Paul Sugg, owner of EastPoint Prosthetics & Orthotics in Kinston, had a unique idea for his dissertation in Philosophy at Bethany Divinity College and Seminary. He had the expectation that people would treat him differently because he grew his hair and beard out. Over the course of the next year, some people lived up to his expectations, and some surprised him.

“This has been a year-long experiment growing my hair and growing my beard to see how we treat others and how others treat us,” said Suggs as he sat down in the barber chair to remove the yearlong growth on his head and face. 

“I have the pleasure of transforming this gentleman into his old self,” said Nolan McNabb, owner of Kinston Barber Shop at 102 W Peyton Ave, who opened his shop early for the culmination of Sugg’s experiment. 

While he had negative reactions, such as a cashier who once threw money back at him to avoid touching him, and a woman who told his wife, “I have better control over my husband than that”, other reactions also surprised him.

“I was expecting to see all this hatred and for people to treat you so much different,” said Suggs. “I think it was me that actually needed the reformation.”

He found solidarity in beard culture that transcended common factors used to separate such as age or race. 

“What was interesting was when I went to one of the local grocery stores, a gentleman was outside and he had a longer beard,” said Suggs. “Even though he was a different race than me and it was like we were brothers.”

Throughout the year, Suggs learned a great deal from his experience. He believes it helped him have a better understanding of perception.

“I think we need a reformation of our attitudes toward each other,” said Suggs. “If you believe in God, and you truly look at another individual, you’ll see they are the same in his eyes. Then we would all treat people differently. That’s the message I am trying to get across.”

Suggs may grow a beard in the future, but will never let his hair or his beard get as long again.