COLUMN: Anthony Duclair, Respectability Politics and the NHL’s Appearance Rules
A New Era of Respectability
I remember being in New York Islanders winger Anthony Duclair’s shoes, knowing that I had to alter my appearance so I wouldn’t upset white people who wanted me and others to assimilate to their rules regarding Respectability Politics. During my senior year of college, I had cornrows. I knew I was about to graduate and enter a system that prefers people to have a clean-cut appearance. I cut my hair. I knew the game was rigged. However, I wanted to find a job like Duclair did.
The Rules of the Game
After signing a free-agent deal with the New York Islanders, he posted a photo of his recently cut locs on Instagram. Some folks said Duclair, a former All-Star, was forced to succumb to archaic and outdated rules created by Islanders general manager and president of hockey operations Lou Lamoriello’s team policy regarding hairstyles. Others say Duclair knew the rules before signing with the team, citing instances of players who had to alter their looks to be on the team.
According to TSN’s Gord Miller, “Lou’s Rules” consists of:
- No facial hair (except in the playoffs)
- No long hair (past the collar)
- No jewelry (necklaces/earrings)
A Hockey Legend’s Legacy
Also, Lamoriello’s hockey credentials are as official as it gets. He’s won Stanley Cups, guided franchises into relevancy, and is a member of the Pro Hockey and United States Halls of Fame. Lamoriello was reportedly really tight with former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, whose franchise continues to institute his no-facial-hair policy for players.
The Lines of Employment
Here’s where the lines become blurred regarding whether athletes are viewed as employees who work for a company—or maybe a franchise—like many of us. I don’t think Duclair’s or any other player’s hairstyle ought to be a barrier to employment. In fact, our government feels the same way.
The CROWN Act
In 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the CROWN Act, Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. The bill came to fruition to stop employers from discriminating against their employees’ hairstyles. Before the vote, Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) said in part: “No more to Black people being made to feel like we have cut our locs just to get a job. This is the last time we say no more to Black people being made to feel like we have to straighten our hair to be deemed professional.”
A Visceral Reaction
Meanwhile, all 189 Republican House members, the preferred political party of hockey fans, voted “Nay” on the bill, including Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY), whose district represents a large swath of Long Island where the Islanders play. Three years prior, in 2019, the New York State Senate passed its own version of the CROWN ACT, saying the bill:
Prohibits race discrimination based on natural hair or hairstyles; defines “race” for certain specific purposes to include, but not be limited to, ancestry, color, ethnic group identification, and ethnic background, and to include traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles; and defines “protective hairstyles” to include, but not be limited to, such hairstyles as braids, locks, and twists.
A Headband Controversy
Team rules prohibiting facial hair, longer hairstyles, and other accessories are, unfortunately, the norm. Ahead of the 2006-07 season, the Bulls signed free agent center Ben Wallace, who was the reigning Defensive Player of the Year when he left the Pistons, where he won an NBA Championship. The Bulls had a team policy banning headbands. Wallace, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021, was known throughout his career for sporting cornrows or an afro with a headband. He knew when he signed with the Bulls that the team had specific policies. The Bulls suspended him for one game for wearing a headband. Wallace was eventually allowed to wear one.
A New Era of Respect
I reached out to the Blackhawks, who told me that the team does not have a team policy regarding hairstyles and hair length. After all, former Blackhawks Tony Amonte and Patrick Kane were known for their hair and play. Black Girl Hockey Club board member Fatou Bau saw Duclair’s Instagram screenshot and told me she had a “visceral” reaction to seeing his cut locs. She believes the 13-year veteran shouldn’t have been in a position to make such a decision.
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
A picture is worth a thousand words. Grateful that Anthony Duclair shared this. The visceral reactions are sparking important conversations and highlighting just how outdated and vile these hair rules are. I really hate this for The Duke. pic.twitter.com/0rHUln5EL0
— Fatou ♎️🇬🇳 (@FatouSadio) August 22, 2024
Conclusion
Remember when André 3000 told everyone that it’s a terrible idea to have preconceived notions about people based on how they look? Three Stacks made his thoughts clear enough for everyone to understand—even Lou Lamoriello—when he rapped:
Now, question: is every n— with dreads for the cause? Naw
Is every n— with golds for the fall? Naw
So don’t get caught up in appearance…
Me and you, your mama and your cousin too—and Lou Lamoriello—should listen to more OutKast. And relax the rules a little.
FAQs
Q: What is Respectability Politics?
A: Respectability Politics is a term used to describe the expectation that marginalized groups, particularly Black people, must conform to societal norms and standards of beauty, behavior, and respectability in order to be accepted and respected.
Q: What is the CROWN Act?
A: The CROWN Act is a bill that prohibits race discrimination based on natural hair or hairstyles and defines “protective hairstyles” to include, but not be limited to, such hairstyles as braids, locks, and twists.
Q: Why is it important to relax the rules regarding hairstyles in the NHL?
A: It is important to relax the rules regarding hairstyles in the NHL because they are outdated and discriminatory. They perpetuate harmful stereotypes and expectations about what it means to be a professional athlete.
