Thanks to new guidance issued by New York City, it is now illegal to discriminate someone based on their hair. The law was passed earlier this week and has since been received very well especially by the black community who have suffered in several spaces due to their naturally given hair.
Chirlane McCray, the First Lady of New York City is reported to have expressed immense joy at the very much needed developments stating that “bias against the curly textured hair of people of African descent is as old as this country and a form of race-based discrimination.”The new guidelines from the New York City Human Rights Law update the older one and make clear that the law now protects citizens’ rights to wear their hair in a manner associated with their racial, ethnic, or cultural identities.
Specifically identifying black people’s rights to wear “locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, fades, Afros, and/or the right to keep hair in an uncut or untrimmed state.”The new guidelines which make it very possible for legal action, allow the city commission levy penalties of up to $250,000 on defendants who are found in violation of the guidelines. Carmelyn Malalis, Chair and Commissioner of the New York City Commission stated that: “In New York City, we want to make the bold statement that these prohibitions on hairstyles that are closely associated with black people are a form of race discrimination. They really fail to consider the toll these bans take on black identity.” black identity.”
Wanda Sykes
✔@iamwandasykes
Ok, did you assholes get together and ask, “How can we make this THE worst Black History Month ever? I mean let’s really fuck it up.”
Carmelyn P. Malalis@CarmelynMalalis
… #YourHairYourRightNYC
The guidelines come at a time when many hair discriminatory stories have since the latter part of 2019 to date taken up much of African-American related new. The latest being the case of a New Jersey student wrestler who in December 2018 was forced to cut off his dreadlocks before being able to fight. Currently, the New York City Human Rights Commission is investigating seven cases in which people have complained of discrimination on the basis of their hair. The new guidelines which are long overdue is still a step into the right direction and several individuals in the USA are calling on their states to walk in the steps of New York City.
NYC Human Rights✔@NYCCHR
We are “calling out policies prohibiting hairstyles most closely associated with black people. They are based on racist stereotypes that say black hairstyles are improper.” Cmsr @CarmelynMalalis re: new Commission guidance #YourHairYourRightNYC @nytimes
New York City to Ban Discrimination Based on Hair
New guidelines out this week give legal recourse to individuals who have been harassed, punished or fired because of the style of their hair.
NYC Human Rights✔@NYCCHR
We are “calling out policies prohibiting hairstyles most closely associated with black people. They are based on racist stereotypes that say black hairstyles are improper.” Cmsr @CarmelynMalalis re: new Commission guidance #YourHairYourRightNYC @nytimes
New York City to Ban Discrimination Based on Hair
New guidelines out this week give legal recourse to individuals who have been harassed, punished or fired because of the style of their hair.
nytimes.com
gillian scott-ward@Back2NaturalDocOverjoyed with this and PROUD to have screened for @NYCCHR & 2 be footnote #27 in these protection guidelines. The first step is regulations, second steps is changing hearts and minds. We hope to screen the film again for the city to promote healing
Carmelyn P. Malalis@CarmelynMalalis
One of my favourite photos of @BarackObama #PresidentsDay
Hair is a part of you. Race discrimination based on hair is illegal in NYC. #YourHairYourRightNYC@NYCCHR released new legal enforcement guidance addressing discrimination based on hair.
Albert Fox Cahn, Esq.@CahnLawNY
Thank you @CarmelynMalalis and @NYCCHR for continuing to make #NYC’s #workplace protections some of the strongest in the country. No employee should have to choose between their identity and their job. #Employmentlaw #civilrights.
TheNobleJournalist✔@noblejonesontv
Black people in #NewYork now have the right to wear their natural hair at work! The guidelines protect people who are treated unfairly because of their hair. The city commission can levy penalties up to $250k w/ no cap on damages.
New York City to Ban Discrimination Based on Hair
New guidelines out this week give legal recourse to individuals who have been harassed, punished or fired because of the style of their hair.
Precise@Precise_Chi
Sigh...this is a victory I know...but it just feels like a reminder of what we have been dealing with for so long 250 25 people are talking about this
Precise@Precise_Chi
Replying to @noblejonesontv @JamilahLemieux
Sigh...this is a victory I know...but it just feels like a reminder of what we have been dealing with for so long
Robin Hood@__Chimaera
I can’t believe this had to be written into law 
HuffPost BlackVoices✔@blackvoices
The guidance says New Yorkers have the right to “maintain natural hair or hairstyles that are closely associated with their racial, ethnic or cultural identities.”
New York City Aims To Stop Hairstyle Discrimination
The guidelines enable people to seek fines if they've been harassed or punished in workplaces, schools or public spaces because of their hair.huffpost.com
Paula Bradford@pbrad22
Agree with this guidance except for food service. When hair is too long or dishevelled it can become unsanitary for food service. Long, funky, beards should not be allowed around food as well.
El@ElStrickland
Black people in New York now have the right to wear their natural hair at work!
Sky News@SkyNewsEmployers have been warned they could face legal action for banning styles associated with black people, such as afros, dreadlocks or cornrows, or for instructing black workers to straighten their hair.
New York City vows to end hairstyle discrimination after 'racist stereotypes'
Employers are warned they could face legal action for banning styles associated with black people such as afros and dreadlocks.
M 
@Libran_PhoenixThe fact this even needs a law to begin with is an issue in itself and don’t expect us to be grateful.
Sky News✔@SkyNewsEmployers have been warned they could face legal action for banning styles associated with black people, such as afros, dreadlocks or cornrows, or for instructing black workers to straighten their hair.
New York City vows to end hairstyle discrimination after 'racist stereotypes'
Employers are warned they could face legal action for banning styles associated with black people such as afros and dreadlocks.
Charles Kwaku-Odoi@charleskodThis is long overdue 
Good Morning Britain@GMB
New rules are being introduced in New York City which includes a ban on discrimination based on peoples' hair in a bid to tackle racist prejudice. Should this policy come to the UK? @TrishaGoddard says she believes in ‘education, rather than legislation’.
Positively PerfectUK@positivelypukAny discrimination based on someone’s appearance should be stopped. Whether hair is Afro, bleached or multicoloured doesn’t affectability