The CROWN, or the “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural” hair, act is a law that prohibits race-based hair discrimination. The act is now law in 14 states, with several others currently filing legislation for the act. While the act is not yet law within Phoenix or at the state level, it has the support of the city’s Human Relations Commission, which has been working to get it passed in Phoenix.
To understand the act, it is important to note first what constitutes “race-based hair discrimination.” The official site for the CROWN act, thecrownact.com, identifies it as “the denial of employment and educational opportunities because of hair texture or protective hairstyles including braids, locs, twists or bantu knots.”
This act had been adopted by Tuscon in February 2021, and Tempe in November 2021. Members of Phoenix’s Human Relations Commission are passionate about the act being made law in Phoenix.
Commissioner Terri Jackson, an African American woman, said during a January news conference that there is a historical significance to the same kind of hairstyles discriminated against when it comes to opportunities for work and education today. These hairstyles were one of the few things African Americans could find to connect themselves with, she said. This is especially significant in a country that deliberately moved the slaves from as many connections to their homeland as possible, according to Jackson.
“Even our language was taken away, all we really had was what we could do with our hair,” Jackson said.
Jackson further elaborated that even when the slave owners cut off all of their enslaved peoples’ hair, when it grew back it was wrapped in different colors and that was a means of expression.
But the historical significance of hair to African Americans is far from the only reason the bill has support. “Your hair doesn’t determine how well you do a job,” said Jasmine Rawles, an African American undergraduate student in downtown Phoenix.
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Rawles said she was unsure about being overtly discriminated against on the basis of her hair, but mentioned it is “kind of an unspoken thing,” where people gave her looks at times. Rawles does not believe she has been discriminated against thus far in seeking employment but still supports the act, maintaining “If I’m qualified, I qualify.”
“I’m glad, I feel like it’s a move forward to prevent discrimination against people in the workplace,” said Myles Ngala, an African American undergraduate in downtown Phoenix student.
However, despite being supported by various students and members of the city of Phoenix, on a national level, the CROWN Act is a bit more contentious. The act passed along mostly party lines, with only 14 Republicans joining the Democrats, in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Some lawmakers on a national level have directly spoken against the act. Rep. Dan Bishop, R-North Carolina, said he viewed it as a safety concern, believing hairstyles such as dreadlocks to be “workplace safety issues.” Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, identified the bill as a distraction from other issues such as high gas prices and crime rates.
Rawles said she believes opposition to passing the act is an effort to uphold a discriminatory agenda. Ngala said those against the bill are upholding what they deem “professional hair.” Ngala says he believes those against the act will use a “slippery-slope” argument and say that the act will encourage people to do “whatever they want with their hair.”
However, despite the potential opposition on a national level, there is still a lot of support for the CROWN act both from members of the city of Phoenix and the downtown Phoenix students at Arizona State University, especially those within the demographic it is supposed to support.
Contact the reporter at kerasmu1@asu.edu.
