Okay… yesterday there was a story on the local news (Sacramento Channel 13) about creating a ban on hair discrimination in Sacramento! I was shocked in a good way because Dr. Welch sent me an audio interview from NPR Radio related to the same topic in New York (Feb 2018 or 2019) Listen Now: Why It Matters That New York City Will Ban Discrimination Based On Hair. Perfect Timing …both of these stories relate to my project! Food for thought.

Tonight – I have created content for the “About Janice!” section and copied the broiler plate text to post on the Home Page of my Project Website.

Janice Johnson – Sonoma State University
March 25, 2019

Rocking My Roots!

Revised Research Contract – Final as of 5:00pm

It is my objective to explore a level of institutional discrimination in America concerning a legal obstacle concerning how the State of California Barbering and Cosmetology Act violated the Due Process and Equal Protection rights of African American Natural Hair Stylists in California.

I will highlight the 1999 Sisterlock Court Victory that allows for Sisterlock Hairstylists and/or Braiders of African textured hair to no longer be required to spend (1,600 hours) and at least $5,000, at a government-approved cosmetology school in order to legally practice historical and contemporary African Textured Natural Hair styling techniques and designs. I plan use the California court case championed by Dr. Joanne Cornwell, founder of Sisterlocks(™) who challenged the State of California Barbering and Cosmetology Act, in reference to how it’s regulations violate Due Process and Equal Protection rights. Dr. Cornwell fought legally for the right to allow Hair Braiders and Sisterlock Consultants not to be required to obtain a cosmetology license to perform African Textured Natural Hair care services in California. Additionally, I will present information and images on the history of African American “Natural African Textured Hair” style images and styling practices that date back to Africa, and its progression throughout slavery until now.

My project mission is to bring awareness to the fact that institutional discrimination concerning the cultural practice of braiding and/or providing African Textured Natural Hair services (particularly Sisterlocks & Braids) existed in California until 1999. I will reference articles about wearing Braided Natural African Textured Hair and Sisterlock hairstyles positively influence the lives of African American Women, i.e., financial, political, social, and personal. I will also present written commentary, video clips, interviews, and picture images related to how wearing Natural Hair Styles including Sisterlocks can positively impact the self-image African American Women in the workplace, i.e., corporate/military. As well as, provide information on the number of States that have also won African Textured Hair Braids/Sisterlock Court Victories in the United States.

My intended audience is anyone interested in gaining insight into the California Sisterlocks court case, styling options and consultant locations. In addition, African American Women who want to own and manage a hair business, or wear their hair in a style that improves the condition of African Textured Natural Hair instead of damaging it with chemical relaxer products, covering it with wigs, and artificial hair extensions. As well as those people who want to learn more of the history of African and African American old/new hair braiding techniques.

Overall, the goal of project is to identify that discrimination existed in California concerning African American Natural hair practices. As well as, acknowledge that it was indeed an conflict in America when it came to Hair Braiders and Sisterlock™ practitioners being required to obtain a cosmetology license to provide cultural hair services, create hairstyles and provide hair business services that have been offered and operated within homes of African American people for years (sometimes at no cost). These services have beneficial to African American hair textures. It is important to me that others understand that African Style Braiding and/or Sisterlocking of African textured hair is culturally viable to the African American community and should not be regulated by any agency.

I plan to organize and present the information in a digital format including various mediums, i.e., posting court documents, videos, audio image to establish frames of reference. I will research issues (challenges/discrimination) that African American slaves experienced with their hair. I will also compare African American slave natural hairstyles with the hair styling techniques prevalent in today’s society. I will explore the irony of African American Natural Hair struggles that exist in America today in compare them to similar struggles experienced by African American women since slavery.

I will use MyGoogle maps to reflect the number of Sisterlock practitioners in California, and if I get time create another layer to show the number of states that have Sisterlock Consultants and Trainees. I may also create a timeline to show the history of African American hairstyling techniques since slavery, but will definitely present images.

The Word Press theme I have selected is Hyperbole, but I might change it before April 4. The layout will consist of a menu of options to view on the left margin that will allow the visitors to review other related news articles and media, i.e., YouTube videos.

I plan to post images/ photographs of Sisterlocks and braided styles. In addition, I want to check library archives Sacramento to check of related newspaper articles and or video clips that have circulated prior to 1999.

Bibliography – I plan to include a reference section on the website w/brief annotations

Milestones:

Feb 19 – Select Theme for Website/Create Block Headers -Done

Feb 28 – Confirm images and videos to be included on project site

Feb 26 – Complete all research for website, images, and articles

March 18 – Post some images to site /rearrange text blocks on site

March 21 – Work on website text/content

March 25 – 28 – Work on website text/content

March 29 – Complete all website text and narratives

March 30 – 31 I want to check library archives Sacramento/San Diego to check of related newspaper articles and or video clips that have circulated prior to 1999.

March 23 – April 1- Review website text/content

April 3 – Ensure at least 70% of content is posted to my project site

April 4 – Complete Draft of entire site due

April 5 – revise content after feedback

April 6 – 20 – update project site as needed

April 25 – Present Final Version of site to class

Distribution of Labor: I am working alone

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/962/1260/2311323/

This weekend I thought a lot about my project. Plan is to update the (About Janice Page) this afternoon, as well as a revised contract that I worked on this weekend.