I first heard about The Crown Act back in 2019. And I quite literally went through an innate struggle of both happiness and sadness. I thought it was a tremendous accomplishment for a state to pass a law that prohibited hair discrimination!
However, at the same time, I found it completely astonishing that after all these years, we need a law to protect against hair discrimination. This law protects men, women, and children of color who aim to wear their hair in specific styles and textures that represent their cultural identity.
Since 2019, 7 states have passed The Crown Act.
While it felt like the United States had made huge strides, I acknowledged that there would be additional challenges ahead to get the remaining 49 states onboard The Crown Act, in addition to the passing of a federal law that would protect black men, women, and children against hair discrimination within institutions that are vital to their development within society. Though we still have ways to go, I cannot deny the progress that has been made.
Since 2019, 7 states have passed The Crown Act. Though we still have ways to go, I cannot deny the progress that has been made.
So, what is the Crown Act?
“CROWN” stands for Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. The Crown Act was first passed in California in 2019 and is a law that prohibits discrimination based on hairstyle and hair texture. Prior to this law passing, a group of organizations that include such as Dove, National Urban League, Color of Change, and Western Center on Law and Poverty came together to form the CROWN Coalition which focused on advancing this legislation (Americanbar.org, 2020).
You may be asking yourself, how exactly does this translate into the workplace? Let’s get this straight. To this day, it is legal, in some states for organizations and schools to discriminate against people of color due to their hair texture or hairstyle.
So, what does this mean for Corporate America?
If I lived in a state where the Crown Act has not passed, and wished to wear my hair in a specific way, that goes against an organization’s “dress code policy,” this means that said organization would be within its legal right to deny me a job, a promotion, professional benefits, etc. simply because of my hair.
For my non-black readers, I want this to truly hit home for you that the way in which a person of color’s hair grows out of their head could be a determining factor for why they are denied an educational or employment opportunity. Straight blasphemy in my opinion.
Let this reality sink in. Imagine if you were turned down for grad school or your dream job because your hair grew out of your head straight or wavy, and there wasn’t a thing that you could do to fight that discrimination. Or a law that could protect you because of one of your natural characteristics.
Take a moment to consider how that would make you feel.
That embarrassment, anger, or feeling of defeat is exactly why The Crown Act is vital to people of color in this country.
Even in 2021, it is extremely disheartening that a law like The Crown Act is necessary, but the hard truth is that such discrimination is the reality of many black and brown individuals.
This is why we need your support by signing petitions in favor of The Crown Act’s passage, especially if this act is not passed in the state that you live in.
Click -here- to sign the petition.
Link: https://campaigns.organizefor.org/petitions/help-make-hair-discrimination-illegal
DISCLAIMER: The piece written here is not associated with any company or organization, but is simply the expressed opinions of the blogger.