There's significantly more to black hair than what simply meets the eye; it is much more than a minor physical identifier. As stated in the previous post, there's always a story and a journey associated with the hair of black women; a journey of ups and downs, gains and losses, and even roadblocks.

It cannot be "just hair" to black women when young girls in middle school get suspended for wearing their hair in its natural state. It's not "just hair" when black women in the workforce get fired from their jobs for the natural styles they choose to wear in their hair, and not because of their actions [1]. 

Black women hardly ever experience this journey as an easy piece of cake, as it oftentimes comes with a lot of sudden and unexpected changes. These changes mean something different for each individual black woman. 

For some, it might mean altering the texture and curl pattern of their hair for an upcoming job interview, for some, it could mean wearing out their natural hair for the first time as an act of liberation, and for others, it might mean transitioning their hair from chemically relaxed and permed hair to its natural form, which signifies a decision of fully embracing one's self and everything that comes along with it. 

There's already a profound lack of accurate representations of black women in the media and, eminently, in the corporate world. The representations of black women, which are prevalent and predominant in the media, already permeate the widespread stereotyping of black women. 

These stereotypes only work to dehumanize and deteriorate the image of Black women in society and thus hinder any kind of progression for them. 

As Harvey (2020) notes, "the media tend to put forth more sexist (and racist) gendered portrayals" of Women of Colour (pg. 67) [2]. 

And with the chief contribution of these portrayals, it is then normalized by society to trivialize and discredit the experiences of black women. 

Even today, the thought of wearing natural hair in the corporate world still instills an extent of fear and shame in the minds of a lot of Black women. 

With great anticipation, a time will come when Black women are not discriminated against or laced with judgment because of the way we choose to wear our hair. Progress will happen gradually, and Black women will come to realize that Black hair, in every single setting, symbolizes resistance, freedom, and love for oneself.