Federal legislation to end hair discrimination against Black people has been brought Congress.

Black hair is beautiful! Shaming our hair is a way to keep us out. This must end.

We have the power to make federal protections our future. Donate now to make change a reality.

Dear John,

You fought with us and together, we won! Earlier this year, we began to fight the injustice of hair discrimination against Black people across America. Because of your support, Color Of Change and the Crown coalition got bills passed in California, New York and New Jersey.1 And now, after weeks and months of work, federal legislation has finally been introduced to Congress!

We are almost there! Support us in getting federal protections passed to end hair hate in our lifetime!

 Hair discrimination isn't just a tool of gatekeeping, it has serious impact on our health as well. Just last week, we learned that hair straighteners are linked to higher cancer rates in Black women.2  The expectation that Black women conform for 'professionalism' and outdated standards of 'beauty' is literally killing us. We deserve a fair shake. We deserve to be unapologetically Black. We deserve better than this.  

Join us in getting is incredible legislation passed in our lifetime!

And it's not just Black women. Across America, kids are being shamed for having hair that is too Black, telling them again and again they aren't good enough; that Black isn't good enough. Black kids like 6 year old Clinton Stanley Jr.3 was sent home from A Book’s Christian Academy for having locks, 11 year old Faith Finnedy4 was sent home from Christ the King for wearing box braids to school, and 8 year old Marian Scott who was told she could not participate in her school picture day because of her hair.5

Black children everywhere deserve to be proud of who they are and our job is to pave the way for them.

Right now, we need your help to finish this fight. What's clear is that when we fight, we win. You made your voices heard for the first few rounds, and now it's time for us to stop hair hate in its tracks completely. 

Time to make sure our folks have the protections we deserve!

Until justice is real, 

--Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Future, Eesha, Sam, Folasade, Marcus, Amanda, and the rest of the Color Of Change team

 References:

  1. More states are trying to protect black employees who want to wear natural hair to work.' The Washington Post, September 19, 2019 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/204074?t=9&akid=39772%2E4731121%2EHeAKDj
  2. 'Hair dye and straightener use linked to higher cancer risk, especially for black women' NPR December 4 2019 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/222783?t=11&akid=39772%2E4731121%2EHeAKDj
  3. '6 year old with dreadlocks banned from private school in Orange county.' Orlando Sentinel, August 14 2018 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/163219?t=13&akid=39772%2E4731121%2EHeAKDj
  4. 'Louisiana girl sent home from school over braided hair extensions.' Nbc News, August 22, 2018 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/163220?t=15&akid=39772%2E4731121%2EHeAKDj
  5. 'Eight year old girl denied school picture because of hair.' Wilx, October 7 2019 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/204073?t=17&akid=39772%2E4731121%2EHeAKDj

Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.

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