Natural Hair: Professional or Not?

Have you given thought to the idea that a state is given more respect for its appearance rather than the population of people that reside within it?

Arkansas is considered a natural state famous for its natural scenic beauty and land of opportunity. How is it that a state can be appreciated for its natural beauty and opportunities but people with their same natural beauty are considered ugly, unprofessional, lazy, and rejected of any opportunities because of their naturalism?

How and why should a human being's natural beauty be questioned or opportunities be denied after all it is just their naturalism?

Sadly, to some people it is not just that but rather a reminder of that person's ethnicity.

The issue of natural hair has involved collectively sharing mixed opinions for both genders of all races. But for people who understand their identities it's just hair.

On the other hand, it is not just hair when the federal court rules it is illegal for employers to ban dreadlocks, students should not be suspended for wearing their natural hair and employees should not get fired from their jobs for the natural styles they choose to wear.

The natural hair movement as it relates from the 1960s and 1970s to black women with naturally kinky hair has now been a force into today's professional industry.

This movement has gained momentum in the mid-2000s causing different opinions and attitudes about the appearance of people being in their natural state of all ages.

People are fascinated by the diversity of natural hair, which in turn, attracts unwarranted attention and discrimination.

As we go through life, our attitudes are met with many changes, which means something different with our hair for everyone. Some women are choosing to go

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‘A Political View’

By Sherry Holliman SHERRY HOLLIMAN (cont.)

go natural for many reasons, a few being medical, repairing damaged hair, needing a new look after a life change, not wanting to have processed hair or just wanting to try something different.

Of course, with any change the miseducation, alienating questions, and discriminatory treatment will have the potential to destroy an individual self-confidence and personal growth. A person should not be punished because of the way they choose to wear their hair, this is how they are showing their self-reflection.

However, natural hair has yet to be accepted as normal. With the lack of diversity, the celebration of natural hair in today’s society, can be complex, challenging and isolating. It's 2021, and the very thought of wearing natural hair, braids, or tinted hair in a buttoned-up corporate America environment instills a sense of shame and fear in the minds of many women desiring to wear natural hairstyles.

Hopefully, a time will come when women are not discriminated against or automatically judged because of the way we choose to wear our hair.

True progress will happen when the realization that natural hair, in every single setting, symbolizes freedom, love, individualism, and self-acceptance.

Realistically some natural hair styles can be unprofessional looking due to looking unmaintained. Should the culture matter over corporate? Why is wearing natural hair such a big deal? Why is it that wearing one’s hair, the way God causes such a controversy or negative image?

Initially people are afraid to wear their natural hair because it is viewed as being unprofessional, ghetto, angry, untamed and a reminder of their ethnicity.

Everyone needs to understand that no matter how an individual wears their hair the actual professionalism speaks for itself. Work on being comfortable with yourself and always believe that your body, facial features, and hair are not indicators of whether you are competent enough to be a productive individual within your community but confident is being your authentic self.

The real question is why are we the people having to utilize our legislator time with trivial obvious systematic barriers to create laws to prevent discriminations acts from being fired for wearing natural hair!

During a pandemic with millions of people dying every day and several businesses are closing.

When will “We the people stop mocking the system?”

Sherry Holliman is a concerned citizen of Crittenden County and has some views on a variety of topics that she wants to share with her neighbors. She serves on the Marion City Council.