From the city of Philadelphia, to the state of Massachusetts, to the U.S. House of Representatives, legislation prohibiting employers from discriminating based on a person’s hair texture or style are on the rise. These “CROWN Act laws” prohibit workplace discrimination related to styles and textures commonly associated with a particular race or national origin. They may also serve as helpful guides to employers seeking to ensure that their own dress and grooming codes do not perpetuate race or national origin discrimination, regardless of whether such laws apply to them.

What Is the CROWN Act?

The CROWN Act, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” prohibits discrimination based on hair textures or hairstyles commonly associated with a particular race or national origin, including protective styles like locs, twists and bantu knots. Created in 2019 by Dove and the CROWN Coalition (comprised of the National Urban League, Color of Change, and Western Center on Law and Poverty) in partnership with then-California state Sen. Holly J. Mitchell, the CROWN Act seeks to protect against race-based hairstyle discrimination in public schools and the workplace. See the Crown Act Campaign, https://www.thecrownact.com/ (last visited Oct. 5).

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