Over the past two years, you may have heard of the CROWN Act on social media or on the news, but do you know what is it and what it stands for? Read on to learn more about the CROWN Act and why it is such an important movement for naturalistas all over the country.
What is the CROWN Act?
The CROWN Act is a law that was first introduced in January of 2019 and signed into law in July 2019. It stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair” and the purpose of it is to prohibit race-based hair discrimination in both work and school settings. This law aims to eradicate the denial of employment and education based on natural hair texture or protective styles such as locs, braids, twists, bantu knots, etc. This law ensures the protection in workplaces, charter schools, and K-12 public schools.
In July of 2019, the CROWN Act was signed into law in California and since then, it has become law in Washington, Colorado, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and several cities in Ohio, North Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Kentucky. Last year, the CROWN Act was considered in many other states across the U.S. but it did not become law.
Since 2019, the CROWN Act has been met with overwhelming support from federal and state legislators nationwide. The CROWN Act also has a coalition of companies and organizations such as Dove, Color of Change, National Urban League, and more to help push this bill to become law in every state.
How to get involved
The CROWN Act is so important because it creates a safe space for people to rock their natural texture or protective styles without having to worry about being discriminated against at their job or in their classroom. If you want to get involved in passing the CROWN Act in more states, here are some easy steps you can take:
- Bring the CROWN Act to your state by signing the petition here. Don’t forget to share the petition with your friends and family!
- Spread the word by sharing information on the CROWN Act on your social media pages to get more people involved.
- Write a letter to your state legislators and U.S. senators to encourage them to pass the CROWN Act in your state and nationwide.
To learn more about the CROWN Act and how to get involved in the movement, check out their website here.
