The Akron Civil Rights Commission has ruled in favor of a Black man who accused his former employer, VanDevere Chevrolet, of racial discrimination over his hairstyle.
In a unanimous decision on Wednesday, the commission found that the dealership violated Akron’s version of the CROWN Act, a law passed in December 2020 that bans discrimination based on natural hair textures and styles in workplaces and schools.
Seleke Korleh, who worked as a sales consultant at the dealership in 2022, filed a complaint with the commission in 2023. He said management told him he needed to change his hairstyle to keep working in a customer-facing role.
At the time, Korleh wore his hair in locs — rope-like strands formed by twisting or matting — adorned with beads and shells. According to the commission’s findings, dealership management described his look as “unprofessional” and said it needed to be more “professionally conservative.”
The commission ordered VanDevere Chevrolet to pay Korleh $850 in back pay for the 10 days between his termination and an offer to reinstate him. The dealership must also pay $2,550 for the emotional distress he experienced, along with his legal fees and a $1,000 penalty to the commission.
Korleh said he was less concerned about the money and more focused on justice.
“I just wanted the truth to come out, which was that they discriminated against me,” he said. “Being a Black man in America comes with a lot of challenges, but ultimately, I felt it was time to stand my ground. I think this is a moment in history.”
Korleh’s attorney, Imokhai Okolo, said the case highlights how people can face unfair treatment over small matters like hairstyle.
“We are grateful that the commission spoke truth to power, like we have this entire time,” Okolo said.
The original CROWN Act was signed into law in California in 2019, and 27 states have since passed similar legislation. Ohio is not among them, but cities including Akron, Columbus, and Cincinnati have adopted the law locally.
A federal version of the bill passed the U.S. House in 2022 but stalled in the Senate. It was reintroduced in 2024 but has not advanced.
Attorneys for VanDevere Chevrolet declined to comment on the decision.
