing thats why most are bilingual in spanish & english is no longer the main language…and as far as helping others…guess i cant count on u…since u have conformed to their ideal AND they like that…. the happy little sambo…”do ur dance.” smile….. didn’t they steal this land from the indians…. assimilation is SELLING OUT ur denying ur own race, ethnicity, identity for $$…even if u in a 2008 Benz ur still a “NIGGA” to them….so much for intellegence…

You all complain and scream “this is not fair” but you fail to realize the truth– This is fucking America. White people “dominate” this fucked up state- they run things by their standard or “code” as one white guy put it before… If the white man says you cant wear dreads and cornrows to a job interview–are you still going to do it just to prove that “I’m black and I can have any hair style I want..my hairstyle doesn’t reflect who I am”…Yeah ..good luck…See u at McDonalds…

as a man i want to say a few things even though the women have it locked on here…

my concern, which will be economically, is that if youre going to stitch in a few tracks or get just for me for your girls in your family or even some african pride for yourself lol… why is NONE of these hair products in the control of the people who use them… especially here in miami I DONT KNOW ONE HAIR SUPPLY STORE owner who is black… is it like that everywhere else… anyone of us involved in distribution of these products… and even if the black hair care products come from the US are distributed here…why buy them at these hair salon stores when you can go to walmart or target..WHERE YOU CAN COMPLAIN when things arent right… i have no problem with the upgrade but if youre going to consume look at where your money can be helpful and influence the type of PEOPLE that the place will hire… Walmart already shops global for products in fact there are a few products already in their stores here in miami… so why cant you shop there buy stock in their company as well and can determine things in the company…you cant do that when the middle eastern or asian man is looking at your boongey the same time hes telling… no refunds no exchanges…

as a matter of appearance for a job… all of that cannot beat the fact that if you are as prepared for the interview by investigating the company beforehand you WILL have a better chance of getting hired. dont tell me otherwise because i have a keloid on my ear and beat out alot of people for the gig im working at now… the information about recent changes in the company and the current market of food distribution and where the company stood in comparison to others was very helpful.. and just to put the icing on the cake…the guy that hired me….his nickname is general lee…not the car as in the redneck civil war general.

i love my black women you are the key to turnaround any adversity to our daily struggles being black in america

While on Oprah, the then aspiring mayor of Newark said that he often talked to the kids, advising them on how to conduct themselves blah blah blah and threw in a telling bit about keeping their hair neat and not nappy. I was disapointed in both him and O. Then i chuckled as i thought about Oprah going natural-i think she’d probably have a heart attack at the thought.

so I guess sittin in a chair with chemicals burning your damn scalp off to straighten your hair is professional?? We have to get over this image thing with women. The editor of glamour magazine should watch “school daze” by spike lee. The scene called ‘good or bad hair’!!!

@ BILL

Point well taken, Professor! Always good to hear your take.

Thanks for the response.

@ DENISE

THANKS FOR THE GREAT POST.

I find it interesting that some people throw the “ignorant’ around so loosely. ESPECIALLY in terms of working in a corporate environment.

First off, don’t get the issues confused. This is NOT about FORCED CONFORMITY. Nobody is FORCING you to work for a large corporation. Stay home and start your own shyt and do you. It’s simply about the rules of corporate America and how you navigate within the structure, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO.

THERE IS A CORPORATE TEMPLATE AND SOME LEVEL OF CONFORMITY IS INVOLVED. THAT’S JUST A FACT OF LIFE.

SOME companies are more relaxed than others. SOME industries are more relaxed than OTHERS. Do your homework and bone up on the companies you CHOOSE to interview for.
SOME people have had the luxury to dress how they want. But the REALITY is the further up you go you are scrutinized on your leadership skills, work record, ethics, values, and in some cases, yes, if you have that “look” or are you “VP material”.

Do you think that if you’re a a high level executive at BET (I haven’t worked here so this is pure assumption for the sake of making an example) and at your monthly board meeting all members wear a power suit (this includes the ladies) and you walk in wearing a party shirt with slacks and orange Stacy Adams shoes that you won’t be scrutinized?

I merely use this example that in every work environment thee is some level of conformity, whether your wearing the red shirt with the white circle at Target or the shirt and tie on trading floor.

more typos….

AND ONE MORE THING, SOME LESSER SKILLED PEOPLE, BLACK AND WHITE, ARE PROMOTED JUST FOR THEIR LOOKS ALONE. I’M SURE A LOT OF US HAVE SEEN THAT ONE.

Is it right? No. Is it real? Yes.

JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT TYPE OF COMPANY YOU GOT YOURSELF INVOLVED IN.

And by all means if you feel discriminated against because of how you look, go to HR, and if you need to, lawyer up. Don’t wait for a group to chime in, but if there are others, and most likely there are, the more the merrier.

Is it right? No. Is it real? Yes.

@Bambam..dont forget ass-kissing, the ass kissers usually make the promotions before the people who actually know the environment. I see it all around me, they fuck it up, yet you get called in to fix it. ok-I’m done, read an email from an ass-kisser and just got a little heated.

That woman is a fucking BITCH. “political”??? what is political about loving your natural hair and not trying to change it so that white people will accept it and so that you’ll look more white looking? what is so political about accepting the hair texture you have and working with it? i never bought that magazine and don’t plan on it either. this is insane. she is insane.

@NOTEATINGHERE

Let us not forget the almighty brown-nosers, finger-pointers and overall project saboteurs. Corporate’s a bitch, that’s why I now work for a magazine in a creative capacity.

@269

Lol, you can always count on one negro to say something negative about something where no negativity was involved. What, you mad that the brother complimented me? “I’m a critic too….I’m smart…someone please pay me attention….”. Lol. Whites have always been the minority on planet earth. Rulership doesn’t come with numbers; it comes by the will of the Most High (Dan 4:17). Now you will certainly be too simple to understand that because if you did, you would never have made such an asinine statement in the first place. There is not one statistic that you can conjure up that will tell you that the status of blacks and hispanics have changed in any way percentage-wise economically. Not one. If there are more blacks and hispanics in the workforce, it is because there are more blacks and hispanics in America. Numbers do not denote power. You can trace the ascendance of the caucasian man in his different empires and you will see that his armies were always outnumbered. They won because of their strict military discipline, their advanced weaponry, and most importantly because the Lord stipulated that it was time for them to rise. They rule by violence and by the sword. That’s the blessing that the Lord gave to Esau (Gen 27:38-40, Ezek 35:5-7). Honestly, that’s a cowardly mindset to think that because you outnumber someone, you are therefore stronger.

Hello…McFly…anybody home? Spanish is an even more “European” language than English is, lmao. What are you talking about? You “We Takin’ Over America” negroes are good for nothing but a good laugh when you talk your nonsense. Why would you even want this land? Like you said, it was stolen from the Native Americans and built off the backs of slaves. This is a defiled land. The people in it worship money and have a whorish mentality. That’s why America is called the “Great Harlot” in Revelation 17:1-6. Honestly, what you said was so scatterbrained that I’m not even quite sure what your point is.

17 I agree with you to a point…Tattoos are a choice. Locs, puffs and braids are our natural hair and we have a right to wear it. I think i’ts appalling that in 2007 we still have to defend our genetic makeup. We were stripped of so much do we HAVE to confom to long silky hair just to make Them feel comfortable…discuss

I’m studying law as well, so I really felt the need to comment on this one! I have locks and my locks happen to be a commitment to God-in addition to the fact they look really good on me. Only God can judge me and only he can evaluate my performance. I understand that there are a number of people who wear their hair more the ethnic than others and ppl tend to perceive it as being dirty. Plus a big firm does have a reputation to uphold. My only suggestion is to keep it professional and neat. You can still wear diverse hair without it being a problem. A female (I use that term loosely) at my job who is not a supervisor, asked me to consider perming my hair and i told her to consider minding her business!!!!

I hope those black lawyers do stick to not buying glamour. Was the junior staffer who made those comments black?

Got a good look at the afrobella site’s response and I hit it up like twice a month at the least myself and I am feeling the response….I couldn’t have responded better. That’s exactly right that people who wear fros high or low or curly or natural or wear twists, braids, plaits and w/e else do it for political reasons….I damn sure don’t and to think the only way to get accepted or a professional job is to straighten your is so sad and I hope that staffer is highly shamed of herself for the statement she made…..yeah real good look to corporate America -_-.

PREEEEEAAAAAAAACHHH NEFERTARI!!!!!!!

I wore long braids for years and got two corporate jobs wearing them. I have spent the majority of my career working for black companies as has my also locked homegirl. Because we’re good at what we do and entertainment is more forgiving, I don’t think it has been a problem. But it is true that the top echelon of our company is more conservative in appearance.
What’s interesting is that locks have now become associated with a criminal element becuase of the southern brothers who aren’t hardly political that sport them. I was more worried about being percieved as being political, now you have to worry about seeming criminal, which is funny to me.
I locked because I thought it was crazy to spend $400 on fake hair and braiding every six weeks when I had a perfectly fine head of thick hair. As I got older I wanted to be more authentic and that seemed ridiculous to me. Plus locks are much cheaper to maintain.
I work with young black people who lock, perm, wear naturals, have curly hair and keep it cut low. It’s wonderful to be in a place where those choices are barely even thought of.
Interestingly enough when I went to a Wharton business school conference for black students, many of them were locked and natural. I thought that was a great sign for the future. Unless corporate domination is your goal, my advice is not to conform because if you do, you will more likely be some place you aren’t happy. There was a great article a whiel back about why black people do not remain in big corporate law firms. I guess this is one of the reasons why.

It is ridiculous how people allow themselves to get caught up in the hype. I work in a VERY corporate enviornment (private banking) and I sport long locs to my buttocks. I keep them clean, and neat. The hairstyle for me is affordable, stylish, and professional. Also, I am the only natural sister in the whole damn place, and probably in the city who works for these people (Las Vegas, go figure). I didn’t compromise, I would never compromise as it is a personal preference. It is about presentation, and how you put the package together. Yes this is my culture, and I don’t have to do anything to assimilate, because my credentials speak for themselves. I think that if anyone has a problem with my appearance they might want to check themselves. As black women we make up a large percentage of magazine buyers, so where do we draw the line? Do we allow people to belittle us, and make us feel less than because we wont assimilate to what they think is right? Do we change ourselves drastically, and spend thousands of dollars on beauty and haircare, when we can keep ourselves up nice and neatly for a fraction of the cost? I for one will write glamour because I am sick of them. They spark controversy just by what they call, “allowing a black or near black face on their covers.” Its bull and we all know it!

I’m gonna keep on rocking my luscious locs, and keep loving the skin I’m in, nobody is going to bring me down….NEXT!

Mainstream media has the wrong preception about what the norm is for different racial groups. African Americans come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and our hair texture is no different, It is not normal for African American to have bone straight hair because our natural texture is curly with a cotton feel after we wash and moisterize. The afro or something close to it is our norm, and to say that our natural grain is not acceptable in the coroporate world is an insult to our existence. The media has created their idea of what the norm for beauty is, and many African Americans have bought into that idea. I know that my hair is beautiful in its natural state, and I have no problem with flauting what I have be blessed with. The media needs to put more models in magazines that wear their natural grain with all of their styles like braids, plaits, and dreads so that people dont forget that the natural sisters and brothers are representing normal African beauty. I love my hair, so corporate better get nappy. Would you rather sleep on cotton or cat hair.

Aww Lawd, I don’t want to sleep on no cat hair! Well as long as it doesnt make me itch!

It’s time for us to boycott these industies that feel we should disappear. Never buy another Gamour Magazine againe.

I have already sent a letter to Glamour because I have been a dedicated reader for over 6 years.

I will never buy another Glamour magazine again. This ‘dread’ sister has better things to spend her money on.

Dread? thats stupid because people could have dreads for a religious reason. and your not alloud to descriminate against peoples religions.

Unfortunately, I’m a subscriber of Glamour magazine. I have great natural hair and I hold a high financial position in a prestige Soho firm. I believe that for an up-to-date magazine such has Glamour that remains on of the top editorial on the market, they sure know how to hire ignorant individuals. To think that I am trying to make a political statement my keeping my hair natural and not trying to embrace what God gave me is a very bad judgment on her part. To think that she is suppose to be knowledgeable on the subject of style and self- worth and the embracement of a woman’s beauty. This editor needs to be educated. She needs to let her fellow white friends that it is not okay for whit women to come in to the work place with wet hair and that not every hair color is the right color.

america is soooooo weird. in the uk people are amazed by black hair and always encourage black people to wear an afro or to let them touch their dreads lol.
i do agree that a HUGE afro is not practical at some jobs.

and i think most black people perm or weave there hair because its just easier to handle like me but i rock everything except dread. i just dont like them

[...] Jezebel Gold-Plated Witch on Wheels AfroBella ConcreteLoop [...]

Its funny how rockin a fro is considered a politcal statement we were born with this hair this is our hair and yet to white america its has to be political maybe we just dont want to have to spend countless amounts of money and time on our hair maybe we just want to be who we really are.Lets face it the closest thing to white to them (and sadly to many blacks) is the closest thing that is right. Weve been so conditioned to hate ourselves and i am no different and thas a conditioning that i think all black people struggle with at some point in thier lives. Either your not black enough or your to black either your not light enough or your not dark enough. Thas why we need to start staying true to ourselves. Its a damn shame u got so many blacks living in the ghetto with barely enough food to eat but u see them on the road driving a damn cadillac with 20 inch rims on it. We got girls who barely have enough money to feed thier own children but wanna spend $300 on a new hair weave. Im saying by us conforming to a white standard of beauty were only contributing to it. That dont mean u shouldnt get your hair pressed im saying be true to you and lets be true to our people and open up our minds how can we expect ignorant people like that lady to see the beauty in black if we dont. But then agian who am i to talk. All i know this lady is ignorant wearing a fro aint always political i know there are times where i just dont feel like spending all day getting my hair done. But because white people are so conditioned aswell i mean look at all the black magazines thier all black women with white hair look at all the famous black women who are considered beautiful halle berry light skinned beyonce light skinned with blonde hair.ELook at music vidoes king magazine eseence magazine its all black women with white hair .We as black people need to also look at ourselves and see the beauty within us as a people regardless how short your hair our how light your skin is we first before white america need to start widening the definition of beauty.

[...] has really been messing up lately. Last month, you all had that little slip up with your racist editor who referred to twists and dreads as “political hairstyles” and claimed that they [...]

Hello,

I read your post about a Glamour editor’s comments on hairstyles for work, and I’d like to share with you our thoughts. First, we regret the comments were made. The employee, a junior staffer, not a beauty editor, spoke to a small group of lawyers at a private luncheon without her supervisor’s knowledge or approval, and her comment — that Afros are not work appropriate — does not represent Glamour’s point of view.

Secondly, immediately upon learning of it, we sought to rectify the situation. The editor has been dealt with in a very serious manner, and the entire staff has been reminded of the magazine’s policies and procedures for making public appearances.

Glamour is proud of its diverse readership and celebrates the beauty of ALL women. We have responded directly and openly with readers to assure them of this fact. We have also apologized to the law firm, and we extend the same apology to you.

If you know others who were offended by this incident, To ask you to please pass along this letter. So they, too, know how sorry we are.

Sincerely,
Cindi Leive
Editor-in-Chief, Glamour

I will never buy another copy of Glamour magazine ever again, and I’ll tell my friends to do the same.

[...] can read more here This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 29th, 2007 at 7:35 am and is filed under glamour [...]

[...] readers wrote numerous letters to the editor and sent e-mails, voicing their opinions and concerns. The following are statements from readers Leive included in her [...]