“Fix Society Not Hair” says the World Afro Day Alliance, supported by De Montfort University, global hair organisations and US Child Influencer, Celai West.
Today schools across the world will be asked to sign up to the Big Hair Assembly by International Child Influencer Celai West (USA). The call is to tackle the ongoing spate of punishments and exclusions, against children with Afro hair. The World Afro Day® Alliance including De Montfort University, global hair organisations and International Child Influencers Farouk James (UK) and Angel Noor (Netherlands) are all backing the campaign to “Fix Society Not Hair.”
The Big Hair Assembly is the focal event of World Afro Day Schools, 13th September 2019. The assembly will be hosted by Don’t Touch My Hair, Author Emma Dabiri and will be live streamed to schools internationally. The children will be joining together in a celebration of hair, identity and equality. The event aims to change negative attitudes towards Afro hair into a positive force for inclusion. International Child Influencers Celai West (USA), Farouk James (UK) and Angel.afrodance (Netherlands) will be inspiring children to be confident changemakers. Watch the sign-up film here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sILL8cvlb1Aylo-Rbp2KVmR09C-4p44q/view
11 years old, US Influencer, Celai West:
“I am looking forward to working alongside WAD 2019 because I want to change the current negative views of Afro-textured hair. I want ALL girls with ALL textures of hair to feel beautiful and to be treated fairly.”
The Big Hair Assembly will raise awareness about hair bias through discussion, drama, dance and interactive activities. Students will learn critical thinking, empathy and empowerment. The Big Hair Assembly will be a pioneering event, equipping teachers as well as giving children a voice to speak about the world they want to live in. A free resource pack and WAD Lesson plan are available to all schools. The initiative is also timely because a 2019 global study, showed that nearly half of people believe that the world is less tolerant toward other cultures than five years ago.
Founder World Afro Day, Michelle De Leon: “Fix Society Not Hair’ is the next step forward in the evolution of the Natural Hair Movement. More countries need to follow the lead of NYC and protect the rights of children to have the freedom to play, freedom to learn and freedom to work with Afro hairstyles. The recent Hair Equality Report has shown that too many children are having their education damaged by discrimination. One in six children with Afro hair has a bad experience in UK schools.”
Natural Hair Babes, Founder Louisa Michael:
“Hair is an integral part of one’s race and cultural identity. Therefore, we black people should be allowed to wear our God-given hair freely, without humiliation or harassment from any quarters. Based on this, we (700k) members of the Natural Hair Babes Group, stand in full support with World Afro Day to speak out against any form of discrimination against any black person in any part of the world because they wear their hair in its natural form.”
Professor Sarah Younie, De Montfort University
“As a professor of Education Innovation, it is crucial that we innovate to create change, which we can do through using digital technologies to connect schools around the world for the Big Hair Assembly. We can use this day to ‘be the change’ we want to see and to call for an end to discrimination.’’
NOTES TO EDITORS
WADA – The World Afro Day Alliance brings together individuals and organisations, working towards hair equality. The focus for 2019 is the Big Hair Assembly: Fix Society Not Hair event, which will launch World Afro Day Schools on September 13th.
WADA
World Afro Day CIC
De Montfort University
Project Embrace
Curly Treats Festival
Natural Hair Babes (20 countries) (700k+ members largest Facebook Natural Hair Group)
African Hair Summit (Nigeria)
Afro Hair Growth Challenge
Lucia Loves UK – Diversity Award nominee
Dr Gillian Scott Ward (USA) “Back to Natural” award-winning film
Emma Dabiri – author “Don’t Touch My Hair”
Farouk James
Celai West
Angel Noor
Watch multiple children sign- up film here https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/recent
World Afro Day will be raising funds for The Big Hair Assembly: Fix Society Not Hair Campaign via Crowdfunder
The Hair Equality Report is free to download from the World Afro Day website https://www.worldafroday.com/hair-equality-report
Momondo 2019 Global study www.momondo.com
Press contact: World Afro Day Team +44 (0)7925 392 078 info@worldafroday.com