May 6, 2024 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last Friday, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced legislation aimed at combating discrimination against natural and protective hairstyles traditionally worn by people of African descent. The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act bansdiscrimination based on hairstyles commonly associated with a particular race or national origin, including tightly coiled or curled hair, locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, and Afros. U.S. Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12) introduced companion legislation on the House side.

Although existing federal law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or national origin, several federal courts have narrowly construed those protections to permit schools, workplaces, and federally funded institutions to discriminate against people of African descent who wear certain types of natural or protective hairstyles.

The CROWN Act provides explicit protection against discrimination based on natural and protective hairstyles associated with African heritage.

“Nobody should face harassment or discrimination based on their natural hair, and the CROWN Act is an effort to heal a systemic bias that tells Black people that who they inherently are is wrong,” said Senator Booker. “Prejudice against Black hair demeans an important foundation of our identity and cultural heritage. It’s time that the long and storied history of implicit and explicit biases against natural hair comes to an end. Black hair is beautiful in all of its forms and styles, and we must ensure individuals are free to express their cultural identities without fear of prejudice or bias.” 

“It is appalling that Americans – particularly those within the Black community – continue to face discrimination based on how they choose to style their natural hair,”said Senator Collins. “This is an issue of basic fairness and equality, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill and stand against discrimination in all of its forms.”

“Our hair plays a significant role in our overall well-being, self-esteem, cultural identity, and personal expression,” said Representative Watson Coleman. “Discrimination against Black hair is discrimination against Black people. And we’re going to put a stop to it. I’m grateful to the broad coalition that has developed to pass this legislation and look forward to working with them to ensure everyone can live as their authentic selves.”

“There is a longstanding history of racial discrimination against natural hair and protective styles in the workplace, schools, and society at large. Purportedly race-neutral grooming policies that reinforce Eurocentric standards of beauty and myopic notions of what constitutes professional hair are problematic. To that end, since 2018, I have worked tirelessly to pass the CROWN Act and shift culture to mitigate the physical, psychological, and economic harm caused by race-based hair discrimination,” said Dr. Adjoa B. Asamoah, co-creator of the CROWN Coalition and a leading advocate for the CROWN Act. “We must work collectively to protect our children, like Darryl George, and ensure they have positive educational experiences. I am grateful for the partnership and leadership of Senator Booker and Congresswoman Watson Coleman.”

Pervasive discrimination against natural hair remains a significant barrier to professional advancement of people of color, especially Black women. A recent study found that over 20 percent of Black women age 25-34 have been sent home form the work because of their hair, and Black women are 54 percent more likely to report having to feel that they need to wear their hair straightened to a job interview.  The same study found that Black women’s hair is 2.5 times more likely to be perceived as unprofessional.

Already, 24 states including Nebraska, Maine, and New Jersey have already enacted legislation expressly prohibiting hair discrimination, and 45 total states have either passed, pre-filed, filed, or formally stated intent to introduce legislation proposing similar classification in their state.

To read the full text of the bill, click here. 
Source: Senator Cory Booker