Democratic Representative Justin J. Pearson of Tennessee’s 86th District is new to the inner workings of Nashville, but he is already making headlines.
On Thursday, February 9, the freshman lawmaker was sworn into office at the State Capitol while wearing a dashiki.
“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,” Pearson told WPLN in Nashville.
Several members of the state’s Republican Party have raised issues with Pearson’s choice of attire. In particular, Rep. David Hawk of Greenville referred back to a moment in time when he wasn’t allowed on the house floor because he didn’t have a tie.
“I showed up one Monday night on two wheels trying to get in here, and I did not have a tie on. And she reminded me that ‘Rep. Hawk, if you don’t have a tie on, you don’t get to walk in that door,’” Hawk told WPLN.
Objections from Pearson’s colleagues were not enough to keep him from swearing in and enjoying his first day in office. Per the 113th General Assembly Permanent Rules of Order, standards of attire are determined by the House Speaker. However, there is no authoritative power given to the House Speaker that allows them to keep lawmakers from the floor due to attire.
“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 explained.
Still, the state’s Republican Party remains committed to keeping Pearson from wearing a dashiki on the house floor.
“Referencing the bipartisan and unanimously approved rules for House decorum and dress attire is far from a racist attack,” the Tennessee House Republicans tweeted.
“If you don’t like rules, perhaps you should explore a different career opportunity that’s main purpose is not creating them.”
We literally just got on the State House floor and already a white supremacist has attacked my wearing of my Dashiki. Resistance and subversion to the status quo ought to make some people uncomfortable. Thank you to every Black Ancestor who made this opportunity possible! pic.twitter.com/HGNtMmH5OY
— Justin J. Pearson (@Justinjpearson) February 9, 2023
