Today (March 18), the House of Representatives passed the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act, also known as the CROWN Act.
If passed into law, this legislation would prohibit discrimination based on a person’s hair texture or hairstyle if that style or texture is frequently associated with a certain race or national origin. Specifically, the bill prohibits this type of discrimination against those participating in federally assisted programs, housing programs, public accommodations, and employment. Similar bills have already passed in 15 states and 30 cities.
U.S. Rep. Troy A. Carter is a longtime advocate for this issue at the state and federal levels and was proud to vote in support today.
“For far too long, Black and Brown people have been penalized or discriminated against for wearing natural hair styles in school, the workplace, and other settings,” said Congressman Carter. “We must affirm every person’s right to show up in the world as their authentic self. I am proud to have worked on this issue in Louisiana and now the federal level alongside the leadership of my friend Adjoa B. Asamoah. I was proud to vote yes on the CROWN Act to finally end race-based hair discrimination. It’s time for the Senate to finish the job and make it law.”
The legislation was first introduced in January 2020 by former U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, who now serves as a senior advisor to President Biden, along with Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif), and HUD Secretary Marsha Fudge, who represented Ohio in the House at the time the legislation was introduced.
“As a lifelong racial equity champion who created the legislative and social impact strategy for the CROWN Act movement I lead nationwide on behalf of the CROWN Coalition I co-created, I couldn’t be prouder today,” said Adjoa B. Asamoah, CROWN Act Legislative and Social Impact Strategist & CROWN Coalition Co-Creator.
The CROWN Act is cosponsored by a bipartisan group of 116 Representatives. It was first introduced in January 2020 by former U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, who now serves as a senior advisor to President Biden, along with Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif), and HUD Secretary Marsha Fudge, who represented Ohio in the House at the time the legislation was introduced.
A companion bill is sponsored in the Senate by New Jersey Senator Cory Booker.