Former Spice Girl Melanie Brown is leading a group urging the Government to introduce a law to end afro hair discrimination.
World Afro Day is Tuesday September 10 and as part of the campaign the pop star has joined forces with others to call on MPs to “recognise and prevent” afro hair discrimination by updating the Equality Act 2010 to make afro hair a protected characteristic.
Melanie Brown and Labour MP Paulette Hamilton are the leading figures behind the campaign, which wants to make the UK the first western country to introduce a law to ban the discrimination.
The letter has been signed by 100 campaigners and supporters, including the singer Beverley Knight, writer and campaigner Patrick Hutchinson, singer and presenter Fleur East and Prof Patrick Vernon OBE.
The letter states 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”, adding that they are pushing to “focus on the change for the next generation”.
The letter adds that reports are regularly made of British children being penalised in schools for wearing natural styles and protective methods for the upkeep of their afro hair, while adults in UK offices also report facing “discrimination, harassment and assault”.
Mel B, said: “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.”
World Afro Day founder Michelle De Leon added: “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.”
