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Two women are outraged after they say they were denied jobs at Six Flags because of their dreadlocks in Largo, Md., an area with a 93 percent African American population.
Janet Bello, 23, (pictured above left) says when she applied for a part-time job at Six Flags in Largo, she was told her "locks" hairstyle disqualified her from employment.
She says a supervisor told her management is adhering strictly this year to a years-old corporate grooming policy that considers dreadlocks to be an extreme hairstyle. Bello considers the characterization to be offensive:
"I think it's outrageous, and I really think it's sad. ... I think Six Flags can literally, excuse my French, go to hell."
ABC 7 News obtained a copy of Six Flags' grooming standards for employees, which states that the company does not permit "any hairstyle that detracts or takes away from Six Flags' theme."
Not sure what the Six Flags' theme is or how dreadlocks could detract or not detract from that theme.
A spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union believes that defining locked hair as inherently unprofessional is racially insensitive at best -- and potentially discriminatory at worst.
Sixty-year-old Jackie Sherrill (pictured above right) says she worked at Six Flags last summer and received a letter earlier this year asking her to come back. She says when a supervisor saw that Sherrill had locks, though, she was told she would not be welcome back unless she changed her appearance -- despite the fact that she had the same hairstyle last year.
Six Flags issued a statement to ABC News:
"Six Flags enforces a conservative grooming policy across all parks. The policy does not permit certain hairstyles such as variations in hair colors, dreadlocks, partially shaved heads, tails, and hairstyles that impair vision. Braided hair is allowed but must be in neat, even rows and without beads or other ornaments."
The ACLU says it had similar inquiries about Six Flags Largo's dreadlocks policy in 2006.
ABC 7 News obtained a copy of Six Flags' grooming standards for employees, which states that the company does not permit "any hairstyle that detracts or takes away from Six Flags' theme."
Not sure what the Six Flags' theme is or how dreadlocks could detract or not detract from that theme.
A spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union believes that defining locked hair as inherently unprofessional is racially insensitive at best -- and potentially discriminatory at worst.
Sixty-year-old Jackie Sherrill (pictured above right) says she worked at Six Flags last summer and received a letter earlier this year asking her to come back. She says when a supervisor saw that Sherrill had locks, though, she was told she would not be welcome back unless she changed her appearance -- despite the fact that she had the same hairstyle last year.
Six Flags issued a statement to ABC News:
"Six Flags enforces a conservative grooming policy across all parks. The policy does not permit certain hairstyles such as variations in hair colors, dreadlocks, partially shaved heads, tails, and hairstyles that impair vision. Braided hair is allowed but must be in neat, even rows and without beads or other ornaments."
The ACLU says it had similar inquiries about Six Flags Largo's dreadlocks policy in 2006.
Even in 2010, with an African American president, Six Flags is not the first corporate company to do this, and, sadly, probably won't be the last. In 2000, Federal Express Corporation, better known as FedEx, fired several of its New York employees who refused to cut their dreadlocks.
The employees cited religious expression, but FedEx showed them the door. In 2006, FedEx reached a settlement that included recognizing dreadlocks worn for religious reasons.
The employees cited religious expression, but FedEx showed them the door. In 2006, FedEx reached a settlement that included recognizing dreadlocks worn for religious reasons.
In North America, it is the right of an employer to enforce grooming standards that comply with the image the company wants to portray to the public, including long hair for men, shaved heads and colorful hair. The law will typically land on the side of on an employer if the hairstyle is being worn for fashionable reasons as opposed to religious ones.
Do you think it's fair to discriminate against employees for the hairstyles they wear, particularly natural styles like braids, shaved heads and dreadlocks?
Comments: (284)
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By: AVP on 9/25/2010 4:06PM
@ Ladylioness
Or she’s one of those sisters who had her braids in so tight it pulled her hair line back past her ears. So now her forehead looks like a horse’s rear end.
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By: BIGBAD on 9/25/2010 4:08PM
@ AVP
I guess that’s why she sounded like a horse’s a$$! LMAO!!!!
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By: tallgiraffelady on 12/21/2010 1:44PM
TO PJ CHICAGO i dont know about you but when i go to an amusement park, i go for the RIDES, not to sit back and scrutinize people's haircuts. You must be one unhappy person to be at an AMUSEMENT park and all you can think about is some lady's hair? wow. grow up
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By: Ebonita Summers on 6/10/2011 1:54PM
I am a medical student and I have locs. This is ridiculous. Locs are not an extreme hair style. It is my natural hair that I have trained in a certain way. I'm sick of people saying that natural hair styles are extreme and the only way they are acceptable is if they are hidden in braids. BS! From a soon to be medical doctor. Thank you very much.
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