Black residents in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County gain protection from hair style discrimination; Juneteenth officially a holiday

Pittsburgh and Allegheny County officials this week approved measures protecting Black residents from being discriminated against because of their hairstyles.

County Council also joined Pittsburgh in recognizing the African American observance Juneteenth as a paid holiday for county employees and approved a motion urging Congress to designate Juneteenth National Freedom Day as a national holiday.

Earlier this year, Pittsburgh City Council members asked Mayor Bill Peduto to make Juneteenth a holiday in the city and Peduto announced the move in August.

“Throughout history, many have tried to silence Black voices. We have arrived in a critical time where they are finally getting the attention that they deserve — and they are being heard,” the mayor said then. “Many of us, particularly privileged white men, have not always listened as much as we should have. The time is now to make that change permanent, and formally set aside this holiday to celebrate Black voices.”

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald also supports both Juneteenth and the hairstyle legislation and is expected to sign both bills, spokeswoman Amie Downs said.

Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19, commemorating the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with the news that the Civil War had ended and slaves were free.

That news arrived in Texas more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, signed by President Abraham Lincoln, became law.

Juneteenth has been celebrated informally across the country. Pittsburgh and Allegheny County join other cities including New York, Portland, Ore., and Honolulu that formally recognize it as a holiday or day of remembrance.

The hair legislation, approved Tuesday by both city and county council, is a local version of what’s called the CROWN Act — Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.

It adds “hairstyles and protective cultural textures and hairstyles” language to the city and county codes governing discrimination.

“This legislation affirms our commitment to improving outcomes for Black residents and make certain that they do not face natural hair discrimination in the workplace, when searching for a home, or when entering a business,” Peduto said Oct. 5, when he submitted the legislation to city council.

County council also approved similar legislation Tuesday at the behest of Councilman Nicholas Futules, who said during Tuesday’s meeting that it was recommended for council’s approval and it was approved unanimously without discussion.

The decisions were touted by City Councilwoman Erika Strassburger and County Councilwoman Bethany Hallam on Twitter.

Pittsburgh City Council did the same today too!! https://t.co/P8iTI7vbIh

— Erika Strassburger (@erikastrassbrgr) October 20, 2020

Allegheny County Council just unanimously voted to ban hairstyle discrimination!!!!!!!!!

— Bethany Hallam (@bethanyhallam) October 20, 2020

“I’m glad to see there was unanimous support on both city and county council,” Strassburger said. “For too long we as governments have taken a white, Eurocentric approach to deciding what the norm is (for hairstyles). This is one way of starting to reverse that standard. If you’re Black, whatever hairstyle you choose to have is professional and I’m glad to see us codify that.”