Woman Sues BP over Natural Hair, Ethnic Attire

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com 

We love to say, 'it's just hair.'

But ask Melphine Evans, and she'd tell you otherwise. Evans alleges she was fired as an executive at BP Oil for wearing braided hair and ethnic attire -- yet another story of a corporation discriminating using hair or ethnicity in its employment practices.

Melphine Evans is suing BP Oil for firing her for wearing braids and ethnic attire

We've said it before and we'll say it again: No one should be fired for wearing natural hair -- or ethnic clothing, for that matter. Still, it's a common theme. We've seen it plenty of times before, whether it's a TV station allegedly firing a TV reporter who wore natural hair or a school threatening to kick out a 12-year old girl in Orlando, Fla. with natural hair.



Evans, who was an executive at BP for more than 10 years, claims in a 24-page lawsuit filed in Orange County, California that BP said:

‘You intimidate and make your colleagues uncomfortable by wearing ethnic clothing and ethnic hairstyles (Dashikis, twists, braids/cornrows).”
 

"If you insist on wearing ethnic clothing/hairstyles-you should only do so during ‘culture day,’ black history month or special diversity events/days.’”

“If you are going to wear ethnic clothing, you should alert people in advance that you will be wearing something ethnic …”

‘You intimidate and make your colleagues uncomfortable by wearing ethnic clothing and ethnic hairstyles (Dashikis, twists, braids/cornrows).”"If you insist on wearing ethnic clothing/hairstyles-you should only do so during ‘culture day,’ black history month or special diversity events/days.’”
“If you are going to wear ethnic clothing, you should alert people in advance that you will be wearing something ethnic …”
- See more at: http://cocoafab.com/again-black-executive-allegedly-fired-over-braided-hair-and-ethnic-clothing/#sthash.4ruppcNG.dpuf

In a 24-page lawsuit — filed in California’s Orange County Superior Court — Melphine’s suit says that she was harassed and seeks an unspecified amount for race and gender discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination. - See more at: http://cocoafab.com/again-black-executive-allegedly-fired-over-braided-hair-and-ethnic-clothing/#sthash.4ruppcNG.dpuf

BP has claimed it fired Evans for not getting along with colleagues and for "aggressive" behavior. Evans claimed her evaluations were favorable and is suing for wrongful termination, harassment due to race and gender, and other claims.

n a 24-page lawsuit — filed in California’s Orange County Superior Court — Melphine’s suit says that she was harassed and seeks an unspecified amount for race and gender discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination.
Some of the complaints listed in the suit include:

“‘You intimidate and make your colleagues uncomfortable by wearing ethnic clothing and ethnic hairstyles (Dashikis, twists, braids/cornrows).”"If you insist on wearing ethnic clothing/hairstyles-you should only do so during ‘culture day,’ black history month or special diversity events/days.’”
“If you are going to wear ethnic clothing, you should alert people in advance that you will be wearing something ethnic …”

Melphine worked for the company for nearly 10 years, and BP executives claim that she was dismissed because she “did not get along well with her teammates and colleagues” and that she regularly engaged in “bullying and overly aggressive behavior.”
Melphine says that her yearly evaluation states otherwise, saying that it’s written that “Melphine is a people person. She engages her entire organization and is sincere in her desire to ensure all are valued and heard.”
- See more at: http://cocoafab.com/again-black-executive-allegedly-fired-over-braided-hair-and-ethnic-clothing/#sthash.4ruppcNG.dpuf

n a 24-page lawsuit — filed in California’s Orange County Superior Court — Melphine’s suit says that she was harassed and seeks an unspecified amount for race and gender discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination.
Some of the complaints listed in the suit include:

“‘You intimidate and make your colleagues uncomfortable by wearing ethnic clothing and ethnic hairstyles (Dashikis, twists, braids/cornrows).”"If you insist on wearing ethnic clothing/hairstyles-you should only do so during ‘culture day,’ black history month or special diversity events/days.’”
“If you are going to wear ethnic clothing, you should alert people in advance that you will be wearing something ethnic …”

Melphine worked for the company for nearly 10 years, and BP executives claim that she was dismissed because she “did not get along well with her teammates and colleagues” and that she regularly engaged in “bullying and overly aggressive behavior.”
Melphine says that her yearly evaluation states otherwise, saying that it’s written that “Melphine is a people person. She engages her entire organization and is sincere in her desire to ensure all are valued and heard.”
- See more at: http://cocoafab.com/again-black-executive-allegedly-fired-over-braided-hair-and-ethnic-clothing/#sthash.4ruppcNG.dpuf

n a 24-page lawsuit — filed in California’s Orange County Superior Court — Melphine’s suit says that she was harassed and seeks an unspecified amount for race and gender discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination.
Some of the complaints listed in the suit include:

“‘You intimidate and make your colleagues uncomfortable by wearing ethnic clothing and ethnic hairstyles (Dashikis, twists, braids/cornrows).”"If you insist on wearing ethnic clothing/hairstyles-you should only do so during ‘culture day,’ black history month or special diversity events/days.’”
“If you are going to wear ethnic clothing, you should alert people in advance that you will be wearing something ethnic …”

Melphine worked for the company for nearly 10 years, and BP executives claim that she was dismissed because she “did not get along well with her teammates and colleagues” and that she regularly engaged in “bullying and overly aggressive behavior.”
Melphine says that her yearly evaluation states otherwise, saying that it’s written that “Melphine is a people person. She engages her entire organization and is sincere in her desire to ensure all are valued and heard.”
- See more at: http://cocoafab.com/again-black-executive-allegedly-fired-over-braided-hair-and-ethnic-clothing/#sthash.4ruppcNG.dpuf