A White Baltimore arts executive was fired in September from the Baltimore Rock Opera Society after backlash over her decision to wear cornrows following a trip to Burning Man.
asserted
executive → fire → Man
Attorney Jeremy Eldridge said the circumstances of the firing of Kelly Carnes could raise discrimination questions under Maryland's CROWN Act.
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circumstances → say → Act
Eldridge said the organization’s public statements about Carnes' hairstyle could become relevant evidence if she challenges her dismissal.
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she → say → dismissal
"Had the Baltimore Rock Opera simply separated from this individual without providing a discriminatory reason; the timeline would be all of the evidence that the fired employee would have," he told WBFF Fox45 Baltimore.
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he → separate → that
"But here, when you're making comments publicly that lean into the discriminatory allegation made by the fired employees, that itself could be evidence of the fact that you were terminated wrongfully, meaning that it's discrimination under the crown."
Carnes directed Fox News Digital to WBFF's reporting when contacted about the controversy.
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Carnes → make → controversy
She began serving as executive director of the Baltimore Rock Opera Society, known as BROS, on Sept. 8.
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She → begin → Sept.
The organization formally announced her appointment less than a week later, touting her more than 21 years of experience in arts leadership, nonprofit strategy, communications, fundraising and operations.
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organization → announce → leadership
Carnes said she had her hair put into cornrows as a protective hairstyle while attending Burning Man in Nevada’s desert.
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hair → say → desert
After she returned, a video showing her with the hairstyle at a BROS event prompted complaints that a White woman wearing cornrows constituted cultural appropriation.
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woman → return → appropriation
BROS publicly acknowledged the backlash after removing the video, saying it had received concerns from members of its community and was taking the matter seriously.
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it → acknowledge → matter
The organization also said it regretted removing the video without an explanation.
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it → say → explanation
"We have received many heartfelt and concerned messages from members of our community regarding a video circulated on social media showing our new Executive Director, who is White, wearing cornrows at a recent BROS public event," the organization said, according to WBAL.
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organization → receive → WBAL
"We share the weight of these concerns and take this matter seriously."
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We → share → matter
The organization said it would revise its anti-discrimination policy to address cultural representation and dress, require anti-racism leadership training and create a working group focused on racial equity and inclusion, according to The Baltimore Banner.
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it → say → Banner
Carnes said that the board advised her not to attend a town hall convened to discuss the controversy.
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board → say → controversy
She said she was dismissed days later and was told only that she was "not a good fit."
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she → say → ?
Eldridge said determining whether the firing violated Maryland law would require establishing what actually motivated the organization’s decision.
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what → say → decision
"In evaluating whether the CROWN Act applies, meaning whether there was discrimination and whether this individual was terminated as for a discriminatory reason because of a hairstyle, we still have to deal with there are two competing narratives," Eldridge said.
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Eldridge → evaluate → hairstyle
Maryland enacted its CROWN Act in 2020.
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Maryland → enact → 2020
State law now defines race for purposes of anti-discrimination protections to include "traits associated with race," including hair texture, Afro hairstyles and protective hairstyles.
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law → define → texture
"Protective hairstyles" under the statute include braids, twists and locks.
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hairstyles → include → braids
The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights says the law applies to employment practices including hiring, workplace conditions, discipline and termination.
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law → say → hiring
Fox News Digital reached out to the commission for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
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Digital → reach → response
The statute does not itself resolve whether Carnes' firing was unlawful, leaving the circumstances and motivation behind the termination central to any potential discrimination claim.
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firing → resolve → claim
The turmoil has extended beyond Carnes' departure.
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turmoil → extend → departure
Four of BROS’ six board members, including its chair, are expected to leave the organization at the end of the year, according to an email obtained by The Baltimore Banner.
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Four → include → Banner
A BROS spokesperson separately told WBAL that the organization was focused on caring for its internal community and declined further comment on Carnes’ dismissal.
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organization → tell → dismissal
The Aporia
