Dove and the founding members of the CROWN Coalition have announced that the CROWN Act passed in the state of New Jersey (NJ) this week.
Introduced by Senator Sandra B Cunningham and Assembly woman Angela V McKnight, the bill addresses unfair grooming policies that have a disparate impact on Black women, men and children. NJ has become the third state in the US to pass this groundbreaking legislation, after California and New York, which passed The CROWN Act in July, earlier this year.
The passing of The CROWN Act in New Jersey will ensure that young students will not be forced to make a decision of having his hair locks cut to be able to attend a match, as has been the case for some students in the US.
“In 2019, it is unfortunate we have to pass legislation to further expand the definition of discrimination, to include something as natural and organic as how our hair grows from our heads,” said Senator B Cunningham of District 31, NJ. “This legislation is necessary; it will serve as a protection for those who feel helpless in any situation where they are forced to choose between being employed, and/or being allowed to participate in a sporting event, like our own New Jersey resident Andrew Johnson, or changing their identity to make others feel comfortable.”
HISTORIC STEP
New Jerseyan Senator Cory Booker and LA’s Congressman Cedric Richmond introduced The CROWN Act (Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural hair) of 2019 in both chambers of the US Congress on 5th December 2019, as reported.
“As the legislative year comes to a close, New Jersey has been hard at work reforming our criminal justice system so that it will treat incarcerated women with dignity, restore voting rights for formerly incarcerated individuals, and put a stop to hair discrimination. All New Jerseyans deserve to be treated with decency and respect, and each of these measures will end unequitable and disenfranchising realities that too many have been facing,” stated Senator Cory Booker. “Today’s passage of the CROWN Act marks a historic step in banning a culture of discrimination against black hair. Hair discrimination is a civil rights violation and we must stop reinforcing racism and biases against Black hair.”
Twelve additional states have pre-filed legislation for early 2020, according to the CROWN Coalition (comprising Dove, National Urban League, Color Of Change and Western Center on Law & Poverty).
ENDING DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES
“It is our mission at Dove to champion individual beauty and ensure all beauty is respected and welcome in our society. For too long, narrow beauty standards have perpetuated unfair scrutiny and injustice for hairstyles and textures inherent to Black identity. On the anniversary of the infamous and painful wrestling incident, I am proud that New Jersey has passed the CROWN Act to put an end to hair discrimination,” said Esi Eggleston Bracey, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of North America Beauty and Personal Care at Unilever, the New Jersey-based parent company of Dove.
Marc Morial, CEO of the National Urban League, added: “The National Urban League is behind this mission and are is committed to making an impact with the CROWN Coalition. Hair discrimination, whether in schools or in the workforce should simply not be allowed and we will continue to rally policy-makers and our communities to end discriminatory practices that disproportionately affect communities of color. Senator Cunningham and the state of New Jersey have our support to turn this legislation into law.”
Adding to his comments, Janaya ‘Future’ Khan, Program Director, Media, Culture and Economic Justice for Color Of Change, stated: “Color Of Change is excited to be a part of this movement to end hair discrimination in our nation. It’s incredible to believe that in 2019 we have to fight for legislation that addresses grooming policies that directly affect our people in the workplace and in schools. As members of the CROWN Coalition we will continue to work to put an end to issues that oppress Black people unfairly.”
For more information on anti-hair discrimination, click here.
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