A hair salon on New York City’s Upper East Side will teach employees how to >The New York Times reports that Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger agreed to the measure as part of a settlement with NYC’s Human Rights Commission.
An investigation into the biased practices of the salon was prompted after four former workers accused the business of discrimination. One complaint came from a white former manager who said he was asked to enforce a more rigorous dress code and hair policy on Black workers. The stipulations of the settlement are intended to help foster career advancement among Black stylists, according to city officials who spoke to NYT.
Braided hairstyles like this one were once banned from the New York City salon.
“This resolution is another step toward ensuring that racist notions of professional appearance standards are not applied in New York City,” Carmelyn P. Malalis, the commission’s chairwoman, said in a statement obtained by the newspaper.
In addition to advancing the careers of Black stylists, the salon is required to pay a $70,000 fine and partner with a New York City styling school that serves as an authority on Black hair for the purpose of instructing employees and starting an internship program for minority groups. A colorist and senior stylist at the salon will also have to complete community service with a racial justice group that fights hair discrimination.
New York City is one of few states that has specific guidelines around the targeting of people in the workplace based on hairstyles. The Crown Act, which was first adopted by California, extended the definition of racial discrimination to include “traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles.”
The post New York City Salon Will Learn How To Style Black Hair After Once Barring Braids And Afros appeared first on Essence.
