After working for 14 months at a television station, Ronda Lee was fired from her job because her employers at KTBS 3 News in Shreveport, La. hated her natural hair.
According to Michigan Chronicle, Lee was eventually let go after standing up for herself on Facebook. A white viewer wrote to KTBS 3 News and said, “The black lady needs to wear a wig or grow some hair. It’s still not something that I think looks good on TV.”
Lee responded to the post by writing, “I’m very proud who I am and the standard of beauty I display… Conforming to one standard isn’t what being American is about and I hope you can embrace that.”
The station fired her after the Facebook post and claimed that Lee violated the company’s social media policy. But Lee said she never informed of the policy prior to being fired.
However, Lee’s employers did attempt to convince her to change her natural hair. They took her to lunch and asked if she would let her hair grow long.
Since being fired in 2012, Lee has yet to find work. She has attempted to network and seek open positions across the nation, but she hasn’t been called for an interview.
It’s highly likely that Lee is being blackballed by the industry. She continues to wear a natural hairstyle and some news organization aren’t willing to hire a black woman who doesn’t conform.
Lee has filled a complaint against KTBS 3 News and is currently in mediation to resolve her dismissal.
