HAIR CONTROVERSY: Hampton University Dean Bans Cornrows & Dreadlocks to Boost Job Placement
Friday, August 24, 2012 at 10:07AM 
By EEW Magazine News Editors
Hampton University's African American business school dean, Sid Credle, stands firmly by his controversial ban on dreadlocks and cornrows first implemented in 2001. The ban applies specifically to male students enrolled in the school's 5-year MBA program who take the seminar class. They cannot wear dreadlocks or cornrows in class.
Credle’s decision is based on the belief that, in order to land a job in corporate America, looking the part is important. In response to those who disagree, the Business Dean touts his job placement record. "We've been very successful. We've placed more than 99 percent of the students who have graduated from this school, this program," said Credle.
Out of 160 students, all of them were placed in new jobs, except for one according to ABC 13 News.
Dean Credle even shoots down arguments that cornrows and dreadlocks are a rich part of African American culture and history. "I said when was it that cornrows and dreadlocks were a part of African American history?" Credle added, "I mean Charles drew didn't wear it, Muhammad Ali didn't wear it. Martin Luther King didn't wear it."
Some say suppressing others’ self-expressive personal style to force them to fit into mainstream definitions of what is normal and acceptable, is simply wrong. Others argue that he is helping to promote ignorance and bias against ethnic cultural expression.
But not everyone is against Dean Chedle. Some reinforce his stance, stating that the dominant corporate business culture mandates a certain appearance. They are of the mindset that says if ethnically diverse individuals wish to climb to the highest levels of success, they need to adhere to those standards.
What do you think?
Reader Comments (5)
HairRageous! Thanks Dr.Chedle. someof the braids and locks that I see are really extreme. There should be a standard for wearing and styling natural hair. especially in a business and corporate setting. enforcing this at the college level is a good place to start.I'm a natural flat twist sista and I wear my hair in a natural style that is atractive style that is polished and acceptable for business I am an entreprenuer and around professional associates. This is a good message for Afr.Amer. women also that they need to step up their game.I'd like to suggest they leave the nose rings the tongue rings and tell the brothers to let the sisters wear the earrings.Did I forget anything....oh yeh cover the tatoo and keep you tootsies covered until you get home or you won't get hired in my organizatin...K
@K. Scott, sounds good to me....We must have some common sense about some things!
The solution isn't to BAN one's self-expression via their hair choices. Instead, inform and educate students about the ramifications of their choices. Equip them with information and strategies to navigate the (corporate) work/marketplace. And prepare them with the proper credentials (credible college degrees).
I freed myself from the creamy crack (relaxers) 6 years ago and started my Sisterlocs last October AFTER I was hired for a faculty position at a prestigious university. A year later, I INTERVIEWED with my Sisterlocs for another faculty position and guess what? I got hired! My hair didn't detract from the credentials and ideas I brought to the table. The freedom from worrying/agonizing about my hair has provided more energy for me to perform my faculty duties in sustained excellence.
I recognize that in some industries, there's an expected "look", if you will, to fit in; some industries are more conservative than others. That doesn't mean that locs and natural hair are completely unacceptable. It's very possible to style locs/natural hair in conservative ways.
From my experience, it's not (and I'll just say it plainly here) white folk who are up in arms about natural hair/locs being inappropriate. It's (some of) us who have assimilated and have been brainwashed into the wicked thinking that our hair texture ain't good enough. It's a lie from the pit of hell and it needs to be exposed for the lie it is....
hbcu's were created to create good negros. they are doing their job. I went to one.
NOW if you wanna be a good negro and play by their rules HEY. that's the truth. White people may not accept your locs in Goldman Sachs because guess what you cant be a free thinking black person when you are dealing their money, LOL. they go by what works...and what they know. Should this change perhaps. but universities created by whites to make good Negroes probably wont do this even if they should. #justsaying
on the real tho- i dont think MEN need to be wearing locs. i mean unless you got a NAZARITE vow or something and you samson. they look feminine to me. i think people should be able to be who they are if you hair grows that way and its clean who are people to say you shouldnt look that way..
but why cant we work on erasing racism i mean isnt that what a institute for higher learning is for. I can't argue with him, cuz its true. but we should be setting the standard not simply making good obedient Negroes..
not to make anybody mad but didnt locs decend from Rastas, and is it not rooted in Rebellion, i mean...if we christians.. not trying to argue but i think natural hair is best..#debatable
My thing is, if a person doesn't like this standard, they can always opt not to go to this institution. I agree that in the real world, those locks and cornrows won't be highly acceptable. This whole notion has come about because of the types of people who've began to wear them: thugs, people who aren't trying to go anywhere in life. Not everyone who wears these styles should be stereotyped, I agree, but, life is what it is, sadly. I had a professor who wore dreads; he was very professional. So, character makes a difference, but if this program has been working, I am sure the university won't be changing it any time soon.