She helped change the school system — and made history doing it!

When one Illinois mother stood up for her young son, she ended up helping to change the law for children across the entire state.

Ida Nelson, a Chicago mom and advocate for racial equity in education, played a central role in passing a groundbreaking law that bans hair discrimination in Illinois schools. The measure, officially known as the Jett Hawkins Law, was signed by Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker in 2021 and took effect on January 1, 2022 (NBC News).

The law prohibits public and private schools from implementing dress codes or policies that restrict hairstyles historically associated with Black identity — including braids, locs, twists, and Afros. It was named after Nelson’s 4-year-old son, Gus “Jett” Hawkins, who in 2021 was told that his braids violated the dress code at his Chicago charter school (The Washington Post).

From a single incident to a statewide movement

What began as a painful moment for one family soon became a catalyst for change. Nelson recalls the day she received the call from her son’s school asking her to come pick him up because of his hairstyle. “It was humiliating and disheartening,” she told NBC Chicago. “My son was being told that something inherent to who he is — his hair — was unacceptable.”

Determined to make sure no other child would experience the same, Nelson began organizing, writing letters, and speaking out on social media about the emotional and cultural harm caused by restrictive hair policies. Her advocacy quickly caught the attention of lawmakers, educators, and civil rights groups, leading to the introduction of what would become the Jett Hawkins Law.

“This isn’t just about hair,” Nelson emphasized. “Our hair is deeply connected to our identity, our heritage, and our pride. When schools tell Black children their hair is inappropriate, they’re telling them that they are inappropriate.” (The Chicago Tribune)

Legislative action and leadership

The bill was sponsored by State Senator Mike Simmons, Illinois’ first openly gay Black state senator, who wears his own natural hair in locks. Simmons said he personally understood the humiliation Black children face when punished for wearing natural hairstyles.

“Black youth in school settings shouldn’t have to be restricted by outdated and often racist dress codes,” Simmons told NBC News. “Those rules serve only to humiliate students of color who want to wear their hair in a way that honors their ancestry and culture.”

Governor Pritzker echoed those sentiments during the bill signing ceremony, calling the legislation “a win for equity and inclusion” and commending Nelson’s advocacy for sparking meaningful change. “No child should ever be made to feel unwelcome or unworthy because of the way their hair naturally grows,” Pritzker said (Associated Press).

A national conversation on hair discrimination

The Jett Hawkins Law joined a growing list of policies addressing race-based hair discrimination in the United States. It aligns with the CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair), a broader national movement that aims to protect individuals from hair-based discrimination in workplaces and schools. Versions of the CROWN Act have now been passed in over 20 states (CNN).

Experts say these policies have far-reaching social and psychological implications. According to researchers from The Perception Institute, Black students — particularly girls — who face discrimination over their natural hair are more likely to report feelings of shame, alienation, and decreased academic engagement. “When children feel accepted as they are, they perform better socially, emotionally, and academically,” developmental psychologist Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett told The Washington Post.

A lasting legacy for future generations

For Nelson, the passage of the Jett Hawkins Law is about more than legal reform — it’s about healing, visibility, and dignity. “This is one huge step toward improving the mental health outcomes for our children,” she said. “It ensures they’ll be in learning environments that celebrate who they are, not environments that demand they hide it.” (NBC News)

Her son Jett, now a symbol of the movement, continues to wear his braids proudly — a reflection of the cultural heritage that once led to his exclusion, now honored under Illinois law.

“I want my son, and all children, to know they are enough just as they are,” Nelson said. “Their hair, their skin, their culture — all of it is beautiful.”

Thanks to one determined mother’s courage, Illinois schools have turned a new page — where self-expression and identity are not only protected but celebrated.