Friday, March 18th, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful & Open World for Natural hair), which would ban discrimination based on race in employment and federal programs like public housing. In other words, your boss wouldn’t be allowed to ban bantu knots under the guise of “professionalism.”
“Natural Black Hair is often deemed unprofessional’ simply due to it not conforming to White beauty standard,” Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey, who sponsored the bill, stated in a statement. CNN.“Discrimination of Black hair is discrimination against Black people.”
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The bill is already in law in many states. However, if passed federally it would be applicable country-wide. The important piece is not new to this stage. In September 2020, the CROWN Act passed the House but didn’t get a vote in the Republican-controlled senate. The Senate is now split 50-50 (50 Republicans, 48 Democrats, 2 independents who usually vote with the Democrats) with Vice President Kamala Harris controlling any tie-breaking vote. The Act is supported by the Biden administration CNN, it has a much better chance of getting–and winning–a vote this time around.
Rep. Cori Bush, Missouri, explained the bill’s impact on the House floor prior to the vote. She stated, “As Black woman who loves braids, it’s hard to feel isolated because I wear my hair this way.” We are saying no more to Black people being demeaning and discriminated against because they have the same hairstyles that corporations profit. Black people will no longer feel that they must straighten their hair in order to get a job. Black people will never feel the need to straighten their hair to be considered professional.
Source: Glamour