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In the latest installment of "cornrow Jim Crow," a white Philadelphia police officer has been denied hairstyle rights enjoyed by his fellow black officers. When officer Thomas Strain showed up for duty wearing the traditionally African American hairstyle (Bo Derek notwithstanding) his bosses reacted fast:
"They pulled him out of roll call and took him right up to the inspector's office," said an officer who asked to remain anonymous.
Reached last week, Strain declined to comment about the hair hubbub. [ ]
"It's absolutely discriminatory," said one officer. Strain's cornrows 'do "was neat. It was above his collar. It's not like he shaved a Nazi sign or something anti-black or anti-Hispanic on his head. It's just cornrows. I don't know what the problem is."
(Okay. I don't get how cornrows are on the same continuum as the swastika or any other hateful symbol. That comment in and of itself warrants a post at a later time, but I digress.)
The problem, police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore said, is that Strain's superior didn't feel his cornrows were "professional." Ordering Strain to chop them off had nothing to do with discrimination, added Vanore, who spoke with Inspector Aaron Horne about the incident. Source: Cop with cornrows pulled from street duty, Philadelphia Daily News
Strain, a former marine and Iraq war veteran, was assigned to desk duty until he cut his braids off, which he did two days after being placed on desk duty.
What do YOU think? Should white cops be allowed to wear cornrows?
Comments: (70)
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By: Tired of Poor ME attitude on 9/22/2009 3:49PM
He looks like a dirty DOUCHBAG.
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By: lay-z on 9/23/2009 5:52PM
and you smell like one
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By: tired of poor me attitude on 9/23/2009 9:35PM
Rows look dirty and sleazy. A cop (person of authority) should LOOK professional. Blacks aren't reprimanded because of Racist Bull $hit. White guys look like idiots with rows, so do blacks but you can't say it. BIG ear rings, facial piercing and facial tattoos make you look like a circus freak. Get a job at 7-11
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By: PeteRocks on 9/24/2009 6:47AM
How a hair style is liked is to one's own taste.
The bottom line is if blacks can wear it on the job, then its only fair for whites, blues and greens too. Don't let your your Racist attitude close your mine to the real world anymore , wake up!
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By: What da..... on 9/22/2009 4:41PM
They didn't mention whether or not this "homey" wore his hat sideways and his pants around his knees. What an idiot.
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By: rick on 9/23/2009 12:43AM
O.K. I don't get it. What was wrong with his hair and why can black cops in philly wear cornrows and white cops can't. I'm a strong supporter of equal rights and some times it goes both ways. If the black cops are able to wear the rows then this young man should be able to. Equal rights are for everyone not just blacks. I'm alittle upset this story didn't cause a bigger uproar in the black community.
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By: T. Beeler on 9/23/2009 12:05PM
I totally agree equal rights for all includes hair style choices.
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By: Letitia Joyner on 9/23/2009 12:40PM
I know many people wear cornrolls to treat their hair. From breakage, or falling out. It is a healthy thing for the hair. He may have seen his hair thining and wanted to treat it this way. Those guys that had a problem must have been balded. Nothing wrong with being balded if the cut it all off and that is very sexy.
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By: jantasia on 9/23/2009 2:38PM
I TOTALLY AGREE!
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By: Kiela on 9/22/2009 11:33PM
That is discrimination. Why can't he wear braids? Is it because, when you think braids, you think black? This situation is no different than a company telling a black woman, she can't have blonde hair..
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