Honoring and celebrating the groundbreaking cultural, historical, and social impact of the Grandassa Models in redefining standards of beauty, confronting colorism, and advancing Black cultural pride during the height of the civil rights era and beyond.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · April 6, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
H.Res. 1154 is a House resolution honoring the Grandassa Models, a group of African-American women who emerged from Harlem in 1962 and became pioneering figures in the Black is Beautiful movement by challenging Eurocentric beauty standards and celebrating natural Black hair, African-inspired fashion, and cultural authenticity during the civil rights era. The resolution recognizes the models—including Clara Lewis, Rose Nelms, and others—as activists and community leaders who transformed fashion into a tool of liberation and inspired generations to embrace cultural pride and self-acceptance. It also acknowledges the broader organizations and figures that supported this movement, including the African Jazz-Art Society & Studios, jazz legend Max Roach, and Abbey Lincoln, whose work helped popularize images of natural Black beauty through various media. The resolution emphasizes that this legacy continues today through contemporary celebrations of Black beauty, cultural institutions, and the ongoing work of the Grandassa Association in serving the New York City community. This is a ceremonial resolution with no funding or policy requirements—its purpose is to formally recognize and celebrate the historical and cultural significance of these women and their enduring impact on American society.
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