A Black truck driver has filed a lawsuit against an Iowa trucking company, alleging he was fired for refusing to cut off his dreadlocks, in what activists are calling another instance of hair discrimination.
Drew Harvey, 26, of Crete, Illinois, accused Des Moines-based TMC Transportation of racism in a lawsuit filed last week in state court. The suit names the company and two of its employees as defendants.
According to the lawsuit, Harvey was hired as a flatbed truck driver in June. One day into orientation, he was reportedly told by human resources that his hair was a “safety issue” and he needed to cut his dreadlocks or face termination.
Harvey claims he offered alternative solutions, including trimming his hair, styling it differently, wearing a hair wrap, or purchasing a different hard hat. The lawsuit states these proposals were rejected by the company.
“My hair is important to my culture and spirituality,” Harvey said in a statement provided by his attorney. “I was willing to compromise, but they wouldn’t even consider my suggestions.”
The lawsuit alleges the policy was inconsistently enforced and violates the Iowa Civil Rights Act. Harvey claims he observed several non-Black employees with long hair during his brief employment.
TMC Transportation did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday.
This case joins a growing list of similar incidents across the country. In Texas, a Black high school student was suspended over his dreadlocks, while in Kansas, the American Civil Liberties Union raised concerns about a grade school forcing an 8-year-old Native American boy to cut his hair grown for cultural reasons.
Harvey is seeking unspecified damages for lost wages and emotional distress. The lawsuit also claims Harvey discovered online that TMC had previously fired another Black man for the same reason, further fueling his distress.
