House Passes Crown Act

The House passed the CROWN Act, banning discrimination against black hairstyles nationwide
On Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives finally passed the CROWN Act to officially put an end to race-based hair discrimination nationwide. The CROWN Act is meant to “Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair” and was first adopted by California a few short years ago and now, after Friday’s 235-189 vote, the Act will now be enforced across the entire country.
The proposed legislation would prohibit employers from firing, refusing to hire or otherwise discriminating against workers based on “hair texture or hairstyle, if that hair texture or that hairstyle is commonly associated with a particular race or national origin.”
ABC News reported that as part of the new legislation, discrimination based on an individual’s hair texture or hairstyle will be prohibited by law, especially those hairstyles that are associated with race or national origin. This Act is especially a victory for us, as Black women, who have often been discriminated against in workplaces for wearing our natural curls, coils, braids, kinky, and afros.
Racial and national origin discrimination can occur because of long-standing biases and stereotypes associated with hair texture and style, according to the bill. “For example, routinely, people of African descent are deprived of educational and employment opportunities because they are adorned with natural or protective hairstyles in which hair is tightly coiled or tightly curled, or worn in locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots or Afros,” the bill states.
Lawmakers who oppose the bill argue that existing laws that ban race-based discrimination already apply. For example, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects workers from discrimination based on color, national origin, race, religion and sex.
Employers should note that some states already protect workers based on natural hair and hairstyle. California became the first state to pass a CROWN Act in 2019, and more states and cities followed suit.
“Employers should anticipate this state and local legislative trend to continue,” Jackson said. “Employers across the country should consider revisiting and potentially updating grooming standards, policies and training practices.”
Upon the passing of the new legislation, many supporters spoke out about the victory and applauded the House’s passage. Among those was Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Joyce Betty who said in a statement, “every day in this country, Black women and girls face discrimination because of their natural hair at their workplaces and schools. So today, I proudly voted yes on the #CROWNAct to finally end race-based hair discrimination once and for all.”
She continued, “It’s simple — discrimination against Black hair is discrimination based on race. I look forward to swift passage of this critical legislation in the Senate and to standing with President Biden as he signs it into law. To every young Black girl and boy, I say to you, your hair — from your kinks to your curls, from your fros to your fades, from your locs to your braids — is a crown. Be proud of your hair and know the Congressional Black Caucus is fighting for you.”
In addition to the federal legislation, state Crown Act laws have been passed in 14 states as part of a campaign by consumer goods company Dove, in a coalition with the National Urban League, Color Of Change and the Western Center on Law & Poverty.