HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2021.05.26 - 34539MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #21192
BY: Commissioners Janet Jackson, District#17; Angela Powell, District #10; Yolanda Charles; District#17;
Charlie Cavell #18; Gwen Markham, District #9
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - PROHIBITING HAIRSTYLE BASED RACIAL
DISCRIMINATION IN OAKLAND COUNTY
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the Oakland County Board of Commissioners is committed to ensuring equal opportunity and
equal access to county services to all residents of Oakland County, Michigan and other members of the
public; and
WHEREAS the Oakland County Board of Commissioners adapted Miscellaneous Resolution #19250 on
November 20, 2019 thereby adopting the Oakland County Non-discrimination Policy; and
WHEREAS the Policy "assures that no individuals or entity shall be subjected to discrimination or
harassment on the grounds or race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,
national origin, age, genetic information, height, weight, disability, veteran status, familial status, marital
status, or any other legally protected status under federal and state laws be denied the benefits of, or be
otherwise subjected to discrimination, harassment or retaliation for employment, or under any program,
activity or service"; and
WHEREAS people of color have historically been subjected to and continue to be subjected to
discrimination based on hair texture and protective hairstyles; and
WHEREAS a recent study found that Black women face the highest instances of hair discrimination, are
more likely to be sent home from the workplace because of their hair, and that 80 percent of Black women
felt they needed to switch their hairstyle to align with more conservative standards in order to fit in at work;
and
WHEREAS the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act (CROWN Act) specifies hair
texture and protective hairstyles, such as braids, locs, twists and bantu knots, as traits historically
associated with race to protect Michiganders from discrimination in the workplace, all levels of public
education, public accommodations and services, and real estate transactions; and
WHEREAS the CROWN Act has now been adopted in at least nine states and legislation is under
consideration in more than twenty other states, as well as in the United States Congress; and
WHEREAS in Michigan, State Representative Sarah Anthony introduced House Bill 4275 in February 2021
to amend Michigan's Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act to include the definition of "race" as "inclusive of traits
historically associated with race, including ... hair texture and protective hairstyles ... "; and
WHEREAS as of now, Ingham County, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti
Regional Chamber, Genesee County, City of Flint, Mayor of Lathrup Village Kelly Garrett, AT&T Michigan,
SEW Michigan, Michigan Library Association (MLA), and Michigan Association for Media in Education
(MAME) support House Bill 4275.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby declares
that the term "race" as used in the Oakland County Non-discrimination Policy shall be defined as being
inclusive of traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective
hairstyles. For purposes of this definition, "protective hairstyles" includes, but is not limited to, such
hairstyles as braids, locs, twists and bantu knots.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby calls upon the
members of Michigan Legislation to support House Bill 4275 which would prevent discrimination by
expanding state law to recognize a person's hair as a characteristic of race.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners recognizes that
discrimination based on hair texture and protective hairstyles is a form of racial discrimination and social
injustice and inconsistent with the Oakland County Board of Commissioners' dedication to equal opportunity
and equal access to county services to all residents of Oakland County, Michigan and other members of
the public.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to forward
copies of the adopted resolution to the Governor of the State of Michigan, the State Senate Majority and
Minority leaders, the State House Speaker and Minority leader, the members of the Oakland County
delegation to the Michigan Legislature.
Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
Co mi�net Ja6kson
District #17
,S, Cl ___L
Cpfimi sinner Yolanda S. Charles
District 17
Commissioner Gwen arkham
District #9
CommisUnerls-Powell
District
Commi ioner Charlie Cavell
District #18
Commissioner
District #
Resolution #21192
May 13, 2021
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Legislative Affairs and Government Operations Committee.
There were no objections.
Resolution #21192 May 26, 2021
Moved by Jackson seconded by Nelson the resolution be adopted.
Moved by Jackson seconded by Joliat the resolution be amended as follows:
Amend the NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED clause as follow:
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby
declares that the term "race" as used in -the Oakland County Non-discrimination Policy shall be
defined as being inclusive of hairstyle traits historically associated with race, including, but not
limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles. For purposes of this definition, "protective
hairstyles" include, but are not limited to, such hairstyles as braids, locs, and twists
Vote on amendment:
AYES: Jackson, Joliat, Kochenderfer, Kowall, Kuhn, Long, Luebs, Markham, McGillivray, Miller,
Moss, Nelson, Powell, Spisz, Weipert, Woodward, Cavell, Charles, Gershenson, Hoffman. (20)
NAYS: None. (0)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the amendment carried.
Vote on resolution, as amended:
AYES: Joliat, Kochenderfer, Kowall, Kuhn, Long, Luebs, Markham, McGillivray, Miller, Moss,
Nelson, Powell, Spisz, Weipert, Woodward, Cavell, Charles, Gershenson, Hoffman,
Jackson. (20)
NAYS: None. (0)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the resolution, as amended, was adopted.
4 a -
1 HEREBY APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION
CHIEF DEPUTY COUNTY EXECUTIVE
ACTING PURSUANT TO MCL 45.559A (7)
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Lisa Brown, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and
accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on May 26, 2021,
with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at Pontiac,
Michigan this 26th day of May, 2021.
;_O
Lisa Brown, Oakland Coun�