Worcester Business Journal

16 Worcester Business Journal | September 5, 2022 | wbjournal.com PURCHASE TICKETS BY SEPT 7: YWCACM.ORG/TRIBUTE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 | 12:00 PM Guest Speaker: Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings 2022 KATHARINE F. ERSKINE AWARD RECIPIENTS: Arts & Culture Cheryll Toney Holley Chief, Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band Business & Law Dani Babineau Co-founder & CEO, Redemption Rock Brewing Co. Community, Social Services & Government Michelle Smith CEO, AIDS Project Worcester Education Jennessa Burks Educator & Freelance Artist Health, Science & Technology Jodi Ashmun System Engineering Fellow, Raytheon Technologies perceived job performance and outlook. "As a woman of color, I have to look professional at all times so that I can be considered an attorney and not the interpreter or assistant," Plata-Nino said. "I have been in a full suit and have still been asked if I am the interpreter, something my white colleagues do not have to deal with." T-shirts, jeans or sneakers e policing of hair is not a unique experience for only Black and brown women in corporate workplaces. In schools across the country, the education of Black and brown children, especially Black and brown young boys, is disrupted over the conversation of their hair being considered inappropriate. From a 16-year old wrestler in New Jersey that was forced to cut off his dreadlocks right before a match to a 12-year old girl in Orlando expelled over her natural hair being a distraction, the issues hindering the Black and brown community stem into the youth and harp impact both girls and boys. Black, Indigenous, and people of color "oen have to reconsider certain hairstyles that would be deemed unprofessional due to biased ideas, and while many still consider a suit and tie to be the standard for business meetings, they can just as easily occur with polos, t-shirts, jeans or sneakers," said Che Anderson, assistant vice chancellor for city and community relations at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester. e conversations of professionalism in Black and brown communities have been impacted significantly by the standards created by the Eurocentric features sought by society, so much that the Black and brown communities have attacked each other to address their appearance. When Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem as a protest to the oppression of people of color in America, he faced criticism for his afro, including from former player Michael Vick, who is Black and who stated Kaepernick should cut his hair and try to be presentable if he wants to get signed again by the NFL. "During the pandemic, I was unable to get a haircut so I decided to keep the growth and style my hair differently. is wouldn't have happened without the pandemic, but it was not a matter of a relaxed dress code, and more an assertion that my hair can be professional at any length and in multiple styles," Anderson said. "is time period presents an opportunity for a reset and conversation, re: what a dress code is meant to present, to whom, and whom they may exclude." LGBTQ+ appearances While the CROWN Act is significant in the conversation of accountability in the workplace and school setting for Black and brown communities, it does not address the discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community. "I work as an independent consultant, so my dress code has been my own. However, there are unspoken and F O C U S D I V E R S I T Y & I N C L U S I O N Continued from page 15 Che Anderson, assistant vice chancellor at UMass Chan "As a queer and nonbinary person assigned male at birth whose gender expression is usually quite visible (I have a beard and often wear heels and makeup), I am very cognizant as to how my appearance may impact a business opportunity." - Joshua Croke, owner of Worcester social change agency Action! by Design.

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