Nationwide — Bariq Fluellen, an African American firefighter who has served the city of Philadelphia for over a decade, filed a formal discrimination complaint against the city after allegedly facing years of harassment over his locks.
Fluellen submitted the complaint to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, claiming that the city’s grooming policy unfairly targets Black hairstyles. He says coworkers mocked him with nicknames like “Rapunzel” and accused him of focusing on his hair instead of responding to fires.
He also claims his station captain threatened to “cut his hair while he slept” and repeatedly warned him to cut it or face discipline.
Despite strict department rules limiting hair length for safety reasons, Fluellen argues that his dreadlocks do not interfere with his duties. He continues to pass regular fit tests for equipment and has received positive performance evaluations since joining the department in 2013. He also noted that white colleagues have worn long hair without being reprimanded.
“My hair is a reflection of my authentic self — as a Black man, as a firefighter, and as someone who’s proud of my culture,” Fluellen said, according to The Philadelphia Tribune. “Being told that I don’t belong or that I’m unsafe simply because of how I wear my hair is deeply painful. I’ve earned my place in this department, and I shouldn’t have to choose between my profession and my identity.”
Fluellen said he first reported the harassment in 2022, but the behavior continued. He described ongoing threats, emotional distress, and sleepless nights caused by the hostile work environment.
The Public Interest Law Center is supporting his complaint. “This is about more than hair, it is about dignity and the right to exist in a public institution without being targeted for one’s identity,” said attorney Olivia Mania.
The complaint demands that the city end enforcement of the current grooming policy, adopt new rules that accommodate cultural hairstyles, and provide compensation for the emotional harm Fluellen has endured.