MADISON, Wis. — The Dane County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution Thursday night that bans discrimination based on hairstyle.
Rep. Shelia Stubbs, 23rd District, who is the first African American elected to the state Legislature from Dane County, said passing this resolution with unanimous support from all 37 members is a win. Stubbs said she has had her own experiences with being discriminated against based on her hairstyle before.
“I worked formerly for an insurance company. I remember being excited about the hairstyle I had with nice long braids. I noticed a lot of my colleagues who were predominately white and I remember being asked to pin my hair up or wear a ponytail. I didn’t know those were grounds for discrimination. I was young, out of college,” Stubbs said.
Vendors who violate the new rules would need to comply with the county immediately after being notified they were in violation. Employees who violate the rule would be subject to progressive discipline based on the severity of the situation.
“I’ll be the first one to say that I’m so glad that Dane County stood strong and had a very strong message that it will not be tolerated in our county,” Stubbs said. “I think people who have thought about having braids but didn’t know if it would be acceptable, it gives them the OK to be you.”
Stubbs said although this is one small step in the right direction towards racial equality, members of the Black community have reached out to her expressing their gratitude.
“I’ve gotten nothing but wonderful phone calls saying, ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you’,” Stubbs said. “They feel like someone has finally listened to them. People have been getting away with it because it wasn’t on the book. But guess what? If it happens, then we will call you out.”
Stubbs said she can’t wait to get her own hair braided and come to work.
“It gives you a chance to have your own identity,” she said. “That’s really what it’s all about, being the best you you can be.
COPYRIGHT 2021 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
