Disney Employees and Beards

It is with sadness and dismay that I ponder the recent grooming codes imposed on the men with facial hair by the Queen Mary and its parent company Walt Disney.

For many men, including myself, the question of whether or not to have facial hair is not necessarily a personal choice. Unfortunately, I have a medical condition, as do many black men, and the condition is called pseudofolliculitis barbae.

Due to the genetic structure of my facial hair, when I shave the emerging hair grows back into my face. As my beard grows back into my face it also takes with it dirt and bacteria. The result of this process is called an ingrown hair or a razor bump. This razor bump is filled with pus and bacteria, and each subsequent time that I shave the bump becomes more irritated. To alleviate the contents of the bump the hair must be picked out with a needle. I am sure you can imagine just how painful this is.

The solution for this condition, as suggested by the medical profession, is to let the hair grow above the skin-line--a beard! When I first started wearing a beard in the ‘60s, I was viewed as a militant and a nonconformist. This medical condition has caused me to suffer both personally and professionally. The decision to fire employees for facial hair makes about as much sense as firing someone who wears glasses, has to take insulin or wears a hearing aid. Disney, wake up. It’s 1990!

DELTON LEWIS

Venice