Legislative efforts taking on hairstyle discrimination

Workplace discrimination based on hair? It may not be the first type of discrimination to come to mind as you strive to create fair and legally compliant workplaces, but hairstyle discrimination is beginning to get more attention. African Americans have noted that workplace appearance codes often insist on Eurocentric hairstyles. Styles that better conform to the natural hair texture of black people are often looked down on in the workplace. But that is starting to change, and the change includes legislation. California and New York have passed state laws prohibiting discrimination based on natural or protective hairstyles, and more states and local governments are considering similar measures.

CROWN Act

Heading up the effort against discrimination based on hairstyle is The CROWN Coalition, which is an alliance of organizations founded by hair care brand Dove, the National Urban League, the Western Center on Law & Poverty, and online racial justice organization Color of Change.

The coalition works to raise awareness of hair discrimination in workplaces and schools, and it promotes the Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act in state legislatures and on the federal level. The Act aims to make clear that discrimination based on natural and protective hairstyles associated with people of African descent is prohibited in laws that ban race discrimination.

In December 2019, the coalition announced the introduction of the bill in Congress, led by Representative Cedric Richmond (D-Louisiana) and Senator Corey Booker (D-New Jersey).