Whats all this craziness about Hampton University having a beef with Essence Magazine editor?
May issue I have Jada Pinkett Smith is on the cover (in a hott **** dress too omg who designed it?)
Well N.E. way
Im reading it and I just came across the editors letter..... The Bold and the Beautiful.
The letter opens up at first discussing an issue dealing with a mother and her 7 year old little girl in Memphis Tennessee. The argument was discussing the fact that her daughter couldnt participate in the ballet recital unless she cut her locks (dreadlocks) off. Supposedly the little girl's instructor informed her that if she didnt cut them off she would have to sit and watch the recital and couldnt participate in the recital. The mother had to back-and-forth with lawsuit threats, and an old-fashioned Black-mother ways (wHY my child cant dance cuz her hair!) The instructor finally caved in and allowed the little girl to perform.
The mother told her young daughter that you dont always have to have a Eurocentric look to fit into society.
where does Hampton fall at in this? ..........
All of a sudden the Editor talks about and "I Quote"
"If you need any further proof that we still have issues when it comes to our hair,
"consider the controversy that was brewing at Hampton University just as we went to press.
In a misguided effort to better prepare students to enter corporate America, the university recently mandated that students in the five-year M.B.A program would not be allowed to wear hairstyles that administrators consider "extreme"
"No dreadlocks, No long braids, and No cornrows NO way!"
THE EDITOR ALSO SAYS
"As a proud alum of this historically Black college and a graduate of its business school,
"I was stunned to hear of the university's stance on this issue. " I worry how this policy will affect the self-image of our young women and men.
"Our hair , and the myriad (different, various) ways we choose to wear it, is a statement of pride, a refelction of our creativity and individuality. And isn't that what college is supposed to be about? HBCU's especially
"Without a doubt, our hair has been a racially charged issue since "WE" (the black people of USA) hit these shores.
"Thats why it so concerns us here at Essence to see one of our own beloved institutions call anyone's personal expression of beauty into question.
I dont have locks or braids but I soo agree with everything she said.
You hair does not determine if you can do the qualitfications of the job
Corporate America (WHite AMerica u ask me) Im not racist I just hate to see my people having to FAKe or not be who they are. All because certain power, hungry biggots? NOPE I refuse to and I can't believe Hampton University out of all is making this a requirement?
Why are they so strict? I have plenty of people family included that are alumni and current students. I havent yet asked but I wonder how they feel about this.
Hampton University needs to lighten up I'm kind of glad Im going to CAU instead of HU now that I know where they stand people should be allowed to be themselves. I myself cant get locks but if I could I would have them they are unique and I think when their clean and long or short theyare pretty.
Plenty of people have made it with locks and braids. Susan Taylor the Editorial director one of romodels wears those Cornrows with that HUGE FOREHEAD! Niki Giovani, Alice Walker, Cousin JEff AKA Jeff Torres, Edmond Ashaw, Vanessa Williams, Malcolm Jamal Warner, Kim fields, and lots of other have locks and braids. All are doing good what is that u have to proove?
Why do they have to proove to Corporate America anything?
This is crazy to me I have love for all HBCU's but Hampton maybe u all should re think this
I could see if they had mullets or mohawks whic some are cute (if cut right) No bizarre wild George Clinton colors so whats the big deal?
I hope they rethink this they dont want to come off as a snobbish school they are a wonderful institution with great values.
I'm glad my sister graduated before she locked her hair lol
Hampton University, should know that this could and will effect not only on the students but their reputation as a HBCU.
Well, I think that Hampton is wrong for this. Ok, maybe some corporations won't hire you if you have dreads or braids, but does that neccessarily mean that you can't have them while going through school. Ok, Hampton has every right to tell their students that they may not get a job, but let the students decide on their own if they want to cut their hair or not and encourage entreprenurial options. And yes, we all have to compromise on something , but I think to this is something that's in our heritage and we shouldn't have to cut off our hair as long as it's neat and clean.
I was thinking of going through HU's MBA program and I'm glad I decided not to because Hampton does seem like they're trying to get away from being associated with being a black institution, and all schools are to survive, but they seem to go a little bit further than any other. It's that Booker T. Washington philosophy.
Anyways, Hampton is a great school and that's what they're known for, their business school and their rules. I don't think too many people will consider going to another school and all the press probably will give them a right to inflate the tuition even more...
but I do think ALL HBCUs need to reevaluate what they were established for.
Hello Everyone,
It only seems fitting that I reply to this message. Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Milton Bell the SGA President at Hampton University. I am a rising Junior double major in Accounting and Finance from Orlando, Florida. As of late, my University has made national headlines on several occasions. The most recent being Essence Editor in Chief and Hampton University Alumna refusing to speak at Hampton earlier last semester. This is all due to a recent enforcement of policy within the School of Business. Under this policy, students who are in the 5yr MBA Program are required to maintain a clean cut, form fitting conservative appearance, (i.e.….no dreads, corn rolls, braids, etc). This has caused a great deal of ruckus of not only within the Hampton University Community, but amongst the student bodies at other institutions, particularly HBCUs. Many have criticized the conservative practices of Hampton University and feel as though mandating a particular hair style for students is a bit much.
When you consider Hampton University and its history, you will see that this policy is nothing out of the ordinary. Hampton has been known since its inception as a conservative institution and it has not deviated from that since 1868. Hampton prides itself on producing high caliber students who, once they leave Hampton, are ready to go and lead in any field they choose. The hair policy is comparable to war. Once you have learned the “engagements of war” you can then battle. The same is for the business world. You must learn the engagements before you can engage. In our society today, the majority of business practices use the “form fitting look”. This is what Hampton University uses as well. The purpose of that is so that students won’t be shocked once they leave Hampton to go into corporate America, it won’t be a shock to them.
The change that everyone is seeking does not come over night. It’s often said that, “the best change come with time”. Its going to take producing more top caliber Black students to get into senior level management in top corporations to change the culture. Until such a time as that comes, we must continue to acquiesce to the rules of engagement that are set before us.
While I do not totally agree with the decision the University made, I do understand the rational behind it. Furthermore, this policy is only applicable to the students in the 5yr MBA Program. I find it rather disturbing that people would make such gross generalizations of HU and neglect to research to ascertain what is really going on!
The only question I have is, in what kind of business are certain hairstyles unacceptable? Food service industries are understandable, but even then they're SAUPPOSED to wear hair nets regardless of hairstyle. Its just still ironic to me that Hampton would come up with such guidelines for their students in the 5yr program. I mean come on, I know all about conservative ideals, I go to Spelman, but this is just borderline ridiculous. Currently working in corporate America for the summer I was actually surprised to see the lack of restriction placed on employees and what they can do with their hair. In all actuallity too many companies have faced lawsuits in recent years for trying to enforce such stupid restrictions, as these, for hair to be that much of an issue these days especially for women.
i think it makes sense.
the whole reason why businesses (AND HAMPTON'S MBA PROGRAM) have guidelines and restrictions as to what you can and can't wear is so that all the employees (AND STUDENTS) can appear uniform... not to "whitewash" us.
how can you look like everybody else with a head full of dreads/locs/fro?
if you choose to major in business, you need to realize that business attire is composed of a certain look, and even though natural hair is beautiful... it isn't really possible to look uniform with it.
not that i agree with this policy... i just see how it makes sense.
i am so damn tired of HU students getting all sick and pissy when they're told that they need to change their hair... it's a part of the school's rules... if you don't like it, CHANGE YOUR DAMN MAJOR OR CHANGE SCHOOLS. HAMPTON IS A PRIVATE INSTITUTION, AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GO BY IT'S RULES...
LEAVE.
the fact of the matter is that Black americans still make up only about 13 percent of the US population... and perhaps a smaller percentage in the professional world... so until that number goes up... we're gonna have to get used to being in the minority, and conforming to what is considered "business attire".
There.
All I can say is, trust you will never lose your job based on the fact that you wear your hair in locs/braids/other natural styles. The only thing that makes this all an issue is that as much as you want to say/think/believe that this has nothing to do with race, it is race sensitive because it mainly affects certain groups of people and not others. And as far as uniformity is concerned in corporate America, that's why they have their workers wear pant/skirt suits and in the financial sector they can be as specific as color.
Hampton didn't say no unruly hair, they made it a cultural issue by excluding certain styles. Trustthat I know more people with natural hair who keep their hair done nice, since they automatically can be looked at sideways, than people with relaxers who keep their hair nice all the time. Too many times people think straight hair means neat and often it really doesn't.
In "Corporate America" there are certain guideline that you adhere to. For the most part, how you wear your hair isn't. A lot of the "rules" aren't necessarily "rules", they are customs. They are unwritten and are learned from the environment around you. I am working in Charlotte, North Carolina for the summer. I'm workin for an Accounting, Tax and Consulting Firm. This field is by far, one of, if not the most conservative fields to go when it comes to your apperance. With certain industry, come certain guidelines. If you are in Banking, Finance, Accounting or Consulting, you can expect to adhere to a conservative, form fitting dress code. If you are going into like IT, Marketing, Public Relations, the environment in these industries tend to be more laxed than the aforementioned. Hampton University is taking it one step forward. We are teaching our Students all the ins and outs. We giving them a chance to succeed not only academically, but socially. A lot of time, you will find that its small things that keep people from getting promotions or the job, for that matter. No one is going to tell you that your hair is unacceptable, because they will face a lawsuit. However, they will simply send you a letter discussing, how they regret to inform of you their decision to deny you employment. So when looking at this issue, you can't be so parochial that you miss the bigger picture at hand.
I do see the bigger picture and even with that, I fail to agree with Hampton taking this position on hair. Point, blank, period. I think that such a rule makes sense for males, but for females I absolutely fail to agree. Sorry. Not everyone who is seeking an MBA desires to go into the stiffer side of business. Some people want to learn the basic foundation so that by the time they finish college they can graduate and be able to know how to successfully do their own thing.
But like was previously said, Hampton is a private school and can do whatever they want. But of course they couldn't expect for people not to have opposition. I wouldn't even wanna see what kind of uproar would ensue if Spelman took a similar stance. For some their hair is just as important as the rest of their identity. But no matter what way you read into this situation, I don't see how anyone could consciously say that this does not become a cultural issue.
