The Labour MP Paulette Hamilton and singer Mel B are amongst main Black Britons urging parliamentarians to make the UK the primary western nation to introduce a legislation to finish afro hair discrimination.
The World Afro Day (WAD) marketing campaign has written an open letter to MPs, calling on them to vote for the popularity and prevention of afro hair discrimination by updating the Equality Act 2010 to make afro hair a protected attribute.
The letter has been signed by 100 campaigners and supporters, together with the singer Beverley Knight, author and campaigner Patrick Hutchinson, singer and presenter Fleur East, faculty chief Evelyn Forde MBE and Prof Patrick Vernon OBE.
It warns that the “omission of hair as a protected characteristic from the law has facilitated everyday discrimination and the normalisation of afro hair as inferior in every sphere of life”.
The letter is a part of WAD’s 100 Voices, 100 Phrases marketing campaign, for which every supporter has written 100 phrases on why the change in legislation is important.
The marketing campaign will host a drop-in clinic at parliament with Hamilton, the WAD founder Michelle De Leon, Hutchinson and the TV and radio presenter Sarah-Jane Crawford. They are going to be there with their youngsters to “focus on the change for the next generation”.
Campaigners have lengthy argued that British youngsters are unfairly penalised in class for sporting pure kinds and protecting strategies for the maintenance of their afro hair, whereas adults in UK places of work additionally face discrimination, harassment and assault.
De Leon stated: “Laws are actually there to tell people what is right and what is wrong and to protect minority groups from oppression, discrimination and injustice. We simply do not have the right laws in the UK to stop generations of Afro hair discrimination from continuing.”
Hamilton stated: “As Birmingham’s first black MP, and as a mother to four daughters, I know the impact this campaign could have on my local community and on people with afro hair across the UK.”
Mel B, stated: “The very first video shoot I did as a Spice Girl for Wannabe, the stylists took one look at my hair and told me it had to be straightened. My big hair didn’t fit the pop star mould. But I stood my ground – backed by my girls – and I sang and danced as me, with my big hair, my brown skin and I was totally proud of who I was.
“So yes, I’m proud to support World Afro Day in its call for the Equality Act to protect against afro hair discrimination in the UK.”
