CROWN Act: Ban Natural Hair Style Discrimination

STRIPED is proud to support the CROWN initiative by creating opportunities for public health graduate students to gain vital research-to-policy-translation experience in collaboration with this important social justice campaign in Massachusetts.

Discrimination on the basis of natural hair is widespread in the United States, particularly for Black women but also for Black people of all genders. This pernicious type of racist appearance discrimination affects children and adults and occurs in everyday life, including in schools and in workplaces. Addressing hair discrimination through legislation is a social justice imperative, and STRIPED is committed to supporting this advocacy campaign. In 2019, the CROWN Act was created and introduced into state legislatures by the CROWN Coalition in partnership with Dove. Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN)aims to end “discrimination based on race-based hairstyles by extending statutory  protection to hair texture and protective styles such as braids, locs, twists, and knots in the workplace and public schools.” The CROWN Act has successfully been passed into law in seven states, and as of 2020, the legislation has been considered in 25 U.S. states, including Massachusetts.

An Act Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Natural Hairstyles

Introduced by Representatives Ultrino of Malden and Tyler of Boston in the House and Senators Gomez and DiDomenico in the Senate, Massachusetts H.1907, S.994, S.1049, will prohibit discrimination based on natural hairstyles.

Below you will find important materials to help you bring this important advocacy effort to your state and community: