'We're not going to let anyone tell us how we can wear our hair.' Council votes 7-1 to ban discrimination based on natural hair

Cincinnati City Council voted 7-1 on Wednesday to make it illegal to discriminate against people with natural hair.

Women turned out during Wednesday's public comment session before the 2 p.m. city council meeting to tell stories of the discrimination they faced based on how they wear their hair.

The ordinance's sponsor, councilman Chris Seelbach, called it "one more step along an important path toward leveling the playing field in the community."

And he took exception to Republican Councilwoman Amy Murray's lone no vote. (Councilman Jeff Pastor was absent.)

Murray said she believed protections for natural hair already fall under federal race discrimination law, which makes it unlawful to treat unfavorably or harass a person because of that person's race or color. Passing a city law would be redundant, she argued. 

Seelbach first asked Cincinnati City Solicitor Paula Boggs Muething if that were true, to which Boggs Muething said that while somebody could make a claim based on hair texture and type, they would need proof. This law makes it easier to prove discrimination based on wearing natural hair.

And then Seelbach turned to Murray and said: "With all due respect, this is extreme privilege and a slap in the face to African American women, whose stories I have heard and are degrading and horrible." 

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Cincinnati is the second city in the country, after New York City, to pass such a law. (A story published earlier this week did not note New York City was the first city to pass an anti-discrimination law based on natural hair.) California and New York have this law and Kentucky is considering one.

Seelbach found support from all other members there.

Councilwoman Tamaya Dennard said she didn't understand why Murray wouldn't want to just make sure "People like me. People like Kamara (Douglas, who works in Seelbach's office) and Jasmine (Coaston, who works in P.G. Sittenfeld's office), have protections."

Vice Mayor Christopher Smitherman, whose wife, Pamela, died earlier this year, said they had long talks about how he would care for their young daughter's hair.

"Now, as a single father, there is no activity we do not plan around her hair care," Smitherman said. "What I want for her is that where she works, whatever she does, that she can wear her hair however she wants." 

Councilman Wendell Young said there are many things that need extra layers of legal protection, pointing to voting and civil rights.

"I wish I would live long enough that there was no need to pass a rule or law ," Young said. "But we're not there yet. This is a real issue for a lot of women.  I am glad we're doing it."

Under the proposal, it would be against the law to discriminate against natural hair and natural hairstyles associated with race. The law says the city would investigate complaints.

Then, if there is probable cause, a hearing would be held. If discrimination is found, a fine of $100 per day up to a total of $1,000 could be levied until the practice ends.

Former Cincinnati City Councilwoman Alicia Reece was elected n 1999, spoke during public comment. She said when she joined council she would wear her hair in braids, prompting what she described as "nasty" emails about her appearance. "Somebody said I was the most unattractive looking council member ever. It was shocking."

Reece praised  Seelbach for proposing the ordinance that would add natural hair to the city's anti-discrimination policy. 

"This is a bold step," Reece said. "It's also a change in time, where women of color are saying, 'Hey, we can wear our hair and honor culture and still be in the workplace.' It's always been a whisper, but now women are speaking up. We're not going to let anyone tell us how we can wear our hair."

Brittani Gray, a natural hairstylist and owner of Hairkitchen LLC in Norwood, said she was born and raised in the city of Cincinnati and praised the law.

"My clientele range from scientists and financial analysts to educators and entrepreneurs," Gray said. "One of the continuous conversations that surface in my space is 'natural hair being acceptable in the workplace' on a weekly basis, I am having to combat the condemning criticism my guests receive from the workplace on their natural curls and styles that preserves the integrity of their hair.'