Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair

By: Robyn Taylor, Senior Director of Health Equity

You may be asking, “What is the CROWN Act?” The CROWN Act, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” is a law that prohibits race-based hair discrimination, which is the denial of employment and educational opportunities because of hair texture or protective hairstyles including braids, locs, twists, or bantu knots. The Official Campaign of The CROWN Act is led by the CROWN Coalition, founded by Dove, National Urban League, Color of Change, and the Western Center on Law & Poverty.

Black women have long suffered expectations to conform to Eurocentric standards of beauty by relaxing and straightening their hair to compete for jobs or to get an education. African descendant women and girls are in a precarious catch-22: Either don your natural hair at the risk of lawfully being deprived of employment or an educational opportunity or wear straight hair at the risk of enduring consequential harm to your physical, psychological, economic, and physical well-being.

Chemical exposure related to hair dye, perms, texturizers, and relaxers contribute to higher rates of a range of health issues among Black women. Tackling Black women’s chemical exposure also needs to include more discussion around Black hair, and the pressure to change its texture in the first place. Historically, society has always had negative associations with natural Black hair. It’s internalized. We make comments of what’s ‘good hair’ and what’s ‘bad hair,’ and young girls are listening.

How Black Americans wear their hair has become a new front in the fight against racial discrimination. Nevada is one of 13 states that have passed versions of the CROWN Act since California enacted its law. The others are Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Illinois, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington. About three dozen cities and counties have passed similar laws.

The campaign to pass the CROWN Act in every state and Congress began in 2019, when Dove, which makes shampoo and other personal care products, and advocacy groups, including the National Urban League, Color of Change and the Western Center on Law and Poverty co-founded a coalition to press for the hair anti-discrimination law. The law clarifies that Black people should be allowed to wear their hair as it grows naturally and not be forced to use chemicals to relax or straighten it.

In your opinion is this a public health issue? What role can public health play in addressing the harmful impact of hair discrimination and the use of harmful chemicals in Black hair? Do we have a role to play?

Share your thoughts on NACDD’s Engagement Community. 

 

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