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Banana Republic Manager Fired After Allegedly Calling Black Employee's Braids Too 'Urban'
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 9, 2017
Modified Oct 9, 2017
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By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 9, 2017
Modified Oct 9, 2017
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Days after a Banana Republic employee expressed her discomfort about how her white male manager called her braids too "urban" and "unkempt," the clothing chain announced the manager was been fired. A spokeswoman said, "This situation was completely unacceptable, counter to our policies, and in no way reflects our company's beliefs and values."
On Wednesday, Destiny Thompkins, 19, wrote a Facebook post after being called into her manager's office at the White Plains Banana Republic, "I came in and he questioned me about the dress code and immediately, I thought there was something wrong with my outfit but he sat me down and questioned my hair instead."
In an interview with WABC 7, the Purchase College student recalled, "He said, 'The district manager came in and she pointed out your hair,'" she said. "I said, 'What is wrong with my hair?' 'It is a little too urban and unkempt for our look and image. We were wondering if you could take them out.'"
Thompkins also explained on Facebook, "He said that if I didn’t take them out then he couldn’t schedule me for shifts until I did. When I tried to explain to him that it was a protective style for my hair bc it tends to become really brittle in the cold, he recommended that I use shea butter for it instead. I have never been so humiliated and degraded in my life by a white person. In that moment, I felt so uncomfortable and overwhelmed that I didn’t even finish my work shift and ended up leaving."
so today I went into work at Banana Republic at the Westchester Mall and after the district manager (a white woman) popped in for a visit, I was told to go to the office to speak with my manager, Michael (Mike), who is a white man. I came in and he questioned me about the dress code and immediately, I thought there was something wrong with my outfit but he sat me down and questioned my hair instead. He told me that my braids were not Banana Republic appropriate and that they were too “urban” and “unkempt” for their image. He said that if I didn’t take them out then he couldn’t schedule me for shifts until I did. When I tried to explain to him that it was a protective style for my hair bc it tends to become really brittle in the cold, he recommended that I use shea butter for it instead. I have never been so humiliated and degraded in my life by a white person. In that moment, I felt so uncomfortable and overwhelmed that I didn’t even finish my work shift and ended up leaving. When my friend’s mom called the store to find out my manager’s last name (only been working there a month so idk it), he refused to give it to her. Box braids are not a matter of unprofessionalism, they are protective styles black women have used for their hair and to be discriminated against because of it is truly disgusting and unacceptable. Make this public bc they need to be exposed for their blatant racism and discrimination. There’s no reason why a white person should feel allowed to tell me that I can’t wear my hair the way that I want bc it’s too black for their store image.
Thompkins had her hair braided the prior week, and told the Journal News, "I feel that for a white man to tell me, a black woman, how to care for her hair was completely inappropriate."
"This week, one of our store managers questioned an African American employee’s braided hair style. Our team began an immediate investigation and the manager involved was promptly removed from the store. Today we concluded the investigation and can confirm that the manager has been terminated from the company," Banana Republic spokersperson Sheikina Liverpool said. "Banana Republic has zero tolerance for discrimination. This situation was completely unacceptable, counter to our policies, and in no way reflects our company’s beliefs and values."
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banana republic
braids
discrimination
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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