100 Voices. 100 Words.
Credit: @Official Mel B
My hair has always been a personal statement - all my life. I grew up a mixed race girl in working class Leeds in the 1970s. Kids at school had no idea what to call me. I was different. And I had my big wild curly hair that stood out. It wasnt neat and tidy. There was too much of it to fit into elastic hair bands and I wore it out. I got called names. I got singled out. But it was my hair and I wasn't going to change it - for anyone.
The very first video shoot I did as a Spice Girl for Wannabe, the stylists took one look at my hair and told me it had to be straightened. My big hair didnt fit the pop star mould. But I stood my ground - backed by my girls - and I sang and danced as me with my big hair, my brown skin and I was totally proud of who I was.
I had no idea the impact that video had on thousands of little brown and black girls all over the country. Women still come up to me to this day and tell me they stopped straightening their hair. They let their curls shine out in playgrounds everywhere as they finally got to have a place in a ‘girl band’ in the playground. That makes me so proud. I love my curls.
I have three children with big curly hair and all of them take pride in their their hair, their identity and their culture. I also know that sometimes they have faced issues with their hair - as I did. We are who we are and no one should try to discriminate or change us. So yes. Im proud to support World Afro Day in its call for the Equality Act to protect against Afro hair discrimination in the UK.
Fix The Law, Not Our Hair.
Mel B explaining her hair journey as she supports World Afro Day. Calling for law to protect Afro hair from discrimination and to update outdated workplace requirements currently present in the Equality Act, 2010.
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