The Crown Act: Law And Legacy

The CROWN Act, which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, is a law that prohibits race-based hair discrimination. It was created in 2019 by Dove and the CROWN Coalition, in partnership with then State Senator Holly J. Mitchell of California, to ensure protection against discrimination based on race-based hairstyles. The Act demands protection against hair discrimination in the workplace and in K-12 public and charter schools based on hair texture and protective styles. As of 2024, the CROWN Act has been enacted in 24 states, with the movement to pass the Act gaining momentum across the country and at the federal level.

The CROWN Act was created in 2019 to ensure protection against race-based hair discrimination

The CROWN Act, which stands for "Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair", was created in 2019 to combat race-based hair discrimination. The Act was introduced in California in January 2019 and was signed into law on July 3, 2019, by Governor Gavin Newsom. It was the first legislation passed at the state level in the United States to prohibit race-based hair discrimination.

The CROWN Act was created by Dove in partnership with the CROWN Coalition and then-California State Senator Holly J. Mitchell. The Act expands the definition of race in the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the state Education Code to include protection against discrimination based on hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locs, twists, and knots. This protection applies to both workplaces and K-12 public and charter schools.

Race-based hair discrimination has been a systemic problem in schools and workplaces, with Black individuals, especially Black women, facing discrimination and unfair scrutiny due to their natural hairstyles. Schools and workplaces often have dress codes and grooming policies that prohibit natural hairstyles, which has led to Black children being removed from classrooms and adults losing their jobs.

The CROWN Act aims to address this issue by ensuring protection against discrimination based on hair texture and protective hairstyles. Since its creation in California in 2019, the CROWN Act has gained momentum, and as of 2024, it has been enacted in 24 states. However, there is still work to be done to ensure that the Act becomes law in all 50 states and at the federal level.

The movement behind the CROWN Act is driven by a team of Black women leaders and a coalition of organizations dedicated to advancing anti-discrimination legislation. It is a critical tool in fighting discrimination and ensuring dignity, respect, and protection for Black and Brown individuals in employment and education.

The Act was created in partnership with Dove and the CROWN Coalition

The CROWN Act, which stands for "Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair", was created in 2019 by Dove and the CROWN Coalition. The Act is a law that prohibits race-based hair discrimination, which is the denial of employment and educational opportunities because of hair texture or protective hairstyles including braids, locs, twists, afro, or bantu knots.

The Act was first introduced in California in January 2019 and was signed into law on July 3, 2019, by Governor Newsom. This inaugural CROWN Act expanded the definition of race in the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and state Education Code to ensure protection in workplaces and K-12 public and charter schools. Since then, the Act has gained support from federal and state legislators in the movement to end hair discrimination nationwide.

Dove and the CROWN Coalition have been instrumental in advocating for the Act and raising awareness about the issue of race-based hair discrimination. In 2019, Dove commissioned a study that found that Black women are 1.5 times more likely to be sent home from their workplace because of their hair. The study also revealed that Black women were 80% more likely to change their hair from its natural state to fit into office settings.

The CROWN Coalition is a national alliance founded by Dove, the National Urban League, the Western Center on Law & Poverty, and Color Of Change. The coalition consists of over 80 community and advocacy organizations working together to drive real, actionable change to end hair discrimination. The coalition has been successful in elevating the public narrative around this issue and inspiring a movement to end hair bias and discrimination.

The CROWN Act is a critical piece of legislation that addresses the disparate impact of hair discrimination on Black people in workplaces and schools. As of 2024, the Act has been enacted in 24 states, with the goal of eventually becoming law in all 50 states.

The Act was first introduced in California and signed into law on July 3, 2019

The Crown Act, officially known as the "Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act", was first introduced in California in January 2019. It was signed into law on July 3, 2019, by California Governor Gavin Newsom. The Act expanded the definition of race in the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the state Education Code to ensure protection against discrimination based on race-based hairstyles. This includes hair texture and protective styles such as braids, locs, twists, and knots in workplaces and K-12 public and charter schools.

The Crown Act was created in 2019 by Dove and the Crown Coalition, in partnership with then-State Senator Holly J. Mitchell of California. The Act aims to address the issue of hair discrimination, which disproportionately impacts Black women in the workplace and educational institutions. Black women are 1.5 times more likely to be sent home from work due to their hair and are 80% more likely to change their hair from its natural state to fit into office settings.

By expanding the definition of race in the FEHA and the state Education Code, the Crown Act ensures that people of color are legally protected from discrimination based on their natural hairstyles. This is particularly important as natural hair is an expression of identity and culture for many people of color, and it carries deep emotional and historical significance.

Since the Act was first passed in California in 2019, it has gained momentum across the United States. As of 2024, the Crown Act has been enacted in 24 states, with ongoing efforts to make it law in all 50 states. The Act has galvanized support from federal and state legislators, with many lawmakers introducing similar legislation in their respective states.

The Crown Act is a significant step towards ending hair discrimination and creating a more inclusive and respectful environment for people of color in the United States.

The CROWN Act has been enacted in 24 states as of 2024

The CROWN Act, which stands for "Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair", is a law that prohibits race-based hair discrimination. This includes the denial of employment and educational opportunities because of hair texture or protective hairstyles such as braids, locs, twists, knots, and bantu knots. The Act was first introduced in California in 2019 by Dove and the CROWN Coalition, in partnership with then State Senator Holly J. Mitchell of California. It was signed into law on July 3, 2019, becoming the first state to do so. Since then, the CROWN Act has been enacted in 24 states as of 2024, with Texas being the most recent state to pass the Act in May 2023.

The CROWN Act addresses unfair grooming policies that have a disproportionate impact on African Americans, especially women and children. According to a 2019 study by the JOY Collective, African-American women are 80% more likely to change their natural hair to meet social norms and fit in at work. They are also 1.5 times more likely to be sent home or know of another African-American woman who has been sent home from work because of her hair. The Act aims to protect individuals from facing such discrimination and consequences in schools and workplaces.

The CROWN Coalition, founded by Dove, the National Urban League, Color Of Change, and the Western Center on Law & Poverty, is leading the campaign for the CROWN Act. The coalition comprises over 80 community and advocacy organizations working to drive change and end hair discrimination. The movement has gained support from federal and state legislators, with the Act reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate in 2024.

The CROWN Act Day, observed on July 3 each year, commemorates the inaugural signing of the first CROWN Act legislation in California. This day aims to raise awareness about race-based hair discrimination and celebrate the beauty of natural hair and the empowering CROWN movement.

The Act demands protection against hair discrimination in the workplace and in K-12 public and charter schools

The CROWN Act, which stands for "Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair", was created in 2019 by Dove and the CROWN Coalition. It aims to ensure protection against discrimination based on race-based hairstyles by extending statutory protection to hair texture and protective styles such as braids, locs, twists, knots, and afros in the workplace and public schools. While the Civil Rights Act of 1964 added protections against race-based discrimination, it did not include protections against discrimination based on phenotypical markers that manifest race, such as hair texture. This omission has provided a loophole for employers and schools to engage in race-based discrimination.

The CROWN Act strengthens protections against hair-based discrimination for employees and students by expanding the definition of race in employment, housing, and education laws to include definitions of race as signified through hair. It protects workers and students from hair-based racial discrimination, addressing systemic racism in the workforce and helping to avoid more severe consequences for the livelihoods of Black and brown people, such as losing a job or being prevented from pursuing an educational journey to a desired career.

As of 2024, the CROWN Act has been enacted in 24 states, with advocates pushing for its passage in all 50 states. The movement to pass the Act is gaining momentum across the country and at the federal level, with major cities passing the law at the local level and leading the way for state passage. The CROWN Act is a critical tool to fight discrimination, ensuring dignity, respect, and protection for Black and brown workers and addressing systemic racism in employment.

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