Black lawmakers reintroduce federal CROWN Act legislation to ban hair discrimination

A group of Black Democratic lawmakers, led by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey, reintroduced the CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation, which has been blocked in the Senate in the past, seeks to ban discrimination based on hairstyle or hair texture, particularly styles commonly associated with racial or national origins such as locs, cornrows, twists, and Afros. This effort aims to end race-based hair discrimination in schools and workplaces. Watson Coleman highlighted the importance of this legislation, emphasizing that no individual should face discrimination for natural hair characteristics, which are as uncontrollable as skin color. Adjoa B. Asamoah, a leading advocate for the CROWN Act, criticized race-neutral grooming policies for upholding Eurocentric beauty standards and perpetuating racial discrimination. The CROWN Act has been passed in 24 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with ongoing legislative efforts in 20 additional states and Washington, D.C.

Source: NPR