The Mirror attended an World Afro Day event in the House of Common on their ninth anniversary – where people shared their experiences and educated each other on just how detrimental hair discrimination is.
World Afro Day is celebrated on the September 15 and this year, the iconic event is tied into the campaign ‘Fix the Law, Not Afro Hair’.
Launched in 2017 by Michelle De Leon, World Afro Day has grown from a UK awareness day into a global movement – and now, a landmark event in Parliament aimed at celebrating Afro hair while calling for lasting change, including a Guinness World Record attempt.
The Fix The Law, Not Our Hair campaign began in 2024 and called on policymakers to address the legal loopholes that allow hair discrimination to persist. Spice girl, Mel B was amongst thousands of Brits calling for a change.
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The Mirror attended the Business Leaders event which saw campaigners, celebrities and community leaders gathered at the House of Commons for a powerful day of panel talks and emotional moments. The event was hosted by Liam Conlon, the Labour MP for Beckenham and Penge, on behalf of his constituent, Michelle De Leon.
“The country is dealing with a lot of negative news and division right now, but we hope that this Guinness World Record attempt is an opportunity to bring people together in a global teachable moment, about Afro hair. From babies to the boardroom, World Afro Day is educating for a better Britain,” said Michelle.
“Now we get chance and opportunity to do something for the future generations and raise them to love their hair, to talk to the legislators and the leaders of our country and say our hair is an integral part of who we are. It can’t be pushed aside, it can’t be forgotten any more,” Michelle De Leon said at the event.
Ruby Williams, 23, is a World Afro Day ambassador, and shared her experience of hair discrimination and how it impacted her studies. She says she was sent home from school constantly, all because her teachers claimed her hair was “too big”. These incidents happened during her vital years – Year 10 and 11.
Rapper Krept also attended in solidarity, calling for deeper change. “It’s so important for us to normalise Afro hair, and to feel proud of Afro hair,” he told the Mirror. “I want it to get to a point that we don’t have to explain ourselves anymore.”
TV presenter and DJ, Sarah-Jane Crawford reflected on the pressures she faced growing up and the transformation in how she views her hair today. “World Afro Day for me means freedom, empowerment and it means a safe space where we can be vulnerable and in our vulnerability we’re able to build strength and unity,” she told the Mirror. “Back in the day I’d never rocked up to an event like this where they’d been press and people of influence in my natural hair, now I feel so free to do that.”
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Since the launch of World Afro Day,global conversations around the need to explicitly outlaw hair-based discrimination under the 2010 Equality Act have been had, but campaigners argue a change in the law is long overdue.
In support of World Afro Day, sponsers Paulette Hamilton MP and Liam Conlon MP met with the Equality Minister, Seema Malhtra to discuss an law change to truly protect Afro hair.
“Hair is a very distinct and separate way to other forms of discrimination and I’ve learned that from Michelle and that’s why education is so important,” Liam Conlon MP said at the event. “We want to help to shift cultures and understanding and make your organisations more inclusive and a reality in the workplace” he added.
The Guinness World record attempt can be completed by anyone – where you can watch videos to learn more about afro hair and an interactive quiz. To be a part of this change, please click here.
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