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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: sharkchops on 9/29/2009 9:49AM
The man should be able to wear his hair anyway he wants. I don't see anybody telling sistas they can't wear extensions, pieces and wigs.
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By: Jesus loves u! on 9/24/2009 9:05PM
I donot see what the big deal is, is he doing his job? Then leave him alone.
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By: michele pratt on 9/25/2009 2:26PM
depending on the neighborhood I feel it is appropriate. Police officers need to build a relationship with young people today, If you haven't notice most of neighborhood crimes are committed my them!!
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By: Tracy on 9/26/2009 8:00PM
It was a black supervisor who marched him up to his superior.
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By: CT on 9/28/2009 5:13PM
It really disturbs me when we get away from the real issue at hand. I'm currently in law enforcement (sworn - 22+ years) and everyday I amazed at some of the decisions made by our supervisory ranks. What happened to sticking to the real issue....what does wearing braids have to do with job performance? Someone help me with that!!! Does wearing braids prohibit an officer from performing the essential elements of his/her job? Who has the right to enforce how I wear my hair, what side (right or left) I comb it, wearing waves or leaving it nappy? How about those officers who have not had their hair shaped up in two weeks and it's running down their neck and sides...is that professional? Okay, I'm very sensitive about this issue bc I was a victim while wearing a beard in uniform and pulled off the streets bc, I guess, I was an eye sore to the public? However, my issue was medical and I soon fought the issue and won, but is it much different? We are talking about how it looks, aren't we? I don't get it....someone help my out, I thought public servants are sworn to protect and serve, isn't that what the public really wants?
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By: roscoe on 9/29/2009 8:38PM
The problem CT, is the lack of uniformity and discipline, when police officers in uniform are sportin cornrows and long hair past their collars, beards, unless it for medical reasons. When a department has a freestyle in appearances while in uniform,there can be the cutting of ones initials, sports team,beliefs of religion, whatever.There can also be the multi dyeing of hair,spikes of favorite punk rock groups, in the name of blending in the community. An uniformed officer should use his personality to disfuse situations and to protect and serve in a just and equal way in keeping with the laws of the land.The only way I can condone freestlye appearances, if this officer was undercover operation and he must conceal his idenity. There is nothing like seeing a clean sut officers from head to toe, thats why they model the military in appearance.
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By: RAINY on 9/28/2009 11:33PM
IF IT'S NEAT N CLEAN DO UR THING . STOP HATEING ON THE BROTHER ,DUDE, MAN.
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By: roscoe on 10/03/2009 5:37PM
Rainy, It's not a matter of neat and clean it's a matter of uniformity. When you allow a freestyle appearance,it opens up a whole can of worms. Pretty soon officers will want to wear their uniforms like they want, with their shirt out, some may start saggin their pants. Other officers may feel wear sandles on duty, carry a weapon not approved for the department. It would be very hard to for officers to know their partners on the street if everyone looked different in style, leading to unfortunate shootings.Granted some of these shootings are dubious. It would be very to regulate discipline when everbody is allowed to do their thing,it all starts with appearance
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By: roscoe on 10/03/2009 5:49PM
Even in undercover operations, Officers are letting the uniformed officers know they are out there. Because when you statblending in with the public, these officers cant' afford to be running around with their gun drawn.Being a maverick is very dangerous for any officer.
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By: horncymru on 10/07/2009 3:25PM
How about getting to basics? Why do blacks have to have their own hair styles, dress code, eubonics, etc.?
I am the son of immigrants. When we came to America it was TO BECOME AMERICANS, not keep our old dress code, hair styles, etc. We were not allowed to speak the native tongue outside the house. We were Americans.
Now, you have two groups. Good honest hard working African Americans who ARE Americans. And a group of AA's who cling to being victims, and want to have their own sub culture. But... they want to have the true Americans give them money to live.
AA's should look hard in a mirror and see if they gain from their "black culture" or lose.
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