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Melphine Evans, a high ranking executive at the oil giant British Petroleum (BP), alleges she was fired for wearing her hair in braids and wearing African styled clothing- including a dashiki.

Evans claims her supervisors in her former office in Orange County, California said her attire made others feel “uncomfortable”. In the suit she recalls being told, “you intimidate and make your colleagues uncomfortable by wearing ethnic clothing and ethnic hairstyles.”

She also says the company suggested rules for her to follow by, including wearing her “ethnic” clothing during Black History Month or on “ethnic diversity days.” They also suggested that she inform her co-workers in advance if she planned on wearing the “ethnic” clothing, reports the Courthouse News Service.

BP issued a statement on the suit, that reads, “BP treats all employees fairly. BP disagrees with the claims and will vigorously defend the suit.”

Former Black BP Executive Claims She was Fired for ‘Ethnic’ Attire and Braided Hair  was originally published on blackamericaweb.com