Afro hair discrimination campaign. News. Labour MP Paulette Hamilton and singer Mel B are joining forces with other prominent Black Britons to call on the UK parliament to tackle afro hair discrimination by making the UK the first western country to pass legislation on the issue.
World Afro Day (WAD) has addressed an open letter to MPs, urging them to update the Equality Act 2010 to include afro hair as a protected characteristic, aiming to put an end to unfair treatment.
Signed by 100 influential figures, including singer Beverley Knight, writer Patrick Hutchinson, and presenter Fleur East, the letter highlights how the absence of afro hair protections in the law has allowed discrimination to persist in daily life.
As part of the WAD initiative “100 Voices, 100 Words,” supporters have contributed statements explaining why this legal shift is crucial. The campaign will also hold an event in parliament, led by Paulette Hamilton, WAD founder Michelle De Leon, and others, focusing on safeguarding future generations.
Campaigners argue that children are often unfairly disciplined in schools for wearing natural afro hairstyles, while adults face similar bias and mistreatment in the workplace.
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Michelle De Leon emphasized that laws are meant to protect minority groups from discrimination, yet the UK currently lacks adequate legal protections against afro hair prejudice. Hamilton, the first Black MP for Birmingham, and a mother of four, said this campaign could create a lasting impact for communities across the country.
Mel B recounted how, during her first Spice Girls video shoot, she was asked to straighten her hair to fit a certain pop star image but stood her ground and proudly embraced her natural hair. She’s fully behind World Afro Day’s push for legal change to protect afro hair from discrimination in the UK.