Natural Hair Bun Cost A Black Waitress Her Job

A black waitress at Jack Astor’s Bar & Grill was asked to quit her job for going to work with her natural hair tied in a bun.

A black waitress at Jack Astor’s Bar & Grill was asked to quit her job for going to work with her natural hair tied in a bun.

Akua Agyemfra, a 20-year-old college student, was asked to go home by her manager during her third day of training because she tied a natural hair in a bun. Akua said, the manager had already instructed all the women to wear their hair down but did not emphasize on it that should be in every shift.

According to Buzzfeed, before Akua’s dismissal, she took off the bun in order to show her assistant general manager that her natural hair wouldn’t lay flat. Apparently, the manager saw no logic in this and asked her to vacate the premises.

“She was really nice about it,” Akua said. “But it still doesn’t take away from the fact that she sent me home.”

During Akua’s interview and first two days of her training, she was wearing extensions but decided to lose it on the third day due to personal reasons.

“I know most black women at restaurants are forced to wear wigs or weaves or extensions, or are forced to straighten their hair every day. Don’t get me wrong, I think extensions look great. I’ve been wearing them ever since I was a little girl. I love when I get my braids. It’s the protective style I choose and works for me,” she said. “But why am I scrutinized when I decide to take them out? That’s not fair.”

Agyemfra said she would not settle for her manager’s quest and that this incident will reduce the pressure on the other workers at the bar. “I just want the women there to be able to express themselves accordingly and make a difference!”