The CROWN Act Bill 2023:
Combating Hair Discrimination and Advancing Racial Equality
Hair discrimination targets individuals of Black and other marginalized communities based on their natural or cultural hairstyles, resulting in adverse effects on their education, employment, housing, and overall opportunities. To address this pressing issue, the CROWN Act Bill 2023 was introduced in Congress as a federal law with the aim of protecting people from hair discrimination. In this blog post, we will delve deeper into the significance of the CROWN Act Bill, its key provisions, and the progress made thus far in the fight against hair discrimination.
Understanding Hair Discrimination:
Hair discrimination, a form of racial bias, disproportionately affects Black people and individuals of color who choose to wear their hair in its natural or culturally significant state. It creates barriers to their success and well-being by limiting their access to various opportunities. Hair discrimination can manifest in educational institutions, workplaces, housing, and other crucial areas of life. The CROWN Act Bill seeks to address this form of discrimination head-on.
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What is the Crown Act Bill 2023?
The CROWN Act, an acronym for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, is a bill that proposes an amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This amendment would include hair texture and protective hairstyles as protected characteristics under federal law. Consequently, employers, schools, landlords, and other entities would be prohibited from discriminating against individuals based on their hair.
Why was the Act created?
The CROWN Act is a law that aims to end hair discrimination against Black people in workplaces and schools. CROWN stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. The law was first passed in California in 2019 and has been introduced in Congress in 2022. The law recognizes that hair is a part of one’s identity and culture, and that bias based on hair texture and style is a form of racial discrimination.
What does CROWN stand for?
In the context of the CROWN Act, “CROWN” is an acronym that stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.” The name reflects the purpose of the legislation, which aims to eliminate hair discrimination and foster an inclusive environment for individuals with natural hair.
When was it passed?
The acronym stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural hair. The bill was first introduced in California in January 2019 by Senator Holly J. Mitchell and has since been passed by several other states, such as New Jersey, Washington, and Texas. The bill also passed the US House of Representatives in March 2022 and is awaiting approval by the US Senate.
The CROWN Act seeks to protect people who wear locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, Afros, and other natural or protective styles from being discriminated against in employment, education, housing, and public accommodations. Advocates of the bill say that natural hair is often deemed unprofessional or inappropriate because it does not conform to White beauty standards and that such discrimination harms the self-esteem and identity of Black people.
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Champions of the CROWN Act:
The bill was sponsored by Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), both esteemed members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Inspired by the grassroots movement initiated by the CROWN Coalition, which advocates for the rights and dignity of Black individuals and their natural hair, Rep. Pressley and Sen. Booker recognized the urgent need for federal legislation to combat hair discrimination. The CROWN Coalition consists of prominent organizations such as the National Urban League, the Western Center on Law and Poverty, Color Of Change, and Dove.
State and Local Initiatives:
While the CROWN Act Bill 2023 represents a significant milestone, it is not the first of its kind. Starting in 2019, several states and cities, including California, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Colorado, Washington, Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware, Nebraska, and Cincinnati, have passed their own versions of the CROWN Act. These localized efforts have helped create awareness and provide limited protection against hair discrimination. However, the federal bill aims to establish a comprehensive and consistent standard of protection across the entire nation.
Is the Crown Act passed in all 50 states?
The CROWN Act is a bill that aims to ban discrimination based on hair texture and protective styles, such as braids, locs, and Afros. The bill has passed the US House of Representatives, but it still needs to be approved by the US Senate and the President. As of April 2022, only 13 states have enacted the CROWN Act into law . Therefore, the answer to the question “Is the CROWN Act passed in all 50 states?” is no.
How many States have passed the Crown Act 2023?
As of June 2023, 20 states have passed the CROWN Act, a law that prohibits discrimination based on hair texture and hairstyles. The latest state to join the movement was Texas, which enacted the law on May 29, 2023 and will take effect on September 1, 2023 . The CROWN Act stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair and aims to protect people from race-based hair discrimination in workplaces, schools and housing policies.
Which States have not passed the Act?
The CROWN Act is a law that prohibits discrimination based on hair texture and hairstyles, especially those associated with race. It stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. According to the web sources , 20 states have enacted the CROWN Act as of March 2023. These states are: California, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Washington, Colorado, Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Massachusetts, Arizona, Michigan and Nevada. The other 30 states have not passed the CROWN Act yet.
Is the Crown Act Federal Law?
The CROWN Act is a bill that aims to end hair discrimination based on texture and style. It stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. The bill was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on March 18, 2022 , but it still needs to be approved by the Senate and the President to become a federal law. Currently, 18 states have enacted their own versions of the CROWN Act. The bill would protect people who wear natural or protective hairstyles, such as locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots and Afros, from being discriminated against in employment, education, housing and other public settings .
Progress and Next Steps:
Presently, the CROWN Act Bill 2023 is awaiting action in the House Judiciary Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. The passage of this bill would represent a historic stride toward eradicating hair discrimination and promoting racial equity in the United States. The efforts to address this issue at the federal level demonstrate a growing recognition of the importance of protecting cultural identities and dismantling systemic biases.
When will the Senate vote on the Crown Act?
It has been passed by the House of Representatives and is awaiting a vote in the Senate. The Senate has not yet scheduled a date for the vote, but supporters of the bill are urging them to act soon.
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Wrapping It Up:
The CROWN Act Bill 2023 represents a crucial step in the fight against hair discrimination. By amending the Civil Rights Act of 1964, this bill seeks to protect individuals from discrimination based on their hair texture and protective hairstyles. With Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sen. Cory Booker as its champions, along with the support of the CROWN Coalition and various state and local initiatives, the bill holds promise for promoting equality and ending hair discrimination nationwide. As the CROWN Act Bill progresses through Congress, it serves as a beacon of hope for a more inclusive and equitable society.
Suggested Further Reading:
- CROWN Coalition: https://www.crowncoalition.org/
- Congressional Black Caucus: https://cbc.house.gov/
- Civil Rights Act of 1964: https://www.justice.gov/crt/statutes-and-laws
- National Urban League: https://nul.org/
- Western Center on Law and Poverty: https://wclp.org/
- Color Of Change: https://colorofchange.org/
- Dove: https://www.dove.com/
- House Judiciary Committee: https://judiciary.house.gov/
- Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee: https://www.help.senate.gov/
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who proposed the CROWN Act?
The CROWN Act was proposed by Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), both members of the Congressional Black Caucus. They recognized the need to address hair discrimination and championed the bill to protect individuals from such discrimination.
What is the full name of the CROWN Act?
The full name of the CROWN Act is “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.” The name reflects the purpose of the act, which seeks to eliminate hair discrimination and promote inclusivity for individuals with natural hair.
Who has signed the CROWN Act?
The CROWN Act has been signed by governors and legislators in various states and cities across the United States. As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, states such as California, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Colorado, Washington, Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware, Nebraska, and Cincinnati have signed their own versions of the CROWN Act into law. It is important to note that the federal CROWN Act Bill 2023 was still awaiting action in Congress at that time.
Is the Crown a government?
No, the term “Crown” does not refer to a government. In the context of the CROWN Act, “CROWN” stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair” and represents the efforts to combat hair discrimination through legislation.
Why was the CROWN Act passed?
The CROWN Act was passed to address and eliminate hair discrimination, particularly targeting Black people and individuals of color. It recognizes that natural and culturally significant hairstyles are integral to personal and cultural identity. By prohibiting discrimination based on hair texture and protective hairstyles, the CROWN Act aims to ensure equal opportunities and fair treatment for all individuals regardless of their hair choices.
What is the Crown Act 2023?
The CROWN Act 2023 is a law that prohibits discrimination based on hair texture and hairstyles that are commonly associated with race or ethnicity. The acronym stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. The law applies to workplaces, schools and housing policies in Texas and 20 other states . The CROWN Act 2023 will take effect on September 1, 2023 in Texas
What is the CROWN Act summary?
The CROWN Act is a legislation designed to combat hair discrimination. It seeks to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to explicitly include hair texture and protective hairstyles as protected characteristics. The act prohibits employers, schools, landlords, and other entities from discriminating against individuals based on their hair. The CROWN Act aims to promote inclusivity, dignity, and equal rights for individuals with natural hair.
What are Bantu knots?
Bantu knots are a traditional African hairstyle that involves sectioning, twisting, and wrapping the hair into small, coiled buns. They can be traced back to the Zulu people of southern Africa, who spoke the Bantu language. Bantu knots are also sometimes called Zulu knots.
What is another name for Bantu knots?
Bantu knots are also known as Nubian knots, Zulu knots, or Bantu buns. Some people may also refer to them as mini buns or twist buns.
Why are they called Bantu knots?
Bantu knots are named after the Bantu people, a collective term for hundreds of ethnic groups in southern Africa who spoke the Bantu language. The word Bantu means “people” in many Bantu languages.
What is crown hair?
Crown hair is a term used to describe the hair at the top of the head, where it forms a circular shape. Crown hair can also refer to the hair that grows around a bald spot or a cowlick.
What is the crown coalition?
The crown coalition is a group of organizations that advocate for the rights of Black people to wear their natural hair without discrimination or harassment. The coalition was formed in 2019 and helped pass the CROWN Act, a law that bans hair discrimination in several states and cities in the US.
When was the CROWN Act signed into law?
The CROWN Act was first signed into law in California on July 3, 2019 by Governor Gavin Newsom. It was the first state to pass such a law that forbids discrimination based on hair texture and hair styles. Since then, several other states and cities have followed suit, such as New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Colorado, Washington, Maryland and Cincinnati,
Who is the source of the crown?
The CROWN Act was initiated by the CROWN Coalition, a national alliance founded by Dove, National Urban League, Western Center on Law & Poverty and Color Of Change. The coalition aims to advance anti-discrimination legislation across the United States and to create a more respectful and open world for natural hair.
How many cities have passed the CROWN Act?
As of April 2021, at least 13 states and 24 cities have passed the CROWN Act or similar legislation that bans race-based hair discrimination. Some of these cities include New Orleans, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
What are the CROWN Act policies?
The CROWN Act policies are laws that protect against bias based on hair texture and protective styles, including locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots and Afros. The policies apply to employment and for those participating in federally assisted programs, housing programs and public accommodations. The policies seek to ensure that natural Black hair is not deemed “unprofessional” or “inappropriate” simply because it does not conform to White beauty standards.