American Apparel does not want to hire blacks with straight hair

[~Sparklingflame~]

http://www.afrobella.com/2010/06/11/american-apparel-has-policies-about-black-hair/

The litany of complaints about American Apparel’s advertising and hiring policies are so long, we could write a book about them. The company is known for chic, trendy, affordable locally made clothes yes…but they’re also known for being sexist, judgmental, and discriminatory based on the aesthetic attractions of its owner, Dov Charney (who – let’s be honest. By his own standards of appearance, would he be welcome to work in his own store?)

If you want to work at American Apparel you’ve got to meet the criteria. You’ve got to have the right look. You’ve got to have a strong fashion sense. And if you’re black, you need to have the right style of hair. Several ex-employees recently wrote into Gawker about their experiences, and one former manager said she was told this about what types of black women to hire during the American Apparel’s open casting calls:
“Another former AA manager says that she received the following instructions as to what kind of black girls she should try to hire during the company’s open calls:
“none of the trashy kind that come in, we don’t want that. we’re not trying to sell our clothes to them. try to find some of these classy black girls, with nice hair, you know?”

i will remember that forever, especially the “nice hair” part. he was instructing another manager and i on who to look for during an upcoming open call, and i sat there dumbfounded, listening to him speak while the other manager made “uh huh, got it” sounds on her end of the phone. the other manager on the call with me later became a district manager, and at one point instructed me to tell two of my employees (both of whom happened to be black females) to stop straightening their hair. i refused to do this, but wondered if the mentality behind her request was related to what dov had said.”
Wait, what?
A company discriminating in favor of black natural hair? Is “nice hair” the new “good hair”?? What does that even MEAN?
I’m not sure what to make of this news from American Apparel, so I’m just gonna keep doing what I do – which means not shopping at American Apparel. Which I couldn’t do anyway, because they don’t do plus size clothes, either. Ugh!
What are your thoughts on this latest American Apparel scandal?

 

[lil_xelle]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[cch24]

I love American Apparel clothes, and honestly, I think that when you work in a clothing store you are the "model" for the type of clothes being sold, and the management has the right to hire you based on your appearance, whatever that may be.

 

[natura87]

*takes a seat*

 

[hasabe]

Not surprising at all. I feel like we can never win, they don't want us to look too "this" or "that." Honestly, I don't exist to fit their criteria.

 

[ConstantlyDynamic]

i'm sure that's the same for any brand. i think american apparel is into the whole indie thing. tons of hipsters shop there and the black hipsters i see tend to have natural hair (this is just from my experience). i guess i'm not too surprised

 

[MusicandWine]

I'm kinda speechless because this is so stupid but mainly because I'm tired of others trying to turn black people on each other based on what they feel we should look like.

And who are the "trashy" kind of black girls they were speaking of? Ones with straight hair?

 

[Vashti]

Some of their T-Shirts are ok but most of their stuff is ugly anyway.

 

[kmn1980]

I love American Apparel clothes, and honestly, I think that when you work in a clothing store you are the "model" for the type of clothes being sold, and the management has the right to hire you based on your appearance, whatever that may be.

True. I guess it's no different than how Lane Bryant is full of chunky chicks.

The straight hair thing probably has a lot to do with the current tendency towards advertisers to have natural ladies in their ads. Perhaps, natural hair makes people look more authentic also.

 

[Harina]

Eh....American apparel is a hipster type of store. White people have always thought natural black hair is kind of, I don't know...funky and hip. I guess we can add "nice" to that list. Whatever that means. It fits the vibe they're trying to push out to its customers.

 

[gimbap]

It's funny to me because the only people I know who like AA are wannabe video model weave queens.

 

[ConstantlyDynamic]

lol @ the term "classy" though. i mean i shop at the store and they sell shorts, see-through dresses, booty shorts etc. i mean i like some of their stuff but wouldn't classify it as "classy"

 

[justicefighter1913]

Interesting......there's so much that I could say, but I'm feeling lazy today

 

[Harina]

Some of their T-Shirts are ok but most of their stuff is ugly anyway.

I agree. I like their tanks and tees and that's about all. I do like the fact that they keep manufacturing jobs at home. I was just watching a documentary about cotton on A&E or one of those channels, I believe it said that AA factory workers hold one of the highest paid factory jobs in the country.

 

[my-everything]

http://www.afrobella.com/2010/06/11/american-apparel-has-policies-about-black-hair/

“none of the trashy kind that come in, we don’t want that. we’re not trying to sell our clothes to them. try to find some of these classy black girls, with nice hair, you know?”


A company discriminating in favor of black natural hair? Is “nice hair” the new “good hair”?? What does that even MEAN?
I’m not sure what to make of this news from American Apparel, so I’m just gonna keep doing what I do – which means not shopping at American Apparel. Which I couldn’t do anyway, because they don’t do plus size clothes, either. Ugh!
What are your thoughts on this latest American Apparel scandal?

so are we supposed to be glad that they're not discriminating agaisn't natural hair (a rare situation considering it's a 'white owned' company)???

Like the author wrote...I’m not sure what to make of this newsperplexederplexed

 

[SleekandBouncy]

They have the right to dictate the look they want for their models and this is part of their look (hipster, undone, indie brand, etc.) and in their opinion natural hair fits the bill.

As for AA in general, the owner is a known pervert and AA has had run-ins with accusations of sexism, racism, women being harassed and so on so...um yeah. They aren't champions of anyone be they BW or women in general.

And before this turns into a kinky vs straight debate. The point of the modern black hair movement is/should be to put BW in a position of self love so that whatever decisions we make about our hair it's an actual choice. The point is for BW to have the same options to feel and be considered beautiful in our natural form as any other form just like the same options afforded WW.

 

[it_comes_naturally]

I guess they are no different than Whole Foods (in my area). I've never seen any female employees with straight hair there. I thought it was kinda nice, but since I'm natural maybe I'm a little bias.

 

[JaszyFaye]

Eh....American apparel is a hipster type of store. White people have always thought natural black hair is kind of, I don't know...funky and hip. I guess we can add "nice" to that list. Whatever that means. It fits the vibe they're trying to push out to its customers.

You hit it right on the nail. Natural/Afro-styled hair is what's hot for AA this season. I'm a model and damn near everytime I have a photoshoot (especially the ones that are going to be published) my hair HAS to be in an afro. They aren't necessairly saying, Jasmine, if you don't wear you hair in a fro we are going to use another girl. But whenever I show up for a fitting and my hair is straight, they ALWAYS say, "Oh, you're not going to wear your hair like that tomorrow are you? Or one time I showed up with straight hair ($250 extensions) and the photographer (AA male) was like " I thought you were going to wear your hair in an afro. Can you take those extensions out?" I was like hell to the naw!

So right now, natural textures are what's in style. I hate to say it, but it's just a fad that's gonna pass. (Natural Nazi's please don't go off on me) just saying...

 

[Abby]

*sigh* Another example of the 'exoti-fication' of women of color. I don't even know what to say beyond that. I am so irritated and frustrated by the story. Someone mentioned that stores can hire people that reflect their image, and it is true that they do, but if a girl applies their with relaxed hair, clearly she must consider herself part of that culture. But apparently she will now be excluded because her hair is straight- bull****.

Just like Oprah getting barred from Hermes. Or me getting cut eye when I go into Ferragamo with natural hair. Assumptions, which we all know make -asses out of you and me-. Somebody needs to sue his ***.

 

[BriDa5242]

I had to add my two cents on afrobella:

I’m sorry but this cracks me up!!! my husband and I couldnt stop laughing ….WHAT?????? now the times are changing?, Because JO Schmo decided being natural is now IN he is going to discriminate against women with STRAIGHT hair?? and "none of the trashy kind"? what?? lol!!! I love my natural hair but this is ridiculous. I have one shirt from this place and I’m going to burn it now. Imagine if I straighten my kinky hair for the interview, now I’m NOT going to get the job because my hair wasn’t kinky ???? (faints)

http://members.fotki.com/Bisthebest/about/

 

[LaFemmeNaturelle]

^^Why should he be sued for it? IT's his store. He's not obligated to hire anyone and if its taken to court I doubt he'd lose....I'm not surprised at all and I've heard of worse cases where black women weren't allowed to wear certain hairstyles (airline forbid braids and they won the case after the black women tried to sue). He's going for a look to represent his clothes. I honestly could care less, I don't shop there. At least he's hiring black people unlike some companies.

 

[Bint Yusef]

You hit it right on the nail. Natural/Afro-styled hair is what's hot for AA this season. I'm a model and damn near everytime I have a photoshoot (especially the ones that are going to be published) my hair HAS to be in an afro. They aren't necessairly saying, Jasmine, if you don't wear you hair in a fro we are going to use another girl. But whenever I show up for a fitting and my hair is straight, they ALWAYS say, "Oh, you're not going to wear your hair like that tomorrow are you? Or one time I showed up with straight hair ($250 extensions) and the photographer (AA male) was like " I thought you were going to wear your hair in an afro. Can you take those extensions out?" I was like hell to the naw!

So right now, natural textures are what's in style. I hate to say it, but it's just a fad that's gonna pass. (Natural Nazi's please don't go off on me) just saying...

Hair coming out of your head the way its supposed to is not a fad.

 

[LaFemmeNaturelle]

^^Sadly it is a fad to alot of women and many women will probably go back to relaxed in 5 years IF the look is gone from the media. Hopefully, that won't happen. But it may be a fad just like afros were fads. It's just a temporary hairstyle to some people, not a lifetime thing.

 

[afrikurl]

Is this for models or workers? they can tell models what ever they want regarding hairstyles but workers you cant discriminate as long as the person's hair is groomed there should be no problems.Do they make sure their workers keep their natural color too? I guess I would fit their target Black audience with natural hair,and hippie inclinations but I straighten my hair some times too.This is just dumb!

 

[natura87]

If you don't like it don't shop there. If it really grinds your gears that much maybe you need to reevaluate why YOU relax/texlax your hair.

 

[Southernbella.]

 

[-PYT]

Fight the power!

 

[Harina]

Some of their T-Shirts are ok but most of their stuff is ugly anyway.

Hair coming out of your head the way its supposed to is not a fad.

Yeah, technically, it shouldn't be, but I can see why so many people, like JaszyFaze, think it might be. So many have been relaxed for so long that it does seem like all this acceptance of natural hair might just be a temporary revolution. I think there might be a lot of people who end up reverting (nothing wrong with that), but I think the more knowledgeable we've become about our hair and more products/salons catering to natural hair, the more I think this "fad" is here to stay.

 

[LadyRaider]

natural hair is in style right now, isn't it?

 

[JaszyFaye]

Hair coming out of your head the way its supposed to is not a fad.

So, obviously you didn't get the jist of what I was trying to say. Or maybe you didn't read all of the comments and what I bolded. I know that the way hair comes out of your head isn't a fad. I don't think having natural hair is a fad. I've been natural for 7 years now and I don't plan on looking back. What I'm saying is, this recent preference for naturals over straight haired females ( in the case of american apparel and from MY personal experiences) is a fad IMO