Mia Brooks
MC 301 Contributor/ Staff
Have you ever wondered why you did not get a call back for a job you applied for?
Maybe you were not qualified or your resume was not up to par…or maybe it was because of your ethnic sounding name or your natural hair.
Natural hair and ethnic sounding names in the workplace are very relevant topics… even in 2014.
Some parents living in America are faced with the dilemma of embracing their culture by giving their children ethnic names or giving them names that will not stand out on future job applications.
According to a University of Chicago study entitled, “Are Emily and Brendan more employable than Lakisha and Jamal?”, written by Mariame Bertrand, people with names like Pam or Amber get 50 percent more call backs for interviews than applicants with similar resumes and names like Lakisha and Shaniqua.
According to a report on cbsnews.org, many Jews and Asians choose to change their names in an effort to blend in to American society and improve their economic prospects and avoid discrimination. However, many African-Americans continue to chose ethnic sounding names.
Jeremy Hodge, coordinator for Jackson State University Career Services and Employment Center said your resume and/or job application is your initial introduction to a company and unfortunately the perception of not only ethnicity but culture plays a major role in a company’s selection process.
“I do feel that preconceived judgments are made because of an individual’s name however that is why it is very important that your skill-set outweigh any assumptions a hiring manager may have. Make them want you!,” said Hodge.
Deabra Gray, a senior biology major from Jackson, Miss. said her name has always stuck out and drawn questions. Although her name has not affected her job prospects so far she plans to make a different choice with her children.
“I do intend to give my children names that mean something, but won’t be butchered the way mine has always been. In the end, a name is just a name and doesn’t say anything about a person’s character, intellect, or abilities,” said Gray
Along with her unique name, Gray also has natural hair. Although thousands of African-American women are increasingly embracing their natural kinks and curls, some still feel that natural hair is unfit for the workplace.
Gray said she is aware of the misconceptions of the professionalism of her natural hair, but she would not change it for the sake of a job.
“I would not like to work for a company that judged its potential employees on something as trivial as hair style or texture,” said Gray.
This experience is not new or unique to black women, as many black men are also embracing their culture through their locs, and sometimes worrying if their decision will keep them from getting hired.
According to jobs.aol.com, there have been several cases of black men suing employers for discrimination against locs.
“You can’t tell what kind of person I am or if I’ll be good for the job by my locs. They’re a part of me but they don’t define me,” said Terry Jones, a junior computer engineering major from Jackson, Miss. with dread locs.
There is no definite research that shows an ethnic name or hair texture determines what one will be in life.
Many African-Americans such as Condoleeza Rice, Denzel Washington, Janelle Monae and India Arie have overcome the stereotypes and discrimination attached to ethnic names or natural hair and have reached success paving the way for many more.
“Institutions like Jackson State University possess beautiful, eager and talented students, faculty and staff, it is our responsibility to change the mindset of our culture. By doing this we become the world changers instead of allowing the world to change us,” said Hodge.
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