US: New York City to recognise hairstyle-based racial discrimination

The change in the law will apply to anyone in the city but is intended to remedy the poor treatment of black people.

The guidelines mention people’s right to maintain hairstyles such as locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, Afros and others.

They also provide legal recourse to people who have been harassed, punished or threatened over their hair.

Fines of up $250,000 can be issued by the city commission against people who violate the new rules and there is no cap on damages.

Complaints from workers at two businesses in the Bronx and elsewhere prompted the changes.

Carmelyn P. Malalis, commissioner and chairwoman of the New York City Commission on Human Rights, said: “There’s nothing keeping us from calling out these policies prohibiting natural hair or hairstyles most closely associated with black people.

“They are based on racist standards of appearance,” she added, saying they perpetuate “racist stereotypes that say black hairstyles are unprofessional or improper”.