Justin Pearson and Justin Jones illustrated the subtle power of political garb that pushes against norms.
Civil protest and resistance can occur in multiple forms. Deployed in a certain context, by a certain person, an afro can be as much of a political act or statement as leading a picket line . This week, two young, Black lawmakers illustrated the subtle power of self-fashioning that pushes against norms.
The protests were a meaningful, attention-grabbing show of civil disobedience. But, in many ways, Jones and Pearson were already bucking against the so-called status quo of the Republican-controlled chambers—in part through their sartorial choices, which have included afros, pristine white suits, and dashikis.
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