21-Year-Old Black Girl Quits Job Because Of Jack Astor’s Hair Policy

Inspiring 21-year-old Akua Agyemfra shares her story with BM's Starling Brown on her experience with Jack Astor’s and why she thinks their "hair down" policy infringes on the rights of women.

blackmattersus.com
Hello, Akua! We are grateful to have you sharing your experience with us and the rest of the world. Kindly introduce yourself.
Akua
Thank you BM for giving me the opportunity to tell my story. I realize this is a major outlet. My name is Akua Agyemfra. I’m 21 years old, born and rasied in Toronto. Being a proud Canadian, as a nation we pride ourselves on the rights we give individuals demonstrated in our Canadian charter of rights and freedoms. This allows all Canadians the rights to practice our own religion freedom of speech leaving no room for discrimination against sexual orientation, age, gender, creed or race. With Ghanaian roots, I was raised to embrace not only my rich culture but my hair as well.
blackmattersus.com
Looks like you have a real multi-cultural background. Can you tell us what happened when you decided to take up a job in Jack Astor’s?
Akua
This is definitely not my first job. I’ve worked at Gap Factory for the past 3 years , but then I actually signed up for a job at Jack Astor’s for the summer and had just started to undergo training. At Jack Astor’s, we were told “dress like you’re going to a club, not coming from one”. Jack Astor’s is family restaurant. Why are the servers being told to dress like party goers?
blackmattersus.com
Interesting. It was your third day at training at Astor’s, so what happened that day that made you decide to quit immediately?
Akua
Before I started my shift, I was told my hair was unacceptable but that I could stay for my 4:30 shift. 15 minutes into my shift, she changed her mind and told me to go home because of my hair. She said the other women were complaining that my hair was in a bun and it was unfair my hair was up and theirs were not. I told her I understood, gathered my belongings, quit and left. I was so humiliated and shocked, I could not even cry. All I could think was I have to do something about this because I know I’m not the only one! I can be the voice for the injustices women face in the workplace. Sending me home because my hair is up at restaurant is absolutely ridiculous and it is a violation of my rights.
blackmattersus.com
I agree with you! A lot of women, especially Black women and other women of color, go through this everyday at their workplace. Have you had a similar situation at your first work place?
Akua
Fortunately, never and I thank God for that, but one of my manager’s at the Gap factory actually convinced me not to quit when I got hired at Astor’s. I work with some of the most genuine and friendly individuals and I know I will never be judged by my coworkers and management based on my appearance.
This type of discrimination should not be an issue in 2016. If management specified during the interview that my hair could never be up, I would have never taken the job. My story is a fraction of other racist and sexist comments made to women in the workplace. If a “stylish up do” is allowed, why was I sent home?
blackmattersus.com
Have you ever been at other Jack Astor’s? Was there anything special about the way the workers presented their hair? Was it any different from what you had on?
Akua
Yes, I’ve gone to other Jack Astor locations and the waitresses had their hair up in tight top knots and buns. What made my hair different? My hair was collected, my edges were laid and neat. I am allowed to take out my extensions. My scalp has the right to breathe too. As fore mentioned, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms gives me the ability to express myself freely so the rule within itself is problematic. My hair has nothing to do with my work ethic. Corporations are marginalizing who they want to work to for their company and this simply unacceptable! The hair down policy should be eliminated completely. On top of that, the men do not have to deal with situations like these. I was told “You’ll be making enough money to do your hair every week”. I took offense to that because my hardworking pay cheques aren’t going to be given back to my hairdresser “every week” to satisfy my employer. I’m not a confrontational person but I was raised to stand up for what is right and what happened to me was not right! My hair is my identity. It was what I was born with it. I am not going to change my hair for anybody but myself. Why am I told I have to always wear extensions to be accepted in society? That is not fair.
blackmattersus.com
There are millions of women all around the world, who, unfortunately, face similar situations at their workplace. Do you have any message for them?
Akua
If women want to wear their hair straight, curly, down, up, dyed or shaved, that’s up to them. If they want to wear short shorts, maxi dresses, tube tops or turtlenecks, again, that’s up to the individual. I believe in dress codes and uniform in the workplace and that employees should obey them but hair should have absolutely nothing to do with that. If management wants their employees to look a certain way, they should voice it in advance or have contracts specifying what is expected. In addition, don’t single out your employees. Ensure EVERYONE is following the same rules. I want women to stand up for themselves when they feel disrespected or degraded. Not only are you going to surprise yourself by the impact you make but you also become an inspiration to others. At the end of the day you are your own person and it’s very important to stick up for yourself. Do what you believe in because nobody believes in you more than you.
Thank you!
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