American Notes GROOMING

When Cheryl Tatum, a cashier at a Hyatt hotel in Crystal City, Va., braided her hair into cornrows last year, she received nothing but compliments from customers. She received something else from her boss: notice that she was not complying with hotel policy against "extreme and unusual hairstyles." After being dismissed, Tatum filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, thus marking what may be the first discrimination case based on hair. Tatum has since enlisted the aid of Jesse Jackson, who has promised not to stay in the chain's hotels during his presidential campaign unless the dispute is settled.