New Legislation Seeks to Ban Natural Hair Discrimination Nationwide
In July, California became the first state to ban discrimination based on natural hair. New York followed suit, and New Jersey could be next. On Thursday, Cory Booker, New Jersey senator and contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, introduced federal legislation to take the anti-discrimination law nationwide.
The Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act, or CROWN Act, would "[make] clear that discrimination based on natural and protective hairstyles associated with people of African descent, including hair that is tightly coiled or tightly curled, locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, and Afros, is a prohibited form of racial or national origin discrimination."
“Discrimination against black hair is discrimination against black people,” Booker said in a statement. “Implicit and explicit biases against natural hair are deeply ingrained in workplace norms and society at large. This is a violation of our civil rights, and it happens every day for black people across the country."
Alongside Senator Booker's bill, the House of Representatives was also presented with companion legislation sponsored by U.S. Representative Cedric Richmond (D-LA.), co-sponsored by Reps. Marcia Fudge (D-OH), Barbara Lee (D-CA.), and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA.).
"We know that no law can put a complete end to discriminatory practices and ideology, but this legislation sends a powerful message, especially for our youth," said Senator Sandra B. Cunningham (D-NJ). "It ought be common knowledge and universally known that the manner in which someone’s hair grows naturally from their scalp should not be deemed as ‘unprofessional’. It’s a shame it has to be written into law, but no one’s ability to progress in society should be contingent on how they choose to wear their hair."
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Originally Appeared on Allure
