By Vic Maslia
It’s just a haircut, is what most people might get out of Juan’s experience. Finding his 1st job in America since moving from the small island of Bermuda, after facing rejection from 9 different jobs. Juan quickly realized that if he already had the perfect resume and was always well dressed, they had to be looking at something else.
As a black person with long hair and locks. He can’t be serious.
Despite not being told that directly Juan didn’t miss a beat when picking up cues during his job interviews. Having a mother who was already a U.S. Citizen. The now established massage therapist knew that choosing to push back on these social norms wasn’t going to work.
I went home, and I said, Look, I’m not going to get a job, so I cut all of my hair off.
For too long. Businesses have been more focused on their appearance rather than hiring the most qualified employees, and for most people cutting all their hair off is a huge decision, and for Juan it was, too, but not because he was attached to his hair, but because he needed to survive.
Stay tuned for the full episode of Juan’s story on the American Dream Podcast.
J is…
- 64 years old
- Male
- Straight
- Black Bermudian
- Working Class
- Christian