I am in the 11th and the rule here is that young men can not wear braids and participate in the ceremony. Is this rule in effect throughout the Connection? Certainly there is a need to modify the rule. Certainly neatness should be required. But to deny a male participation because of his choice of hair style should be examined by those in charge of the Debs and Masters. jessie

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2003

Answers

AMEN AMEN AMEN It's time to get real

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2003

I am in the First District and the Philadelphia Conference Branch YPD sponsors a cotillion every two years. The young women are beautifully attired in long flowing white gowns and our handsome young men sport tuxedos. The gentlemen are permitted braids and I have to admit they look quite handsome. The braids are carefully and skillfully done and are very neat in appearance. The young brothers have it together. As far as I know, the braids were never an issue.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2003

I checked with sveral of the other districts and the standard procedure is the that the braids must be neatly done and clean, this is acceptable. I guess your district is not changing with the times. This is one of the very reasons so many young people are leaving the AME church and going to where they are not judged by their appearances, but by the content of their heart. God be with you young man, if I had my way you would be included.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2003

The problem with dress codes is they leave so much room open for ambiguity. If you allow young men to wear "neat braids" do you also permit Rastafarian-style dread locks? Do the dress codes for Debs & Masters address the issue about diamond-stud earrings for young men? What if a young man desires to participate but he insists on wanting to wear his "ring"? What do you do in a case such as this? It would seem to me if you allow "neat braids" consistency would dictate that you relax other dress codes as well, e.g. dreads, earrings, etc. QED

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2003

Bill, I see your point, we are trying to reach our youth and let them work in the church, as long as they are clean and neat aI don't see the issue, there are preachers in the pulpit with earrings and locks . I say let the young men wear the braids and dreads. They do in Africa.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2003

Sister Jessica the Person to contact regarding your question is the administrator of the debutante-master commission, connectional officer Loretta Hill.

Please go the DMC webpage and you can email her from the webpage click on "email" under the menu, her phone number and address are also on the page.

www.ourchurch.com/member/d/dmc

Good luck and keep us posted and welcome to the board!!

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2003

Jessie,

I can only inform you of the Philadelphia Conference Branch YPD Cotillion. Although there were no dreads (and I admit I do like dreads)some young men wore earrings. None of this detracted from their appearance because they all wanted to look good to the waiting public.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2003

#1--Who's in charge? Why are the children in the position to tell the adults what they can or cannot do? I am constantly amazed by young people in decision- making roles that adults occupied not too long ago. If memory serves me correctly I think that I read that Osama Bin Laden said that "in America the children raise the parents."

#2--I work with the young people at my church and have friends in other denominations. Youth attrition is prevalent in all denominations. It is not an A.M.E. issue. The fashion in the 70's was pretty far out there. Back then, the mile high afro was not well accepted in the church and mini-skirts either but a great number of those young people stayed with the church and are church leaders today. So I seriously doubt that hairstyles and fashion trends are at the center of the problem of young people leaving the A.M.E. church.

I agree with Bro. Dickens--if you open the door to too many exceptions--you will have young people at the DMC with boby peircing, tattoos, nose rings etc. Our DMC Commissioner laid the law down about dress code, hairstyles etc.---the young people understood and complied. one young lady with a upper arm tatoo covered the tatoo to comply. "Obedience is better than sacrifice."

Is there a Connectional Code of Conduct or Dress Code for the DMC?

I agree that some of the new natural hairstyles are very attractive, however, coming into the workplace with the zigzag braids no matter how they neat are.......oh oh....that's another topic. I won't even go there.

Signing off,

B Blessed kc

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2003

First let me preface my response by saying that I think these "cotillions" are a tremendous waste of money. The expense to the participants is ridiculous and for what?

That being said, if the program is for young people why can't they decide what hairstyle they want to wear? Dreads are not a new thing AME's. This is 2003 not 1983. It's a fashion choice and old folk like me don't need to be the hair fashion police.

Shoot, I would wear dreads too but I don't like long gray hair!

This kind of event is probably not very evangelistic but it is perhaps one of the memorable moments in the life of a young person who found that his or her church not only gave them spiritual food but a little dessert as well.

We would be better off celebrating our young people and encouraging them to step out and be bold and dyanmic in life and for God.

And to all of us old folk let's remember we did not always like doing what grown folk used to tell us to do.

Be blessed.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2003

Thanks to everyone for your input. It is helpful to hear from others in the AME church. As suggested, I emailed the person in charge of DMC and will wait a response.

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2003