General Order C-12, Professional Appearance Standards, effective from 1 January 2007To: Baltimore Police Department & City Council
We are shocked and appalled at the decision by the Baltimore Police Department to implement a grooming policy which widely discriminates against people of African descent. The policy states the following:
General Order C-12, Professional Appearance Standards, effective from 1 January 2007
• "Extreme or fad hairstyles are PROHIBITED, including but not limited to: cornrows, mohawks, dreadlocks, and twists, as well as designs or sculptures using the hair and/or cut into the hair."
We take offense at the description of our hair in its natural texture as "extreme" and "fad".
The implementation of this policy will give women 3 choices:
1. Straighten their natural hair so they can wear it in European styles;
2. Completely cover their hair by wearing a European-style weave;
3. Shave their hair off and keep it extremely close cut or remain bald.
Our afro-textured hair and the methods we use to style our hair in a neat and tidy fashion, such as in twists, groomed locs or cornrows are styles we have used to maintain our type of hair for centuries. Because of the natural afro-texture of our hair, these styles are the best suited to maintaining the healthy state and appearance of our natural hair.
We have also been advised that afros are now also prohibited because they "do not conform to the head."
By implementing this policy, you have committed the following offenses:
1. You have effectively said that the natural hair texture of the Black Race (or people of African descent) is NOT ACCEPTABLE unless it is worn straightened, or in a straight style, like the hair of Europeans or Asians. It is acceptable only if it is covered by a hair weave which mimics the hair of Europeans or Asians or is worn in a European style.
2. You are trying to force people to use unhealthy practices like relaxing their hair and using high heat straightening in order to conform to this standard.
3. You are contributing to the belief that African American hair is inferior to European hair.
4. You have caused considerable stress among those affected by this policy by threatening sanctions against people who wish to maintain their hair in its natural state.
We state this policy for what it is. It is a short-sighted, discriminatory policy, formed either out of ignorance or racism, directed at people of African descent in order to force them to conform to European hair standards.
Those standards relate to maintaining what the Baltimore PD considers a superior genetic characteristic of the White race over the Black race.
The racism within the babylon system and it's written law is usual done so much more covertly. I'm usually not surprised by their wickedness but this actually surprised and shook me. Below is a link where you can find the information to dispute and fight this. The righteous have to continually march into the flames of the babylon reality that exists not within but around us. Let's move. Bless-ed Love,Soulflower
http://new.petitiononline.com/baltpd/petition.html
