It’s an exhausting experience that often makes people question whether to wear their hair naturally. Statistics show Black women are 80% more likely than white women to feel the need to change their hair to fit in at the office, according to 2019 research by JOY Collective. Black women are also 1.5 times more likely to be sent home from the workplace because of their hair. Cooper also struggled with the idea, “especially growing up in a time where little girls like me couldn’t wait to experience what felt like a rite of passage — having straight hair. And because that feeling can stay with children through adulthood.” Rutgers Professor Patricia O’Brien-Richardson says “encouraging hair positivity from a young age is critical.”
Heldrich Center Publishes Legislative Report on New Jersey’s Teacher Workforce
Teachers play a vital role in both the U.S. economy and society by fostering youth development and supporting student learning throughout their K–12 education. However, the profession comes with significant challenges, beginning with the hurdles of obtaining proper...