Navy Discharges Black Sailor For Natural Hairstyle

“I don’t think I should be told that I have to straighten my hair in order to be within what they think the regulations are," Jessica Sims said in disagreement with the Navy’s excuse for kicking her out.

After a 12-year successful career in the Navy, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class, Jessica Sims, will have to pay bitterly for refusing to cut her natural hair, which she had kept for almost a decade.

This sudden sanction comes in just seven days after the Navy had pledged to ease hair rules for women in the service. Sims was told that her natural hair breached some set military standards. The authorities further stated that the natural hair of the African-American hindered her from wearing a safety helmet and face masks during emergency cases.

Black sailor, Jessica Sims, in her statement disapproving the claims by the Navy said, “I don’t think I should be told that I have to straighten my hair in order to be within what they think the regulations are, and I don’t think I should have to cover it up with a wig.” She also quickly added that the excuse by the Navy to discharge her from the service is absolutely false; and that her natural hairstyle never interfered her wearing of safety helmet and face mask.

Sims refused to give in to the bias rule instated by the navy and cut her natural hair or cover it up with a wig. She portrayed her pride of maintaining her ethnic look by stating, “I still stand by it. I would do it again if I had to.” Jessica Sims revealed that she has no regrets at all for choosing to keep her Black identity.

The canker of racial segregation has eaten deep into the American system. In just a week after authorities promised to make the rules  more lenient for the ladies in the service, a Black woman has been sanctioned for keeping her natural hairstyle. How was she actually able to work during those 12 good years  in the Navy? Is it now that the authorities have realized that her hairstyle is hindering her work?

This is a clear proof that Black people in the military aren’t considered human beings. If not, different sets of harsh rules wouldn’t be applied to them. These same people, who put their lives on the line for the country, are yet not regarded useful. So now is America worth dying for?

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Source: The Grio