In recent years, the issue of hair discrimination has been a hot topic within the African American community. As a result, the Crown Act, a bill created to outlaw discrimination based on hairstyle or texture, has been gaining traction in various states. This act is a crucial step towards promoting Black hair acceptance and celebrating natural beauty.
The Crown Act is a movement aimed at ending discrimination based on hair texture and hairstyles associated with race. It was created in 2019 by the CROWN Coalition, which consists of the National Urban League, Western Center on Law & Poverty, Color Of Change, and Dove.
Understanding Black Hair Discrimination
Let’s quickly dig into some history. Discrimination against people with Black hair is a widespread problem in American history. Slave owners set rules for how their slaves’ hair should be dressed throughout the plantation era, and this tradition has persisted until the present. Hair discrimination can take many forms today, such as forbidding natural hairstyles in the workplace and in public places like schools. The goal of systemic racism is to protect white spaces and uphold white standards of beauty.
Discrimination based on hair has a detrimental effect on Black people’s mental health and self-esteem. Their performance in school and at work may suffer as a result of these negative feelings, which can also cause humiliation and inferiority complexes. A sort of social injustice that has affected Africans and African Americans all across the world is discrimination against Black hairstyles. Therefore, addressing this problem and establishing welcoming spaces that appreciate and promote various hair textures and styles is essential.
A Glance at Some Black Hair Discrimination Cases
Chastity C. Jones attended an interview in May 2010 for a position as a customer service representative with Catastrophe Management Solutions (CMS), a business in Alabama. During the interview, CMS hired Ms. Jones, who had short dreadlocks, on the spot. However, CMS withdrew its employment offer after Ms. Jones denied the CMS Human Resource Manager’s request to trim her dreadlocks. On behalf of Ms. Jones, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued CMS in 2013.
In 2018, a New Jersey varsity wrestler was ordered to cut his dreadlocks or forfeit a match because the referee told him his hair and headgear did not comply with league regulations.
A high school near Houston, Texas, Barbers Hill Independent School District, modified its dress and grooming code halfway through the 2019–20 academic year to include a hair length restriction specifically targeting De’Andre Arnold and K.B. based on race and gender. It was made clear to De’Andre and K.B. that they would not be permitted to take part in routine lessons or extracurricular activities. De’Andre and K.B., who had been growing out their locs for years, took great pride in their hair and saw it as a representation of who they were as Black people.
Following Sandy Arnold’s remarks regarding the discriminatory effects of the policy at a BHISD Board of Trustees meeting, the policy was aggressively enforced against the two pupils. The two pupils were suspended indefinitely and effectively expelled from the school they had attended their entire lives because they refused to trim their locs in accordance with the school’s discriminatory policy. The decision was made to forbid De’Andre from attending his own high school graduation.
The Crown Act: What It Is and Why It’s Important.
The Crown Act, which stands for “Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair,” is a law that prohibits discrimination based on hair texture and hairstyles. The legislation was first introduced in California in 2019 and has since been passed in 20 states across the United States. The bill aims to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their hair texture or style, are able to express themselves freely without fear of discrimination. The Crown Act also demands protection against race-based hair discrimination in the workplace and in K-12 public and charter schools.
The implementation of The Crown Act has already seen success in various states. In March 2022, the House passed a bill that would ban race-based hair discrimination at work, federal programs, and public accommodations. Additionally, National CROWN Day is a day of solidarity for the human rights of the Black community to wear their natural hair without the fear of discrimination. The Crown Act has provided a platform for individuals to speak out against hair discrimination and has brought greater attention to the issue. By passing The Crown Act, we can take a step towards creating a more inclusive and accepting society for all individuals, regardless of their hair texture or style.
The Fight Against Black Hair Discrimination
The fight against Black hair discrimination has gained significant traction in recent years, with advocacy and awareness efforts at the forefront of this movement. Advocacy and awareness efforts are essential in the fight against black hair discrimination.
Legal action has also been taken against hair discrimination, with the CROWN Coalition and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF) leading the charge. Together, they are fighting to end hair discrimination and advocating for the CROWN Act to become law in all 50 states. While the CROWN Act passed in the House in March 2022, a bill has been introduced in Congress that would prohibit workplace discrimination based on hair texture or style. These legal actions are crucial in ensuring that individuals are protected from hair discrimination in all areas of life.
It is essential to continue taking action and supporting the CROWN Act to ensure that the fight against Black hair discrimination persists. Education and awareness efforts are necessary to combat the systemic racism that underlies hair discrimination. The CROWN Act is an important step forward in the fight against hair discrimination, but there is still work to be done. Continued advocacy and support for the act can help ensure that individuals are protected from hair discrimination and can celebrate their own beauty. Ultimately, the fight against Black hair discrimination is a fight for equality and justice, and it requires the collective efforts of individuals, organizations, and lawmakers;in all areas of life.
My Experience with Hair Discrimination and Conclusion
Even though I had “good hair,” as it is referred to in our culture, all hair is beautiful and “good.” I used to be very concerned about how I wore my hair to job interviews or work. I would never ever wear my hair curly to a job interview because of preconceptions regarding curly hair. Biases have included that it’s too “messy” or that they may view you as rambunctious, wild, vocal, or impulsive with any ethnic background and hair textures, but increased for people of color; while women with straight hair are seen as more conservative, professional, neat, and tidy since it conforms to the Western beauty standard. As a result, I would straighten my hair before going to work and for job interviews. If this had always been the case, how do you think the workplace would have responded when individuals of color ditched perms in favor of natural hair and started sporting their coils, curls, dreadlocks, faux locs, or braids while at work? Well, the cases mentioned above show how employers did respond, which is why the Crown Act had to be introduced in the first place. I am grateful that my coworkers, along with those I report to and my clients, have all been accepting of me wearing braids and faux locs to work over the past two years. However, I live in Los Angeles, which is significantly more liberal and in the first state to implement the Crown Act.
As a mother of a young girl with curly hair, I have instilled in her a sense of self-worth by pointing out the lovely curls we see on children, adults, and celebrities that resemble us because, as we all know, representation counts. Even Mattel has upped their game by providing Black Barbies of all shades and hairstyles, including straight hair, afros, braids, colored hair, baldness, and more! Although there is still more work to be done on this and other related issues, I am glad to see that my Black Queens and Kings accept their natural hair and explore diverse hairstyles that make them feel confident and non-conforming.
With laws like the Crown Act being implemented in 20 states and 30 cities, we are indeed on the right path.
The goal of the Crown Act is simple: To ensure that everyone can wear their hair however they choose without fear of judgment or discrimination. By passing this law, we can create a society where everyone feels free to express themselves without fear or prejudice.
