I received this letter from a reader last week.

Dear Dr. Semaj:
I am seeking your advice on a personal burning issue.

I am young lady very much attractive and intelligent. I am an
Administrative Assistant by profession, and I am looking forward to completing
my first degree in June of this year. However, I am a very cultured
individual; I mostly listen to cultural music, I appreciate and respect my
heritage and culture so much so that I am seriously considering to lock my
hair.

My hair is shoulder-length and processed and I would very much like to lock
my hair, but at the same time very concern about my job security. What will
my chances be if I should consider job-hunting for a new job, will this
affect my scope for promotion, and if I am being discriminated against such
hairstyle, where do I stand in terms of the Jamaican Labour Law?

Looking forward to your advice and I enjoy reading your articles in The
Flair.

Regards.

Self hate is alive and well and living in Jamaica
Jamaica has come a long way but only in the Caribbean have I had any issue to do with my hair. I was arrested in Tortola under The Prohibited Persons Act because of my hair. I was denied service in a hotel in Trinidad because "we do not allow people like you here". I was advised not to visit Dominica (on University business). I had to be personally met at the airport in Anguila by the Minister of Education. I actually had a "visa" for Antigua. In contrast, I have travelled in Europe and South America without any of these petty problems.

"Long hair Freaky People Need Not Apply"
Some people advise that if you want a career in the corporate world you will have to make a choice - culture or processed hair. We get these complaints very often from professional women who wear natural hair styles who share with us the ‘hints’ that they are given that if they want to be seriously considered for promotion they should "do something about their hair."

A few years ago a female student at one of our Universities shared with me her distress at being informed by her lecturer that she would not be allowed to do the Vote Of Thanks at a public seminar that the institution had put on because "she did not have the corporate look". Her hair was not processed.

One major institution that we were contracted to prepare the Staff Rule Book for had included braids in the list of forbidden hair styles. We objected to this position and convinced them of the implied "disrespect" to people of African ancestry. Remember the incident that transformed Joan Andrea Hutchinson into "De Bumpy Head Gal"? That's what some of the distressed viewers who called the TV station to complain about her presence on their TV screens called her. One lady was quoted as saying that if her helper turned up to work with her hair like that, she would fire her! Joan turned the negative around and incorporated it into her professional persona.

The Tide is Turning?
You too can do it. Just be prepared to be the best at what you do. Wear your locks with class and dignity. Show them that dreadlocks should not be confused with dreadful. Other cultures have adopted our creative output with respect to African hair to a level that we never dreamed of. In the USA there are people who describe themselves as "Lockticians" and "Locktologists". They are even successfully selling our culture back to us packaged as "sisterlocks". Be prepared to demonstrate such a level of professionalism and competence that any organization that is prepared to let their prejudice lead them is one that you would not want to share your talents with.

What is the situation in your company?
I would like to hear from any corporate manager that can assure this woman that their company has evolved to being "culture friendly". This means one that will happily hire and/or promote a person who proudly displays their cultural heritage in the wearing of natural hair styles such as braids or locks.