Posted on Feb 11, 2023
A new Tennessee lawmaker walks into the capitol wearing a dashiki. House GOP suggests he explore...
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Tennessee’s newest lawmaker was sworn in Thursday. Democratic Rep. Justin J. Pearson is filling a vacancy left in House District 86 in Memphis. But people were more focused on what Pearson was wearing.
Pearson, a Black man, wore his hair in a combed-out afro as he walked onto the House floor wearing a black dashiki. The loose-fitting pullover is associated with West African culture and a symbol of Black pride.
“This dress is resistance. This afro is resistance. What we are doing here is subversive to the status quo, and I think that’s going to continue to make people uncomfortable,” said Pearson.
And Pearson’s attire did make Rep. David Hawk, R-Greenville, uncomfortable. Hawk, in remarks on the floor, made a dig at Pearson, as he recounted a time he wasn’t allowed on the floor by former Tennessee House Speaker Lois DeBerry.
Pearson, a Black man, wore his hair in a combed-out afro as he walked onto the House floor wearing a black dashiki. The loose-fitting pullover is associated with West African culture and a symbol of Black pride.
“This dress is resistance. This afro is resistance. What we are doing here is subversive to the status quo, and I think that’s going to continue to make people uncomfortable,” said Pearson.
And Pearson’s attire did make Rep. David Hawk, R-Greenville, uncomfortable. Hawk, in remarks on the floor, made a dig at Pearson, as he recounted a time he wasn’t allowed on the floor by former Tennessee House Speaker Lois DeBerry.
A new Tennessee lawmaker walks into the capitol wearing a dashiki. House GOP suggests he explore...
Posted from wpln.org
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."“What’s happening here is you have discriminatory practices and policies to help homogenize this community to look like a cis white older man — which is westernized European culture, which is in and of itself its own expression,” Pearson said. “And we have to realize there are other expressions too, and to say there’s only one that need to be seen here is really saying there’s only one type of person that needs to be here.”
..."“What’s happening here is you have discriminatory practices and policies to help homogenize this community to look like a cis white older man — which is westernized European culture, which is in and of itself its own expression,” Pearson said. “And we have to realize there are other expressions too, and to say there’s only one that need to be seen here is really saying there’s only one type of person that needs to be here.”
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