The CROWN Coalition has announced that it has achieved a major victory to ban hair discrimination in the US through the introduction of The CROWN Act of 2019. The announcement of this federal bill, led by Louisiana’s Congressman Cedric Richmond and New Jersey’s Senator Cory Booker, is a ‘monumental milestone’, according to the alliance of organisations working to advance anti-hair discrimination legislation in the US.
The CROWN Coalition was founded to Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, by Dove, National Urban League, Western Center on Law & Poverty and Color Of Change. It is supported by over 50 NGOs and non-profit organisations to raise awareness and drive action to end hair discrimination in workplaces and schools.
Commenting on the new bill, Congressman Cedric Richmond, stated: “Hair discrimination has been a problematic practice impacting Black people in multiple settings for far too long. Natural hair and protective styles should never serve as a barrier. We in Congress have acted, and together with a racial equity champion like Adjoa B Asamoah and the CROWN Coalition, we can ensure this form of discrimination no longer goes unchecked.”
EXPANDING ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PROTECTION
“A federal bill in both chambers of Congress is exactly what is needed to address the racial injustice of hair discrimination on a national level,” said Marc Morial, former Mayor of New Orleans and CEO of the National Urban League.
With the passing of The CROWN Act in California and New York and more than 10 other states taking action to introduce or pre-file similar legislation, there is a heightened awareness of the need to expand anti-discrimination protections to include hair texture and hairstyles inherent to race. “Federal legislation would eliminate the need for state-by-state legislation and would immediately break down systemic barriers that limit social and economic mobility of African-Americans based on Eurocentric standards of beauty,” added Morial.
Dove said it is ‘incredibly proud’ to be a force in the movement towards a more ‘equitable beauty experience for all people’. “We were inspired to co-found the CROWN Coalition to support Senator Holly Mitchell in California with the inaugural CROWN Act, and are excited to see other state and federal legislators recognising the time is now to take action to end this form of discrimination,” stated Esi Eggleston Bracey, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Beauty and Personal Care at Unilever North America. “We salute Congressman Richmond and Senator Booker, and the other members of the Congressional Black Caucus who are co-sponsoring The CROWN Act of 2019, for leading the charge to end hair discrimination nationwide.”
HOSTILE HAIR DISCRIMINATION
“The federal CROWN Act of 2019 is an important and overdue step toward achieving civil rights and economic equity in this country,” said Color Of Change Vice President, Arisha Hatch. “Ridding our schools, workplaces and communities of hostile hairstyle discrimination, will finally allow children of colour to view themselves as deserving of every opportunity they’ve seen handed to their white peers for generations. On behalf of our 1.7 million members, Color Of Change applauds Congressman Richmond and Senator Booker for their leadership in introducing this bill, and we thank our partners in the CROWN Coalition for their lasting commitment to ensuring that natural beauty is protected for all Americans, no matter the state they live in or the color of their skin.”
Photo credit: Devon Rockola from Pexels
The CROWN Act of 2019 is not the first time federal lawmakers have taken action against grooming policies that have a disparate impact on people of colour. In 2014, the Congressional Black Caucus, led by then Chairwoman Rep Marcia Fudge, appealed to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to reconsider US Military rules for hairstyles that lacked cultural sensitivity and gave little regard to what it takes for women of colour to maintain their natural hair. As a result, military grooming standards were reviewed and adjusted to ensure fair and respectful consideration of a diverse force.
IMPROVING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BLACK WORKERS
“As reports of racial discrimination at work and in schools are increasing, it is essential that lawmakers recognise where more protections against it can, and should be, strengthened,” added Jessica Bartholow of the Western Center on Law and Poverty. “We are eager to continue the work with other CROWN Act coalition members and allies until all workers and all pupils in our country are free from cultural and racial discrimination based on the texture or style of their hair. Passing this Act is an essential step to reducing school pushout of black children and improving job opportunities for black workers.”
Sign the petition here if you want to help end discrimination, and bring anti-hair discrimination legislation to your state.
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