The TSA Wants To See What’s in Your ‘Fro

Typically your choice of hairstyle doesn’t bother others. I say typically because with all the recent changes in airport security post 9-11, the security has gotten intense. There are mixed feelings about the TSA using pat downs of Afros as a security feature. While it is possible to hide things in any hairstyle, I think that there are many other places people could hide illegal things while trying to travel.

Many articles are claiming this type of “pat down” is discriminatory. But if the TSA are doing their jobs properly, they should be checking all possible sources of hidden objects. It is a safety measure meant to protect travelers from those who might want to harm them.

If you feel you are being discriminated against because of your hair style, then maybe you need to take a step back and look at the big picture. I doubt it is you that is being singled out and picked on. The TSA agents are simply performing their jobs. If you feel you are being harassed or being violated then you have two options. First, you can choose to not use that mode of transportation anymore, such as driving or using a train. Second, you can just accept that since 9-11 things are much stricter in order to keep travelers safe.

The TSA has come to an agreement with the American Civil Liberties Union; however, so they will stop using extra security searches that are unnecessary, unreasonable and racially discriminatory. I again do not believe this security search to be limited and targeting only African American men and women as Caucasian men and women can also wear Afros, so before we label this security check as a racial discrimination we really need to look at the big picture.