(Image Source:chron.com)


A woman in an Atlanta airport was stopped because of her hair. TSA agents were concerned her afro was dangerous. Dallas Fort Worth’s KXAS caught up with her...

“BRANTLEY: I hear these noises ‘Hey, hey lady stop!’ ‘You, you you don’t go anywhere!’
ANCHOR: Brantley was heading to her gate when she heard the yelling.

BRANTLEY:They had to come down the escalator and when they came down, they said ‘You can’t go any further, we have to check your hair for explosives.’”

Ok, we’ve all had to give up a little privacy at the airport -- but several media outlets took a playful look at the story. Here's CNN:


"ANCHOR: Now most folks don’t like their hair being touched by strangers, take the Undercover Brother.”
UNDERCOVER BROTHER: “You mess with the fro, you got to go.”
ANCHOR: “Will you grant though that because there’s so much of yourair that you actually could be hiding something in it?”
BRANTLEY: “Was Dolly Parton hiding something in her hair? Was Cher hiding something in her hair?”
ANCHOR: “Did they search Howard Stern? Or Snookie? Something could definitely fit in Snookies’s bun.”


Brantley says she was publicly humiliated after not being offered a private screening. A writer from The Stir offered her some sarcastic advice.

Oh Brantley. Humiliating? Embarrassing? Come on -- the TSA is just doing their job! [That’s why] I shave every piece of hair off my body and walk through the airports in a skin-tight nude bodysuit whenever I fly. It's called being pro-active. Ever heard of it?”

But a writer for Mediaite says there’s more to the story than an inconvenient search. She says the incident and its playful media coverage highlights a lack of understanding of black culture and hairstyle:

Was it really necessary for CNN to use a clip from...Undercover Brother... to highlight the fact that people don’t like strangers touching their hair? Afros and ‘natural hair’ have had a long and complicated history in the U.S... Am I saying these TSA officials are definitely racist for searching her hair? No. Not at all. I’m saying the situation becomes problematic in light of the politicization of black hairstyles in the United States.”


Atlanta’s WSBTV news elaborates, saying these searches might point to a pervasive racial issue for the TSA:

ANCHOR: “Several African American women with big hair have complained about scalp pat downs at U.S. airports in recent weeks and they claim it amounts to racial profiling.”

The TSA contends they did nothing wrong and that more screening can be required for clothing, hair, and headwear. They say Brantley didn’t follow the full security process. KENS reports...

“She says they didn't give her the option of a private screening something the TSA disputes....The TSA issued a statement saying the screening procedures are designed to ensure the security of the traveling public and that Brantley left the checkpoint prior to completing the screening process.”

Airport officials have apologized to Brantley, but she has requested an official, public apology from the TSA.







 

U.S. News

TSA Searches Lady's Afro for Explosives

September 22, 2011
(2:49)
Isis Brantley is speaking out after her large afro was searched in an Atlanta airport. She says she was not offered a private search.
   
TRANSCRIPT

To leave a comment, please log in with Facebook Connect or your Newsy account. Register here to create one.
MOST RECENT|MOST POPULAR|MOST COMMENTED|HIGHEST RATED

Iran Announces Plans for Second Nuclear Plant by 2014
Iran says it will continue its nuclear program after contentious talks in Baghdad, putting Western powers on edge.
(2:02)
May 27, 2012
Drunk Girl Wanders Into Home, Gets Shot, Charged With Felony
An intoxicated University of Colorado graduate was shot after she wandered into a home in Boulder, Colorado. She's now facing felony charges.
(1:50)
May 27, 2012
Leaders Continue to Disagree on Eurozone Plans
European Leaders met at a summit in Brussels, but have failed to find a consensus plan of action for the Eurozone.
(2:00)
May 27, 2012
Syrian Conflict at Possible 'Turning Point'
U.N. observers verify attacks for first time.
(1:39)
May 27, 2012
Top News Headlines: Afghan Officials: Airstrike Kills Family
More headlines: Four NATO troops killed in roadside bomb attacks; Syrian rebels call for Houla retaliation; rebel groups in Mali join forces.
(1:25)
May 27, 2012
PayPal Extends In-Store Purchasing
PayPal teams up with 15 new retail stores providing users with a new way to shop.
(1:48)
May 27, 2012
Knicks Hire Woodson as Head Coach
The New York Knicks removed the interim tag from now-head coach Mike Woodson. Woodson signed for what is believed to be a three-year deal as coach.
(1:46)
May 27, 2012
Internet Defense League Will Use Cat Signal to Protect Web
The group hopes to build a network that can be summoned to fight internet legislation like SOPA.
(1:48)
May 27, 2012
NASA Warns Lunar Explorers Not to Touch its Stuff
The space agency declared the area around its moon artifacts to be protected zones, asking other explorers to keep away.
(1:49)
May 27, 2012
Controversy Over Erotic Best Seller ‘50 Shades of Grey’
Libraries struggle whether to ban the book, which they say qualifies as erotica but is also one of the most checked-out books.
(2:23)
May 27, 2012
Pope's Butler Arrested Over Leaked Vatican Documents
The Pope's butler is accused of leaking confidential Vatican files to Italian media.
(1:35)
May 26, 2012
Alternate Juror Flirts with John Edwards
A female juror has been outwardly flirting with John Edwards during his trial - and Edwards has actually been responding.
(1:17)
May 26, 2012
Top News Headlines: Obama to Honor Vets on Memorial Day
More headlines: Memorial Day gas prices lower, yet still high; Experts suspicious of Iran's nuke program; Southeast braces for Beryl.
(1:25)
May 26, 2012
49ers' QB Smith Criticized for Cam Newton Comments
Smith downplayed the Panther's QB's accomplishments last year, which wasn't too popular with Newton's teammates.
(2:04)
May 26, 2012

Newsy

www1