Workplace Discrimination Against Natural Hair is Now Illegal in Nebraska

Senator Terrell McKinney, who represents the North Omaha area, said the passing of LB451 “opens doors for more legislation addressing issues with race and discrimination." McKinney, along with I Be Black Girl CEO Ashlei Spivy, Professor Doris “Wendy” Greene of Drexel University, and Candy Jones, were recognized by Governor Pete Ricketts for their work and success passing LB451. The bill, which Ricketts has now signed into law, deems workplace discrimination on the basis of natural hair unlawful in the state of Nebraska. The celebration of the bill's passing also comes on the first day that Juneteenth is a federally recognized holiday. "It is fitting that we come together today to '#freethehair'," said Dr. Greene.

Ashlei Spivey, CEO of I Be Black Girl which advocated strongly for the bill, addressed the crowd with a message that the work is not done yet. “I hope you stick with us,” she said. “This is not going to be the only piece of legislation that we advocate for. [...] We want to see people building inclusive practices- not just around hair, but all identities and aspects of folk’s gender identity, their race and culture, (and) sexual orientation.”

When the anti-hair discrimination bill was first introduced by Machaela Cavanaugh and passed by the unicameral last year, Governor Ricketts vetoed the bill. Today (June 18) he told NOISE he vetoed the bill last year because he wanted exceptions added to the bill for “Nebraska State Patrol and The Nebraska National Guard''. Those changes, which the governor said are related to “health and safety” can be seen in the image to the right.

Legal scholars have developed a theory (in the 1980s) seeking to explain how systematized practices like workplace descimination against natural Black hair are part of a larger web of systemic racism in the US. Critical Race Theory asserts that certain systems fundamental to America have radicalized backbones allowing inequalities to persist for centuries. Scholars of CRT suggest that it can be a tool to examine our nation and society and to eventually change such systems. Dr. Greene who advocates for such bills such as LB451 nationwide calls the signing of this bill “Critical Race Theory in action”. But Governor Ricketts has been outspoken against this concept saying it has “Marxist roots” and that it will “pit the American people against one another”.

Read more: https://www.noiseomaha.com/news-now/2021/6/18/workplace-discrimination-against-natural-hair-is-now-illegal-in-nebraska