Illinois Joins Push To Ban Hair Discrimination
Top left: Brittany Wright, Top right: Dr. Janice Collins, Bottom: Robin Henry Reginald Hardwick/Illinois Newsroom
State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, (D-Peoria) is sponsoring legislation that would amend the Illinois Human Rights Act, making it illegal to discriminate based on a hair texture or a hairstyle such as locks, braids and twists. California, New Jersey and New York have recently passed similar laws.
Speaking on the 21st Show, we talked with four African-American women about the toll of hair harassment and hair discrimination.
Robin Henry, vice-president of Vince Cullers Group, a black-owned advertising agency based in Chicago
Brittany Wright, Chicago-based Digital Media Specialist
Dr. Janice Collins, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign journalism professor
On The Phone: Reynelda Muse, the first woman and first African-American to anchor a tv newscast in Denver. In 1968, she changed her hairstyle from shoulder length straight hair to an Afro. In January, she recently testified at a House committee in Colorado to pass an anti-hair discrimination bill there.
Prepared for web by WILL News And Public Affairs Director Reginald Hardwick.