Hair discrimination has long been a contentious issue, and now Puerto Rico is joining the fight to ban it once and for all. In a racially diverse society like Puerto Rico, the issue of discrimination against hairstyles such as cornrows and Afros has sparked a heated debate. While some argue that existing federal and local laws are sufficient, activists believe that explicit protection is necessary to address ongoing discrimination faced by the Afro-Caribbean community in public services, work, education, and housing.
Challenging Discrimination
At a recent public hearing held at San Juan’s Capitol building, individuals shared their personal experiences of discrimination. Julia Llanos Bultrón, a teacher who wears cornrows, expressed her disappointment with a system that forces people to change the hair they were born with. She recounted how a school in Fajardo offered her a job on the condition that she cut her hair, a condition she refused to accept. Similar incidents were shared by others, emphasizing the cultural importance and historical significance of these hairstyles.
Puerto Rico is home to more than 1.6 million people who identify as being of two or more races, with nearly 230,000 solely identifying as Black according to the U.S. Census. Lorraine León Ramírez, a mother whose sons have Afros, shared the distressing experience of her youngest son being banned from two different schools until he cut his hair. These incidents raise important questions about the fairness of regulations that undermine individual identity.
Seeking Explicit Protection
While government officials in Puerto Rico argue that existing laws and the constitution already protect against discrimination, activists and lawmakers are pushing for the explicit inclusion of specific protections for hairstyles. Puerto Rico Senator Ana Irma Rivera Lassén, co-author of the bill, questions why adding explicit protection is viewed as a problem. She believes there is a need to establish a protocol that can effectively address systemic racism.
The bill has garnered support from various quarters, including Puerto Rican university student Alanis Ruiz Guevara and renowned author Mayra Santos-Febres. They emphasize the importance of creating a legal framework to defend against discrimination and provide individuals with the necessary tools to combat systemic racism.
A Global Movement
The fight against hair discrimination is not limited to Puerto Rico. In the U.S. mainland, several states have implemented versions of the CROWN Act (Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair), which bans hairstyle discrimination in employment, housing, education, and public accommodation places. While a federal version of the act was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022, it failed in the Senate. Additionally, some Caribbean governments are also advocating for relaxing hair codes in schools, workplaces, and government offices.
The debate over the bill in Puerto Rico is expected to continue in the coming weeks, signaling a growing global movement against hair discrimination. It is a crucial step toward creating a more inclusive society, where individuals can express their identity free from discrimination based on their hair.
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