Being an on-air personality comes with its share of criticism and scrutiny from viewers.  A black female meteorologist, Rhonda Lee, was fired from the ABC affiliate in Shreveport, LA because she responded to a racial remark posted by a viewer on the station’s Facebook page.

Lee’s decision stand up for herself ultimately cost her job. It began when a viewer questioned whether she should wear her short Afro, suggesting she put on a wig or grow more hair under a Facebook post on the station’s page. Lee responded:

“Hello Emmitt—-, I am the ‘black lady’ to which you are referring. I’m sorry you don’t like my ethnic hair. And no I don’t have cancer. I’m a non-smoking, 5’3, 121 lbs, 25 mile a week running, 37.5 year old woman, and I’m in perfectly healthy physical condition…”

She was fired for violation company policy by not following the appropriate procedure when responding to a viewer complaint. A firestorm of controversy has ensued.

In a way, her image was placed on trial as a defendant in the case against black women who choose to wear natural hair in spaces where this is not fully accepted.

Is natural hair still considered “taboo”? Why?

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