BLACK PEOPLE, the world over, have long been aware of hair discrimination in the workplace, but until now ‘it has rarely been quantifiable’, says Michelle De Leon, CEO World Afro Day.
A new report, ‘Workplace Hair Acceptance,” has found bias against Afro hair in the workplace is likely to cost jobs.
Respondents in the survey were given a real incident of Afro hair discrimination: when a woman did not pass her probation because of her Afro hair. More than a third of the survey respondents, believed it could possibly happen in their own workplace. One fifth thought it could definitely happen in their workplace.
The report is released to mark the seventh anniversary of World Afro Day, September 15.
The research also includes the Employer Hair Attitudes Survey conducted with Shift Insight. The survey of 1000 UK and US decision-makers: CEOs, Line Managers, HR Professionals and DEI Specialists; revealed employer bias against Afrocentric hair in the workplace and a clear lack of understanding of what is legal and discriminatory towards Afro hair and Afrocentric hairstyles.
Even companies with a strong DEI commitment showed the same bias against Afrocentric hairstyles.
Findings also show a hierarchy of hairstyles from more Eurocentric decreasing to Afrocentric styles. 84 per cent considered straight hair on a woman appropriate in all circumstances versus 64 per cent who felt an Afrocentric hairstyle (braids with buns) was appropriate.
Several Afrocentric hairstyles were considered completely inappropriate for the workplace by over one in 10 respondents (12 per cent).
Previous unpublished research from World Afro Day shows a shocking level of ignorance in attitudes and behaviour towards Afro hairstyles in the workplace. “Had my boss tip water on my hair for ‘fun’, to see what will happen.”
Another person said: “I have had people treat me like I am not human.”
World Afro Day has gathered a team of experts from the UK and USA to create celebration and liberation events for Afro hair and the workplace.
The event hosts are TV Presenter Scarlette Douglas and Emmy-winning Tashara Parker. Plus, guests: entrepreneur Levi Roots, Olympian, Alice Dearing, Barrister, Laith Dilaimi; Shift Insight MD; Jane Powell, Global Tech Disruptor, Paulette Watson and UK Professor Jonathan A.J. Wilson and US Professors D. Wendy Greene and Patti O’Brien-Richardson. CEO BUD Leaders, Georgina Wilson.
De Leon, who is also the report author said: “People with Afro hair have known for a long time about hair discrimination in the workplace, but it has rarely been quantifiable until now.
“The Employer Hair Attitudes Survey reveals that bias against Afrocentric hairstyles can cost jobs. Africans should be able to look African in the workplace like Europeans can look European and Asians can look Asian.
“Ending hair discrimination is decades overdue, I hope companies and politicians will now do the right thing and act on the research.”
Levi Roots, entrepreneur says: “It is truly upsetting to except that there is still a prejudice against people of colour who wear their hair naturally.
“As a Rastafarian I have suffered this throughout my life and now I, like many others are speaking out about it.
“There need to be meaningful legislation against employers who use this form of racism against people in the workplace; and children they should be free to look and feel like themselves culturally, and not be forced to adopt a version of themselves chosen by someone else. It is time we end hair discrimination now. More love LR “
Jane Powell, Managing Director Shift Insight, says: “The research we’ve conducted here shows that discrimination around Afro hairstyles at work is a real blind spot for organisations, even those that consider diversity and inclusion to be important. It also shows that this isn’t a small issue.
“Not only is this sort of discrimination something that might cause those with Afrocentric hairstyles to be discriminated against in the job market, it also may be a barrier to organisations in seeking to develop a diverse workforce, with all the benefits that this brings.
“One of the most notable things about running this research was the number of people who thanked us in comments at the end of the survey for shining a light on this issue.
It’s an area that needs action and we’re thankful to World Afro Day for the opportunity to work with them to bring this to people’s attention.”
World Afro Day is a global day of celebration and liberation of Afro hair and identity with an estimated reach of 1.5 billion.
Since 2017, their work has influenced the UN, UK government, global brands, international media and major celebrities.
They carry out research, create events and produce training and resources to empower people with Afro hair and raise awareness in wider society. For more information www.worldafroday.com.
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Many years ago, I had the awkward experience of having to answer questions posed by teachers about the seemingly ‘inelegance’ of my daughter’s afro within the context of a primary school she had been attending and this morning after reading the article in the Voice i was reminded that this ‘issue’ is still with us. I must now segue into a topical issue, which is the ‘immigration debate’
From 3–9 September 1979, i was part of a Caribbean delegation that attended the 6th conference of Non-Aligned nations in Havana Cuba. At that conference, Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi stated that there will be a non-white majority population in Europe at some point. He went on to say that ‘Europe would be black’ and that he was the person who was the bulwark/gatekeeper preventing it from happening. He went on to state that if he was removed from power that this process will be accelerated. There was a sharp silence in that hall. I saw some heads of state rolling their eyes in disbelief and nudging each other mockingly. Some made mocking gestures and some later dismissed him as eccentric and that his statement was outlandish. Fast forward to August 2023 and there am i standing on the Mediterranean coastline of Tunisia and Libya, looking in disbelief as hundreds of thousands of Africans get onto boats destined for Spain, Italy and Greece. I also spent a week at Lampedusa and can say without any contradiction that Europe will be a black majority continent. It’s the sheer speed that has taken me by surprise. It’s no longer a case of if, but when. Many people are predicting that this will happen by 2040 and hopefully the pestilential agitation over the black hair and other forms anti-black racism will diminish.
The Voice newspaper should send its investigative journalists to witness the shocking scenes on the Mediterranean coastlines of Libya, Tunisia, Greece, Spain and Italy.
Why not investigate the cause of why so many people in sub sahara Africa are fleeng their countries., and dieing in the mediterean. I will give a few examples, War, hunger, no water, corruption by the ruling class of black politicians and greed to control the regions resources.