Banana Republic Tells Employee She Can't Braid Her Hair

WHITE PLAINS, NY — A 19-year-old SUNY Purchase student was told she wouldn’t be allowed to work at Banana Republic in The Westchester unless she took the braids out of her hair. In a recent Facebook post, Destiny Tompkins said that she was told by her manager, who is a white man, that her braids were “not Banana Republic appropriate and that they were too ‘urban’ and ‘unkempt’ for their image.”

She said she was told that if she didn’t take them out no more shifts would be scheduled for her. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Tompkins said she explained to the manager that it’s a protective hairstyle because her hair becomes brittle in cold weather.

“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,” she wrote in the public post.

The Journal News said a spokeswoman for the company said the incident is being investigated.

Reactions to Tompkins’ post have been supportive.

Chelsea Reyes wrote that Tompkins’ experience was incredibly upsetting.

“I am so tired of hearing these stories occurring across the work, there is nothing wrong with protective hair styles. I’m proud of you for always standing up for yourself and others!” Reyes said.

Photo credit: Google Maps.