What a person can offer a company should supersede one’s hair.
One summer day, Markeese Warner journeyed to Six Flags in her home state of Maryland for a job interview with the amusement park’s food services. Warner, 21, like most college students was looking for a summer job to make some money before returning to Pennsylvania State University in the fall for her senior year. On the day of the interview, Warner wore a black business dress, a pair of flat shoes, with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. Professional as usual for any job interview.
But much to Warner’s disbelief, when she was called into the human resources office to be interviewed, she was told that she was in clear breach of a very strict employee policy.
The interviewer, a black woman with curly natural hair, told Warner that she could not continue the interviewing process because Six Flags Corporation has a policy against “extreme hairstyles,” which includes mohawks and, astonishingly, Warner’s dreadlocks. While Warner may have met every other requirement for the job, her hair was an apparent roadblock.
“I just smiled and I left,” Warner said. “It was mind blowing.”
Feeling defeated, Warner went back home to share what happened at Six Flags with her mother. Her mom, who also wears locks, was disturbed by the news. She decided to contact a family friend in Florida, Kwasi Abahu, about the incident. Abahu, 37, who is Rastafarian, wears dreadlocks. When he learned of Warner’s Six Flags rejection because of her hair, Abahu started a petition to bring awareness to the company’s policy, which he found to be discriminatory.
“I was kind of pissed off,” he said. “I couldn’t not react and not address it in some way.”
Abahu said he is no stranger to such rejection from employers. Having worn his dreadlocks for nearly 20 years, Abahu said his hair prevented him from securing jobs and opportunities he may have otherwise been afforded.
“When you walk through the door people see you,” he said. “Much like the Sikhs with a full beard and a turban on.”
That kind of judgement, he said, is very detrimental for those who choose to wear dreadlocks with distinct purpose. But even so, Abahu adds that what a person can offer a company should supersede one’s hair.
What a person can offer a company should supersede one’s hair.
Six Flags Entertainment Company is not new to such controversy. The same Six Flags theme park in Maryland
made headlines two years ago when reports revealed that at least two women were denied employment for having dreadlocks.
Abahu said there remains a negative stereotype that surrounds dreadlocks, which are commonly worn among religious groups in the African culture, and locks -- a term used for those who wear it as a style and not as a religious ornament. While dreadlocks and locks are most closely associated with the Rastafarian movement and predominantly worn as a style in the African-American community, it has also been worn by many ethnic groups throughout history -- though reasons for wearing dreadlocks varies from group to group.
Warner said her hair is a fundamental core of her identity.
“Before I locked my hair, I actually was going through a lot of trouble in high school,” Warner said. “I decided to lock my hair as a representation that I would stop and take school seriously and build my relationship with God.”
[Also Read: Actresses Who Rock Natural Hair]
Warner said since she locked her hair, she has looked at life through a different lens and is doing quite well in college, where she majors in engineering. Her dream job is to work for Apple after graduation. Warner characterized Six Flags’ employee policy against dreadlocks as “sad.” Thankfully for Warner, she has since been hired as a waitress by a local restaurant in the Maryland area.
But Warner’s story has not fallen on deaf ears. The
petition started by Abahu has been picked up by online advocacy group Change.org, which mobilizes grassroots causes through the use of online petitioning.
“In a country that purports itself to be the greatest ‘melting pot’ of social values and ideals, it’s time for Six Flags to stop its discriminatory policy by categorically refusing to employ people because of their natural hair,” reads a portion of the petition.
So far over 35,000 people have signed the petition in support of Warner. The petition goal is to reach 50,000 signatures.
“The stigma that comes with dreadlocks I realize cannot be erased by a petition,” Abahu said, “but I hope it in some way gives credence to the fact that work ethic and moral values go far beyond somebody’s hair style and appearance.”
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