bitterdiva

New York is rife with wacky news!

I probably should've waiting until finishing up reading all the news headlines before actually posting to here, but the NORML one I just had to post immediately. Last night I was having a discussion with my roommate about dreadlocks. The proper way to grow dreads, how to keep bugs out, and something about keeping the tone in the scalp using lavender.

Well, I get down to the law.com section of the news wire and I see this article about some guy sued Brown because they fired him on the premise that his appearance did not fit into their appearance guidelines of "businesslike" - his refusal to hide his dreads under an acceptible hat.

The guy lost his case. It wasn't due to a religious purpose. Now what stance is bitter diva going to take on this case? I'm ambivalent. On one hand I'm a chief proponent for individuality and not compromising one's self due to The Man's regulations. On the other hand if you're working for an organization that clearly defines a policy regarding appearance and you break said policy then I see no reason for you to have legal right to whine.

One day I showed up to my job with blue hair (along with blue skin) but before I embarked on such a shocking appearance at my job I read the employee handbook. I dissected each line and once I was finally convinced that there was no legal guideline for them to force me to dye it to a naturally-occuring-in-nature color I busted open the bleach and went for it.

If you don't like an organization's policy regarding certain affairs then don't work there, simple as that. If you're a marijuana smoker, you're certainly not going to work for a company that drug tests. If you like to wear your hair blue (unless you're a senior citizen), you're not going to work for someplace that doesn't allow such appearances. And appearantly, if you wear dreads, you're not going to work for UPS, unless you enjoy covering up your locks to appease the man.

The other part of the article that I found most amusing, Johnny Cochran style, is the affidavit from an expert "locktician." Stating that "wearing a wool hat 'smothers locked hair,' causing damage to it and creating other problems such as dandruff, lice and fungus." If the hair's gone to shit, you must acquit.

09:20 AM

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Posted by: Kristian at April 9, 2002 10:38 AM

Posted by: Anonymous at March 30, 2003 05:08 PM

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