Natural African Hair Banned in the Baltimore Police Department

The Baltimore Police Dept and City Council has effectively banned the wearing of natural African hair. This new policy effective January 1st will require women with locs to cut their hair off and those with natural styles straighten their hair in order to "conform." To view more about this policy and voice your outrage, please go to this link: http://www.petitiononline.com/baltpd/petition.html

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As noted on the sidebar of this blog, I'm a member of Nappturality.com. The purpose of that website is to promote the natural texture of African hair.

Nappturality.com is your resource for the style and beauty of Natural Black Hair. We are dedicated to all the women in the diaspora who proudly wear their highly textured hair naturally.

For too long blacks have been raised to be ashamed of their hair. For those of us who have chosen to embrace the natural texture of our hair some have been regulated to being "fadish" and others have been told their hair is unprofessional or they "need to get their hair done." Because it's something that has been internalized into black culture, it's even more insidius.

However, it must stop because it's just as bad as any other form of discrimination. You'd never tell Heidi to change the texture of the hair that grows out of her head, so don't tell me to change mine.

If you agree with my sentiments, please go to this petition and sign it. Also, if you're moved to do so, follow-up with a letter or email.

Here is a link to Baltimore PD's Policy document (an .rtf file that you can open in MS Word): Professional Appearance Standards

Furthermore, write your representatives because this is truly a serious issue. Here is the link to find your representative if you are a US citizen (if you're not international outrage sways policy too): http://www.house.gov/writerep/

Also, here is the link to write the Congressional Black Caucus: http://www.cbcfinc.org/contactus.html

Letters can also be sent to:
Police Commissioner Leonard Hamm
Baltimore Police Department
242 West 29th Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21211-2908
USA
or
Email to: questions@baltimorepolice.org

It's so important to fight racial stereotypes. One that is deeply ingrained in society is that African hair in its natural state is unattractive and unprofessional.

The beginning paragraph and online petition can also be found at http://www.Nappturality.com

Dr. Marc Lamont Hill's blog on this issue
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Update, January 2, 2007:

The policy has been rescinded. However, I've yet to get my hands on a press release or link verifying that. Once I get something, anything, I'll link it.

Thanks to all that signed the petition and/or took other action.

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