TSA Now Searching Afros and other Big Hairstyles

If the Jackson Five were touring these days it would be a long wait before they could all pass through TSA security and board a plane thanks to the TSA’s new warning to employees. TSA officials in Atlanta stopped a 53-year-old black woman this week and demanded to search her afro.

According to hairdresser Isis Brantley she was walking through Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport when:

“I just heard these voices saying, ‘Hey you, hey you, ma’am, stop. Stop—the lady with the hair, you.”

Brantley then says a TSA official began “digging into her scalp” as they looked for explosives and guns.

When asked about the incident TSA officials released the following statement:

“Additional screening may be required for clothing, headwear or hair where prohibited items could be hidden. This passenger left the checkpoint prior to the completion of the screening process. She was offered but refused private screening.”

I don’t necessarily disagree with this new screening process, I just find it amusing that there’s a chance people might try to sneak weapons onto an airplane using their giant hairdo’s. I also find it suspect that Isis was able to move fast enough through the security checkpoint that TSA officials had to chase her down after she breached their perimeter.

I would personally rather have my hair checked then my groin grabbed, do you believe the TSA has overstepped their bounds by implementing this new hair searching procedure?