WORLD AFRO Day Live is an annual day of change, education and celebration of Afro hair and this year organisers have issued a challenge to the schools which still discriminate against it.

September 15 sees the start of a 30-day call to action for schools and headteachers to comply with the Equality Act and eradicate any discrimination around Afro hair within their institutions.

The time for action is now!

Michelle De Leon

For decades, many children in schools throughout the UK have been discriminated against because of their Afro hairstyles.

Research, in the form of the The Hair Equality Report supported by De Montfort University, has shown that, one in six children with Afro hair have a bad experience in UK schools.

This can be swiftly and effectively changed by headteachers and leaders in a matter of days.

World Afro Day is calling for:

• Headteachers and leaders to comply with the Equality Act.
• Teachers to fulfil the PSED commitment to ​1. Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and other conduct that is prohibited by the Equality Act 2010.
• Equal respect for children’s appearance according to all protected characteristics.
• Read and act on the Hair Equality Report.
• Teaching unions/organisations to commit to eradicate discrimination against Afro hair.

The 30-day call to action will end on the October 15, during Black History Month.

There have been major changes in the America to protect Afro hair from discrimination but WAD founders believe there is a way to go in the UK.

The team see this as an important action point for leaders, which can help so many black people and promote equality for young people.

Founder, Michelle De Leon says: “2020 has been a global cry from black people for freedom and equality.

“Something as natural and normal as our Afro hairstyles have been a struggle for centuries. 95 per cent of people with Afro hair in the UK, want policies that punish our children to be removed from schools.

“The time for action is now!”