On September 15, we will celebrate World Afro Day (WAD), set up by Michelle De Leon to ensure that all children learn about and feel positively about their hair types. But ahead of their annual celebrations this year, WAD has pledged to make the UK the first Western nation to introduce a law to specifically protect against Afro hair discrimination. That’s right, they’re headed to Parliament with their 100 Voices, 100 Words campaign.
The campaign calls on the Government to update the 2010 Equality Act to make Afro hair a protected characteristic and to prevent hair discrimination. “For too long, people with Afro hair have experienced unjust treatment in UK society and the current law is not direct enough to govern businesses, schools and the public to prevent serious harm,” WAD’s open letter reads.
Last year, the Black British Voices report by the University of Cambridge’s Department of Sociology found that 98% of those surveyed felt they had to compromise their identity to fit into the workplace, with their hair being a key issue. Similarly, the 2023 Workplace Hair Acceptance report showed a real risk to jobs, with one in three company decision-makers possibly denying a Black woman a job because of her natural Afro hair and then reversing the decision if she straightened her hair. One in five said that this could definitely happen in their workplace.
“One in three company decision-makers possibly denying a Black woman a job because of her natural Afro hair” – 2023 Workplace Hair Acceptance.
As a woman with Afro hair, I spoke about the pressures I faced to have “perfect and presentable” natural hair. During my first job, aged 16, I was asked to “use my wages to buy some hair extensions” after finally plucking up the courage to come into work with my natural hair out.
And this doesn’t just happen in the workplace. Unfortunately, young children are being affected by hair prejudices in schools. A De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) study reported that one in six children with Afro hair are having a bad experience at school, with almost half having an issue with hair policies, even though neither the Department for Education nor Ofsted currently monitor school uniform policies, which cover hair.
This discrimination has been a generations-long battle that affects our general and mental health as well as our integration into UK society. WAD are ready and willing to put an end to that battle, once and for all, calling on the UK government to “fix the law, not our hair”.
“One in six children with Afro hair are having a bad experience at school” – De Montfort University Leicester.
In their corner are some of the UK’s most influential faces, from TV presenter Fleur East, cultural commentator Zeze Mills, actress Beverley Knight and former Spice Girl Melanie Brown. Girl power icon Brown recalled how on her first video shoot for their hit debut single, Wannabe she encountered issues. “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,” Brown says. “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.”
Sarah-Jane Crawford, who launched her non-toxic curl range Clean Curls earlier this year and is also backing the campaign, tells PS UK: “After years of feeling imprisoned by my own self doubt, I’m proud of the fact I’ve transitioned back to cultivating my natural texture. Afro hair is synonymous with black heritage and to discriminate against an individual for this characteristic, however subtle or nuanced the abuse, it’s racism and has no place in society, school or the workplace.”
As Crawford, Brown and the 97 influential voices have expressed, Afro hair is a key part of our identity, heritage and culture, and should be recognised and protected as such by our Government and society, not only for ourselves, but for the generations to follow.
To keep up to date with the World Afro Day 100 Voices, 100 Words Campaign, check out their website and Instagram.
Lauren Gordon is the editorial coordinator at PS UK, where she creates lifestyle and identity content. Lauren has a degree in journalism from University of the Arts London and previously worked as a showbiz and TV reporter at The Mirror US. Lauren specialises in pop culture, hair and beauty, focusing on trends, sharing in-depth tutorials, and highlighting hidden gems in the beauty industry.
