Rep. Omar, Rep. Watson Coleman, and Senator Booker Reintroduce CROWN Act to Fight Racial Discrimination
WASHINGTON– Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Summer Lee (PA-12) and Maxwell Frost (FL-10) announced the reintroduction of the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair or CROWN Act in the House of Representatives, a bill to outlaw discrimination on the basis of hair texture. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) also announced reintroduction of the CROWN Act in the Senate.
The CROWN Act, which has already been enacted in 23 states and dozens of cities nationwide, would help bring an end to race-based hair discrimination in schools and workplaces, removing a barrier to educational and economic opportunity facing many Black Americans and people of color. In the school setting, Black students are disciplined at a rate four times higher than any other racial or ethnic group, and research has found that 70 percent of all suspension disciplines are discretionary, many stemming from dress code violations, including “unapproved” hair styles. Meanwhile, in the workplace, bias against ethnic and natural hairstyles contributes to reduced opportunities for job advancement, particularly for women. Over 20% of young Black women have been sent home from work because of their hair. One-third of Black women under 34 believe they have been denied a job interview because of their hair.
The CROWN Act passed the House of Representatives in 2019 and 2022 but was blocked in the Senate.
“Hair discrimination is a reality that Black people face daily across America – in schools, workplaces, and public spaces,” said Rep. Ilhan Omar. “Natural hair textures and protective styles have unfairly subjected people to discrimination, missed opportunities, and humiliation. The CROWN Act draws a firm line, making it crystal clear that this form of race-based discrimination will not be tolerated. No one deserves to be judged or held back because of their hair texture or cultural hairstyle.”
“Our hair plays a significant role in our overall well-being, self-esteem, cultural identity, and personal expression,” said Rep. 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.”
“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.”
“I applaud Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman and Senator Cory Booker for their leadership in reintroducing the CROWN Act to bring forward necessary change,” said Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Steven Horsford. “For too long, race-based hair discrimination, which permeates every part of our society from the workplace to the classroom, has been historically used to shut off access to educational and employment opportunities for Black Americans. Students like Darryl George in Anahuac, Texas should not be barred from his classroom, and Black women all over our country should not be forced to change their hair to be accepted in the workplace. We must pass the CROWN Act on the national level to finally outlaw race-based hair discrimination.”
"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 constitute 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 who is the scholar and strategist leading the nationwide CROWN Act movement. “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 Congresswoman Watson Coleman and Senator Booker.”
"I am proud to stand with my colleagues Rep. Watson Coleman, Rep. Pressley, Rep. Omar, and Rep. Moore to reintroduce the CROWN Act,” said Rep. Barbara Lee. “Hair discrimination is rooted in systemic racism and is a real barrier to advancement and empowerment for people of color. For far too long, GOP dysfunction has blocked this legislation, but we will not relent until Black people can wear their natural hair however they see fit, without fear of discrimination. No one should feel forced to change who they are in order to secure a job or fair and decent housing."
“It is 2024 and discrimination against natural hair continues to disrupt our lives. No one should have the right to punish Black folks for showing up as our full, authentic selves – not in Massachusetts, Texas, or anywhere else,” said Rep. Ayanna Pressley. “We need a federal CROWN Act now more than ever. Whether you are a student in a classroom, an employee in the workplace, or the next Supreme Court Justice, you belong everywhere as you are. I am proud to join my sisters-in-service in reintroducing this crucial legislation to end race-based hair discrimination in America once and for all.”
“It’s 2024 and Black hair is still criminalized,” said Rep. Gwen Moore. “We need the CROWN Act to affirm that any person - no matter their hair texture or style - should be free to wear their hair as it grows out of their head without facing discrimination at work or school. I’m proud to wear my sister locs in Congress and I’m excited to partner on this bill with so many of my trailblazing colleagues.”
“In our country, Black women’s hair is 2.5x more likely to be perceived as unprofessional and over 20% of Black women have been sent home from work because of their hair. A student in my former PA House District was once told ‘change your hair or go home,’” said Rep. Summer Lee. “I was proud to introduce the CROWN Act during my time in Pennsylvania, and look forward to taking this fight in Congress–because it's long past time to make respect for our beautiful Black hair the law of the land in this country.”
“Racial discrimination can come in many different shapes and forms, with hair discrimination chief among them,” said Rep. Maxwell Frost. “No one should be discriminated against because of the color of their skin or the texture of their hair — but that's exactly what's happening in our country. In schools, in places of business, and beyond, folks with textured hair, mainly Black men and women, are finding themselves with the doors of opportunity closed to them simply because of their natural hair. Enough is enough. I'm proud to help introduce the CROWN Act alongside Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman to help us bring an end to this discrimination."
The CROWN Act would:
Prohibit discrimination based on an individual’s style or texture of hair by including an individual’s style of hair that is tightly coiled or tightly-curled, locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, Afros and any other style of hair commonly associated with a race or national origin in the definition of racial discrimination.
Provide research, statistics, and precedent to support a sense of Congress that there is a need to define and prohibit hair discrimination in the workplace, schools, and housing to enforce the protection of civil rights.
Provide clear definitions that describe the enforcement mechanisms of the bill
The CROWN Act is cosponsored by Reps. Barbara Lee, Ilhan Omar, Gwen Moore, Ayanna Pressley, Summer Lee, Maxwell Alejandro Frost, Robin Kelly, Yvette Clarke, Adam Schiff, Adam Smith, Adriano Espaillat, Al Green, Alma Adams, Andre Carson, Bennie G. Thompson, Bobby Scott, Colin Allred, Cori Bush, Dan Goldman, Danny K. Davis, David Scott, David Trone, Delia C. Ramirez, Donald G. Davis, Donald M. Payne, Jr., Dwight Evans, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Emanuel Cleaver, Emilia Sykes, Frederica Wilson, Gabe Amo, Glenn Ivey, Greg Landsman, Gregory Meeks, Haley Stevens, Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jahana Hayes, Jamaal Bowman, Jan Schakowsky, Jasmine Crockett, Jennifer McClellan, Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Jim Clyburn, Jim McGovern, Joe Neguse, Jonathan Jackson, Joyce Beatty, Juan Vargas, Kevin Mullin, Kweisi Mfume, Lauren Underwood, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Lloyd Doggett, Lucy McBath, Marc Veasey, Marilyn Strickland, Mark Pocan, Maxine Waters, Mike Quigley, Morgan McGarvey, Nikema Williams, Nydia M. Velázquez, Paul D. Tonko, Rashida Tlaib, Richie Torres, Ro Khanna, Robert Garcia, Sara Jacobs, Scott Peters, Sheila Cherfilus McCormick, Sheila Jackson Lee, Shontel Brown, Stacey Plasket, Sanford Bishop, Steve Cohen, Steve Horsford, Suzanne Bonamici, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Sylvia R. Garcia, Terri A. Sewell, Tony Cárdenas, Troy Carter, Valerie Foushee, and Veronica Escobar
The text of the CROWN Act can be read here.
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