Back in January of this year, the US Army lifted their band against dread locs in the military. According to Vogue:
The implications of the new directive were far greater than a single style, signaling a seismic shift in attitudes toward Afro-textured hair that has long been the subject of intense scrutiny, both in the military and beyond
For years, black women in the military reconciled themselves with the fact that they either had to straighten their hair, cut it short, or wear it in a fashion that somehow hid their natural texture.
Army Captain Deshauna Barber had this to say:
“I don’t think people realize requiring someone with curly hair to have straight hair is like requiring someone with straight hair to make their hair curly. When you’re repeatedly putting heat on textured hair, guess what? It falls out.”
Well, those days are over, and in honor of this momentous change, Vogue featured several natural women in the military like so:
Major Tennille Woods Scott, U.S. Army
Specialist Raissa Alexia Mbolo, Army National Guard
Captain Deshauna Barber, U.S. Army
Lieutenant Colonel Junel Jeffrey, U.S. Army
First Lieutenant Whennah Andrews, Army National Guard
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