Illinois Bans Race-Based Hair Discrimination In Schools

Illinois became the latest state to ban hair discrimination in schools. On Friday (Aug. 13.), Gov. J.B. Pritzker approved the Jett Hawkins Act, making it illegal for all schools within the state to set dress policies against historically race-based hairstyles, such as locs, braids and twists.

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Sen. Mike Simmons, who has locs, introduced the bill after hearing how four-year-old Gus “Jett” Hawkins was forced to remove his braids because they were in violation of his school’s dress code this past March. The school even challenged his bun after mom, Ida Nelson, took out his braids.

After she was informed that Jett couldn’t return to school with his hair in braids, Nelson took them out and put Jett’s hair in a ponytail-bun style, which she said also ended up being a problem. Only “Afro or short hairstyles” were allowed at Chicago’s Providence St. Mel School.

Over the years, scores of stories such as Hawkins’ have gone viral where (primarily Black) employees and students have been fired, humiliated, suspended, and more for the way the hair grows out of their scalp or that it is style. Sen. Simmons, who has locs, also experience disparaging comments on his texture and style.

“I do not want the next generation to have to go through that. It’s a distraction in the classroom,” said Simmons in a recent interview. “People can’t learn when they are made to feel like something so innocent as their hair is a problem in a school setting. people who are workplaces cant be productive members of society if people are constantly targeting their and discriminating against their hair it’s time to turn the page on this history.”

Once the law goes into effect on January 1, 2022, it will be illegal for Illinois students to be part of that conversation, and Nelson is grateful to have helped change the narrative.

“For us, this is bigger than just hair. Our hair is an extension of who we are as a race and is deeply connected to our cultural identity,” said Nelson at the bill signing. “This is one huge step towards improving the mental health outcomes for our children, as it ensures that they will be in healthier learning environments.”

This is not the state’s first bill aimed at ending hair discrimination. Sen. Mattie Hunter introduced the CROWN Act earlier this year to ban hair discrimination in the workplace, which has passed in both the House and Senate. Once signed into law, Illinois would become the 14th state in the past two years to pass the CROWN (Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair) Act as part of a national movement to end race-based hair discrimination.