Tell Congress To Stop Discrimination Against Natural Black Hair

Sign the Petition : 1,578 Letters and Emails Sent So Far

It has come to my attention that the United States Air Force has a regulation, AFI36-2903 DRESS AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF AIR FORCE PERSONNEL, which in part, discriminates against African-American women serving in the Air Force. The code was recently updated to include a bans on a common natural African-American hairstyle, which the Air Force has called "dreadlocks". Female personnel with neat, clean, professional well-kept hair are being forced to choose between cutting their hair and treating it with chemicals to conform with this regulation which I feel unfairly and unnecessarily discriminates against African-Americans. The regulation itself does not define "dreadlocks". This leaves women with hair that is in no means a distraction or a detriment to their duties, subject to disciplinary action.

While it is certainly reasonable that the Air Force require its personnel to wear their hair in a neat and professional manner, blanket regulations against a loosely defined manner of wearing the hair is causing undue hardship on a number of women in the Air Force. There appears to be an ignorance of the needs of African-American hair and what can be done in the way of styling the hair without either cutting it off or subjecting the hair to chemicals. Wearing the hair in a "locked" style is the only way many African-American women can wear their hair, with any length, and without having to chemically treat it or wear a wig. As long as the styles are neat, professional looking, not distracting and not hindering their ability to perform their duty, there is no reason the Air Force should require women to change their hair styles. I think the code was fine before the addition of the ban on "dreadlocks" and the addition of that ban is unnecessary. The code already states that hairstyles cannot be "faddish" and must be professional. Locked hair is not necessarily faddish nor is it necessarily unprofessional.

I would like to request that you look into this regulation and ask the Air Force to reconsider the ban of neat, clean and professional hairstyles worn by African-American women.		Tell Congress To Stop Discrimination Against Natural Black Hair

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People signing the "Tell Congress To Stop Discrimination Against Natural Black Hair" petition!

  1. Fri., Nov. 20, 2009 5:30 PM    link orliande G. | Jamaica, NY

    I think for a lot of people, when they hear dreads, they probably think first of those, yes mostly white young people who have horrible dreads, ( i see lots of them everyday) so they think that most people with dreads, are like that, load, dirty, and unkept. I live in geneva, Swiss, and i see that most people in America have very well kept beautiful dreads/locks. for me i don't see why they come up with stupid things like these. but hey, just another way for them to show they still don't like black people

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  3. Sun., Nov. 15, 2009 3:09 PM    link Name not displayed | Orlando, FL

    I have locks and I am trying to get into the Air Force as we speak. I get numerous compliments on my hair. I don't see how my hair can cause a problem to me doing my job or being a distraction to anyone, therefore this regulation is a complete and utter violation of wanting to have healthy hair, whether they see it that way or not.

  4. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  5. Sat., Nov. 14, 2009 10:23 PM    link Koura G. | Washington, DC

    African hair is not a uniform...and neither is "white" hair for that matter!

  6. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  7. Sat., Nov. 14, 2009 10:23 PM    link Dr. Koura G. | Washington, DC

    African hair is not a uniform...and neither is "white" hair for that matter!

  8. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  9. Sat., Nov. 14, 2009 10:18 PM    link Name not displayed | Washington, DC

    african hair is not a uniform! ...and neither is "white" hair...

  10. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  11. Thu., Nov. 12, 2009 4:20 PM    link Monisha S. | Baltimore, MD

    My employer is telling me that my hair is "unprofessional" for a business setting and I need to get it done. Natural hair is beautiful and should be embraced. I refuse to conform to the eurocentric standards of "beauty!"

  12. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  13. Wed., Nov. 11, 2009 11:50 AM    link Allison R. | Concord, NC

  14. Tue., Nov. 10, 2009 12:00 PM    link erika p. | West Palm Beach, FL

  15. Mon., Nov. 9, 2009 8:03 PM    link Amber R. | Los Angeles, CA

    Locs can be maintained in accordance to the regulations as stated "neat, clean and professional." I agree that this ban is unfair, and locs should be allowed.

  16. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  17. Fri., Nov. 6, 2009 9:11 PM    link Name not displayed | Orlando, FL

  18. Fri., Nov. 6, 2009 1:18 AM    link Name not displayed | Philadelphia, PA

  19. Wed., Nov. 4, 2009 10:59 AM    link Name not displayed | Alexandria, VA

  20. Tue., Nov. 3, 2009 12:33 PM    link S.K S. | Stafford, TX

  21. Tue., Nov. 3, 2009 10:34 AM    link Name not displayed | New York, NY

    Locs can be neat and professional and should be allowed.

  22. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  23. Tue., Nov. 3, 2009 10:07 AM    link Name not displayed | New Brunswick, NJ

  24. Tue., Nov. 3, 2009 9:52 AM    link Name not displayed | Bronx, NY

    That rule is ridiculous! Lots of people have neat locs. They could wear it in a ponytail or bun away from their face.

  25. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  26. Tue., Nov. 3, 2009 9:52 AM    link Name not displayed | New York, NY

  27. Tue., Nov. 3, 2009 9:43 AM    link Y. L. | Fairfax, VA

  28. Tue., Nov. 3, 2009 9:34 AM    link Donna G. | Chicago, IL

  29. Tue., Nov. 3, 2009 4:08 AM    link dana m. | Inglewood, CA

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