Black Women Whose Hair Cost Them Their Jobs

Jessica Sims

The United States Army had to back pedal on its 2014 hair restrictions which banned hairstyles like cornrows, braids, twists, and dreadlocks. But before it did one Black female soldier, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SW/AW) Jessica Sims, was honorably discharged Sims for having dreadlocks.

“Sims, a 12-year Navy vet, had been growing her locs since 2005 and failed to obey an order to cut the hair she normally wore in a tight bun because officials said they were too bulky to be worn with a gas mask. Sims argued against that claim, and said she’d never had a problem with having dreads before being stationed in Great Lakes. After her discharge, Sims went on to start classes at Loyola University, with plans to major in biology as a pre-med student. She also says she has no regrets,” reported Clutch