DRESS CODE or DISCRIMINATION CODE

Richard Prince’s online commentary on the Maynard Institute website for Journalism Education featured an article entitled “Dreadlocks Don’t Make The Cut” in June 2006. A certain journalism professional that I know would say that they’re not called DREAD-locks because there is nothing DREADFUL about them. They’re called locs. But, not everyone thinks the way she does.  Hampton University, a historically black college or university, prevents students from wearing natural hairdos who major in their 5-year business administration program.

Essence editorial director Susan L. Taylor protested against this ruling by “backing out of a speaking engagement at the university”. Black Enterprise magazine also asked one of their interns to do the same. Then-NABJ student representative Mashaun Simon had to cut his locs or forfeit his internship at the magazine. He cut his locs and kept his internship.

 What does this mean for college graduates that sport their natural locs and are looking for their first job? Is this Dress code or Discrimination Code? What do you think?