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| Securitas Security Racist prejudice discrimination Richmond , Virginia |
| 19th of Sep, 2012 by User845821 |
I can't believe this still goes on in the workplace these days, and I hate to be writing this report but if people do not speak out against companies like Securitas , it is bound to continue. Maybe if enough people spread the word (better yet sue) , then they will change their racist ways.
I went into Securitas for an interview. I was first given a blank incident report to complete as an assessment I suppose . It took me a little more than 10 minutes to complete (They knew how I looked when I walked in the door). Once I was done the woman at the front desk told me she needed to speak with me and proceeded to walk me into a back room, and this is what she said ...
It looks like you have been growing your hair for a long time but we have an appearance code here at Securitas and we do not allow braids, twist or locs of any kind (I will mention that I am a black woman with locs past my shoulders) . She went on to say "I didn't want to waste time with an interview if you are not able or willing to abide by the appearance code" . I was shocked that It was ACTUALLY an issue . I have worked for a reputable security company for 6 years in the past and my locs were NEVER an issue!
I was not so much upset that she told me the policy , I was most upset that it was a POLICY in the first place! She looked crazy being the messenger of a ridiculous , racist message that was CLEARLY targeted toward her own race! (she was a black woman with a ridiculous looking short, slicked back hairdo with tons of gel trying to keep her hair straight .... forcing her hair to do something it was not MEANT to do!)
I informed her that I would NOT be cutting or altering my hair in anyway to satisfy their requirements and I walked out.
This policy in my honest opinion is directly targeted toward black people. It is us who are most likely to have braid, locs or twist , and I'm pretty sure if someone were to come in with a little Afro they would have something to say about that to! So REALLY what they are saying is, if you are going to be black and work there, you need to straighten your hair by putting harmful heat or chemicals in it to at least TRY to emulate the other. That is something I refuse to do . The natural state of most African American hair textures is coarse. Me wearing locs is my way of embracing my hairs natural state without introducing harmful products and constant manipulation to it and it is a shame that a company like Securitas is willing to let qualified candidates slip away over a hairstyle! They should be ashamed!
But I will say , they knew EXACTLY how to play the game lol. They would not dare have one of the white supervisors come out and say that to me . They played it safe to avoid a scene and lesson the chance of an even BIGGER issue. But they are not slick .... I saw right through it . Despite the messenger , the message was still the same ... PURE RACISM !
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