Natural hair is beautiful. But, unfortunately not everyone feels the same way. When I read that Jennifer Myers resigned from her job as a meteorologist at Fox 4 in Dallas, Texas, I prayed that it had nothing to do with people not accepting her naturally curly hair.
According to FTV Live, management told the naturally curly journalist to wear a straight wig to cover up her tresses. However, in a previous Facebook post from 2013, Myers hinted that viewers had an issue with her hair.
“They do not make me straighten my hair, it’s actually the viewers as a whole who do. Straight hair is more professional and clean looking. Curly hair (at least of my size and quantity) hasn’t yet made it into the mainstream. If I’m lucky enough to spend the rest of my career in Dallas, I’m hoping to someday down the road I’ll gradually change over.”
As it turns out, this post wasn’t accurate at all. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time a naturally curly journalist has faced hair discrimination.
Rhonda Lee was thrusted into the media spotlight after being fired from her on-air job at KTBS-TV in Shreveport, Louisiana in 2012. Lee responded to a viewer’s Facebook comment suggesting that she cover her teeny weeny afro with a wig or “grow some more hair.”
According to management, the meteorologist claimed that she violated a rule that bans employees from responding to controversial social media posts.
According to a post http://sdhairextensions.net/, Lee has faced hair issues at other news stations in the past. I actually met her while competing for the same job in 2009. She had a bright and bubbly personality. Lee even offered to help me prepare for the newscast when she came in for her interview.
Some co-workers commented on her natural hair. But as a woman of color who has also dealt with hair issues in the workplace, I never made negative comments regarding her hair.
In fact, I considered her a trailblazer at that time. Women didn’t sport short afros back then, and you probably won’t find anyone with that style in the New York City market to this day.
Even though I had a relaxer, I remember feeling pressured to use heat and holding spray on my hair on a daily basis throughout my career. My hair eventually reached a state of disrepair. But, I wasn’t ballsy enough to cut it all off until after having my first child.
I remember telling my boss about doing the big chop. She was surprisingly supportive. She also spoke about former New York City anchor, Melva Tolliver, the first black woman to ever rock natural curls back in the 70s. Tolliver is most remembered for her defiant stance against WABC-TV when she refused to wear a wig or scarf to cover up her Afro in order to cover the White House wedding of President Richard Nixon’s daughter Tricia Nixon in 1971.
So many years have passed since Tolliver took a stance against natural hair discrimination, and yet the problem still exists. The problem doesn’t only impact women of color.
Jennifer Myers, who is caucasian, can also relate to the issues many of us face. I decided to reach out to her to get permission to use her images, and she offered clarity about her hair experience working in the TV new business.
“I literally just left tv over it,” she said. “My boss said, and I quote “curly hair is immature and unprofessional”… it broke my heart. We’re still stuck in the past,” she added.
I find it appalling that a manager would utter those words, but then again I’m not at all surprise. Management once told a former colleague of mine that her curls we too “beachy.”
Although Jennifer Myers decided to leave the TV business, she’s not walking away from meteorology completely. She has signed on as a meteorologist for North Texas-based ONCOR Electric.
Regarding Rhonda Lee, she filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against KTBS. She’s also appeared on national shows like Steve Harvey to discuss her ordeal.
As for me, I’m proud of my natural hair. Since beginning my natural hair journey in 2012, I’ve learned to love my curls. Now that I’m a mom, I teach my children to embrace their natural curls. I don’t want them to grow up feeling like they have to succumb to society’s beauty standards.
Some may find it hypocritical that I support natural hair on television while wearing a wig. I’ve been asked by fans and my former boss to sport my natural hair on-air. But honestly, my hair has been through enough.
After years of having to apply heat, I’ve decided to protect my kinky curly hair. I love the convenience of throwing on a wig every morning without spending hours styling my hair. I do, however, let my hair 4c textured locks down on weekends. That’s what works best for me and I’m happy.
I’m not sure if curly hair will ever become mainstream. But, I’ll never say never. I fully support anyone who chooses to rock naturally curly hair. When or if I choose to sport my natural hair on-air, it will be my decision and my terms.
