The CROWN Act and Why You Should Care (Even if You’re Not Black)

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Black Hair Management

5 min readFeb 13, 2021

Repost from @thecrownact Art by @sheisthisdesigns

C.R.O.W.N. stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair

Perhaps you’ve heard of it already, sadly it’s been far from “breaking news” in the media. Sure, we’ve just had a heated election season, and a pandemic is still a daunting reality. But according to most news platforms when is the world ever not ending?

From FOX News to the alleged Liberal Left CNN, ‘sensation sells’ has been the formula that is used to increase ratings and build ((fear)) hype.

If this is even slightly true, it would explain why issues that affect Black women directly are not given priority or due diligence. This goes from medical discrimination like the disproportionate death rate in childbirth to the blanketed notion that fibroids are just more common in African-American women.

I digress…

Today we’re talking about Hair. But it’s always so much more, isn’t it? It is both our history and our natural state of being yet in “professional” environments it is something to be tamed, controlled, and even grounds for firing.

Let’s run the numbers, shall we?

As if this isn’t staggering enough it is also directly affecting the youth as it trickles down into the education system. Yes, even the Christian ones.

In 2018, Andrew Johnson, a black New Jersey teen, was forced to cut his dreads to continue his wrestling match.
In 2017, twin sisters Mya and Deana Cook served detention because their braids “violated” school policy.
Christ The King Middle School expels young black girl because her braids were “unacceptable.”

These instances are subconsciously teaching the next generation that even after the Civil Rights Movement, while the color of your skin may not prevent you from getting in the door, what naturally grows out of your head and how you choose to style it, is still a big reason as to why you aren’t allowed to stay.

**But why does the CROWN Act matter for ALL?**

As the USA continually comes to terms with the embedded racism and discrimination against black people, change must happen from the root.

This takes more than a black square on your Instagram Page, it takes more than supporting the latest TikTok dance star.

It takes even more than conveniently timed opportunity (tokenism,) and blanket diversity training.

It calls for Legislative change at the most basic level, from police reform to the indirect policing of Black Hair.

The Crown Coalition, an alliance of organizations, including founding members Dove, National Urban League, Color Of Change, and Western Center on Law and Poverty stand firmly in the fact that when Black women get passed over for jobs or promotions because their hair doesn’t fit a company image it is blatant discrimination.

On a grand scale, this equates to voices lost and the economic status once again thwarted for the black community as a whole.

How is the CROWN Act gaining traction?

What started as a group of women meeting at the 2018 Essence Festival has now turned into a nationwide (and international!) movement for the rights of those oppressed within predominantly white institutions because of their locks.

The CROWN Act prevents workplace retaliation for people who wear Afros, braids, cornrows, dreadlocks, and headwraps.

To date, 7 states have passed legislation preventing school and workplace discrimination.

✅ The Crown Act has successfully passed in California.

✅ The Crown Act has successfully passed in Colorado.

✅ The Crown Act has successfully passed in Washington.

✅ The Crown Act has successfully passed in New Jersey.

✅ The Crown Act has successfully passed in Virginia.

✅ The Crown Act has successfully passed in New York.

✅ The Crown Act has successfully passed in Maryland.

✅ The Crown Act has successfully passed in Connecticut.

✅ The Crown Act has successfully passed in Delaware.

States that have filed or pre-filed the CROWN Act but did not pass are:

Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, & Wisconsin.

How can we help get these States to turn?

Adjoa B. Asamoah, the legislative strategist for CROWN ACT, laments:

“Hair is not protected under some civil rights laws because it’s believed you can change your hair…
But why should you?…”

This statement exemplifies what it all boils down to…choice. Why is it that only some have unlimited freedom when it comes to standards of beauty or acceptance but marginalized groups are asked to conform? By literally changing the natural state of their hair in order for others to feel comfortable or safe.

Up until 2017, even women in the military were restricted from wearing natural hairstyles including “twists, dreadlocks Afros, and braids” because they were labeled “unkempt”. Those who did not follow these guidelines were forced to cut their hair or wear wigs.