Cornrows and Dreads aren’t for Ex-Cons
Cornrows and Cons
- Cornrows and Dreads aren’t for Ex-Cons
- Ex-cons paved the way for natural hair and dreadlocks
Simple Rule: If you’re an ex-convict, if you’re on probation and even if you’re not, cornrows and dreadlocks are not hair styling options.
Face it, society will judge you. In fact, it already has.. We’re the ones who convicted you in the first place. Sure, it was most likely your actions that got you there but from this day forward, whether it’s reviewing your resume, meeting with your PO, leaving you alone in our house or going out on a date, we’ll continue to judge you so why not make it easy on us?
The rational that cornrows and dreadlocks are not professional flies in the face of countless people in Afri-Ethnic communities who through their own hair styling choices buck tradition and wear their hair naturally. Consciously or not so, we are active participants in redefining what is acceptable by mainstream society and guess what? You’re not making it any easier on us. How can we proclaim that these styles aren’t for thugs when every time we turn around you all are sporting them?
Sure, you can do what you want. You’re non-conformity is what landed you in jail in the first place. You’re a rebel! but I’m here to make a plea. The next time you go on a job interview or meet with someone who can make or break your re-entrance into society so that you can be a positive force on your community, remember, cornrows and dreadlocks are not for you.
Why? Impressions mean everything and right now, much of mainstream society regards these styles as unprofessional. Much of mainstream society feels where they’re ok for rappers and athletes, they serve no purpose in the work place. And for much of mainstream society, you’re going to need to conform before you’re reformed.
So do the right thing. Help us, help you. This is one instance where doing what “the man” wants not only benefits you, but it benefits those of us who struggled…and continue to struggle to show the world that Afri-Ethnic is beautiful, diverse and intelligent. We work just as hard as our mainstream counterparts, we sought the education (from “colleges” that don’t have bars mind you), we have a keen understanding and drive for what we want to achieve and we don’t want to be judged by our hair or yours.
Tags: cornrows, dreadlocks
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February 24th, 2009 at 9:19 AM
This article is rediculous its doing the samething that nazi’s are doing but instead or race against race its race on race first thing no black person is better than another and for that matter no person is better than another person just because you have an education don’t make you better than anybody I’m from miam,fl an down here we’ve had dreads/locs since the 80’s so ok you wanna jump on the ban wagon now since its more accepted like your fighting for a just cause it was the people that wore them then that fought for them to be accepted today so you can just down the same people that’s been rocking them for2 3 or almost for decadejust because ur so professional you probably just started growing out your perm a little while ago natural hair has been around since the dawn of man you have no rightonly god has that right to tell someone something like this its an outrage and its blasphemous for you to say these things and everyone that’s been to prison is not bad we all do messed up things some of us get caught and some of us don’ti think some people forget where they come from but that just my opinion on this situation. P.s. The same people your talking about started the loc movementstop acting so stuck up we’ll never have unity in our community because of people like you
February 27th, 2009 at 10:22 AM
WHOA WHOA WHOA!!! you’re comparing the author to Nazis? now that’s ridiculous. don’t elevate the trivial to the level of an atrocity. we don’t like it when people have an “it’s whatever” attitude with respect to slavery so why compare the deaths of 6 million people to an article about dreadlocks and cornrows?
March 6th, 2009 at 4:24 PM
in my opinion,and that’s all this is,black men are going to be judged by society regardless of hairstyle the color of their skin is enough to make ‘the man”take a second look and begin to judge,there’s always going to be people knocking us for whatever,whether it’s our hair,clothes,talk, anything you can think of,because were different even our own kind will judge,if we change everything people don’t accept about us we would have no individuality,to each his own,you don’t like my hairstyle,don’t look at it,don’t like the way i wear my clothes, you buy them then we will discuss it ,don’t wanna hire me watch your wallet!