Fayetteville, AR – The University of Arkansas (U of A) is gearing up to host a distinguished legal authority in a compelling discourse on grooming code discrimination. Set against the backdrop of the esteemed Hartman Hotz Lecture in Law and Liberal Arts, the event is scheduled for April 23, commencing at 4 p.m.
The Hartman Hotz Lecture series stands as a beacon of intellectual exchange, drawing scholars of eminence from various corners of the nation to enrich the academic landscape at U of A.
This semester, Professor D. Wendy Greene, the esteemed director of the Center for Law, Policy, and Social Action at Drexel University Kline School of Law, will take the podium to deliver a thought-provoking presentation titled “#FreeTheHair: Locking Black Hair to Civil Rights Movements.”
Expressing her gratitude for the invitation extended by Dean Cynthia Nance, Professor Greene conveyed her enthusiasm via social media, stating, “Immensely grateful for the invitation by Dean Cynthia Nance to share with the University of Arkansas community not only my scholarly activism to combat race-based hair discrimination but also how this contemporary civil rights issue is core to historical and transnational emancipatory movements.”
As the first tenured African American woman law professor at Drexel, Professor Greene is recognized for her dedicated focus on the intersection of identity constructs and anti-discrimination law. Her endeavors highlight the pivotal role of law in securing civil rights protections for marginalized communities.
Of significant note is Professor Greene’s instrumental involvement in the formulation and advocacy of anti-discrimination legislation such as the state and federal Creating a Respectful Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act, aimed at eradicating race-based hair discrimination.
In a testament to her scholarly influence, the definition of race proposed by Professor Greene in her seminal 2008 article, “Title VII: What’s Hair (And Other Race-Based Characteristics) Got to Do with it?” has been embraced within historic legislative initiatives.
Furthermore, Professor Greene’s pioneering role as the founder of the #FreeTheHair movement underscores her commitment to effecting tangible change in the realm of racial equality and legislative reform.
During her anticipated appearance at U of A, Professor Greene will delve into the multifaceted dimensions of contemporary social justice movements, with a particular focus on dismantling entrenched patterns of racial discrimination against African descendants’ natural and protective hairstyles, encompassing twists, braids, and locs.
Employing a comprehensive approach that traverses historical, legal, and transnational frameworks, Professor Greene aims to contextualize the pervasive racial injustices endured by African descendants and other people of color based on their appearances.
Ultimately, the lecture will serve as a platform for Professor Greene to impart strategic insights and methodologies aimed at catalyzing meaningful reform in the fight against race-based hair discrimination.
The event, slated to be held at the School of Law’s E.J. Ball Courtroom, is open to the public, with admission being free of charge.
