CROWN Act News

Kenekts Global Kenekts Global

The CROWN Act bans race-based hair discrimination. But some states are finding loopholes in the law.

YAHOO! News December 13, 2023 -- Darryl George, a Black student at Barbers Hill High School, Texas, is at the forefront of exposing flaws in the CROWN Act's enforcement. William Sherman, the lawyer instrumental in crafting the CROWN Act's strategy, highlights the selective application of dress codes, emphasizing racial discrimination over policy violation. Sherman's insights call for stringent enforcement of laws protecting culturally significant hairstyles. Read more.

Read More
Kenekts Global Kenekts Global

Fourth National Crown Day Extends Celebration To Commemorate The Inaugural Signing Of The Crown Act On July 3  

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., June 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- National CROWN Day, presented by Dove and the CROWN Coalition, is back and expanded to a two-week celebration to commemorate the inaugural signing of the first CROWN Act (July 3, 2019) to "Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair." This year's celebrations mark the fourth CROWN Day, and will kick-off during the 2023 BET Awards, followed by several signature events during the ESSENCE Festival of Culture in New Orleans, LA. Read more.

Read More
Kenekts Global Kenekts Global

Dove Partners with LinkedIn in support of The CROWN Act to Help End Race-Based Hair Discrimination in the WorkplaceUSA

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Feb. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of Dove's ongoing commitment to help pass The CROWN Act and end race-based hair discrimination nationwide, the brand has partnered with LinkedIn, the world's largest professional network, who is committed to creating equal access to economic opportunity and creating more equitable outcomes for all professionals. While progress has been made to end hair discrimination with the passage of The CROWN Act in some states across the US, race-based hair discrimination remains a systemic problem in the workplace – from hiring practices to daily workplace interactions – disproportionately impacting Black women's employment opportunities and professional advancement. Read more.

Read More
Kenekts Global Kenekts Global

MASSACHUSETTS IS 18th STATE TO BAN DISCRIMINATION BASED ON ONE’S NATURAL HAIRSTYLES

BOSTON GLOBE: Massachusetts follows 17 other states in adopting language known as the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, or CROWN, Act. Now, it’s illegal in the Commonwealth to discriminate against a person for donning styles including, but not limited to, braids, locs, twists, and Bantu knots. Proponents say the law is a crucial first step in reversing centuries of harm perpetrated against Black Americans because of their natural hair textures. Read more.

Read More
Kenekts Global Kenekts Global

DOVE AND THE CROWN COALITION COMMEND THE STATES OF MAINE AND TENNESSEE FOR PASSING AND SIGNING THE CROWN ACT, OFFICIALLY MAKING RACE-BASED HAIR DISCRIMINATION ILLEGAL IN THEIR STATE

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The CROWN Coalition, a national alliance founded by Dove, National Urban League, Western Center on Law & Poverty, and Color Of Change, along with 90+ members of the CROWN Coalition are excited to announce a few new champions of the CROWN Act. Maine Governor Janet Mills signed LD 598, the CROWN Act into law on April 20, 2022. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed SB 136, the CROWN Act into law on May 27, 2022. Most recently Louisiana, Illinois, and Alaska all passed legislation to make hair discrimination illegal in their state and are all awaiting their Governor's signature. Read more.

Read More
Kenekts Global Kenekts Global

'It Made Me Feel Low': Black Students Urge Passage of CROWN Act to End Hair Discrimination

NBC NEWS: A viral photo of some of Campbell's teammates and competitors frantically helping her remove the beads has been shared on Facebook more than 35,000 times, with many people remarking it was an "amazing" and "awesome" display of good sportsmanship. But Campbell; her mother, Melody; and a host of others said they see something different when they look at the image: the results of hair discrimination.

Read More
Kenekts Global Kenekts Global

What is the CROWN Act and What Do Advocates Say It Will Do?

CNN: The bill passed the US House last month but needs to be approved by the US Senate, before it’s sent to President Joe Biden’s desk. “A lot of people are not aware that race-based hair discrimination exists,” said Esi Eggleston Bracey, who leads Unilever’s beauty and personal care portfolio and is a co-founder of the CROWN Coalition, which champions the legislation. There are “implicit and explicit biases” against natural hair “deeply ingrained in workplace norms and society at large,” New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker, a Senate sponsor of the CROWN Act, said in a statement. Read more.

Read More
Kenekts Global Kenekts Global

Texas High School Policy Banning Braided Or Twisted Hair Has Stopped a Teen From Attending School

CNN -- Nothing makes Dyree Williams feel more like himself than his hair, which he has proudly worn in twists, braids and locks all his life – it’s part of his identity and a direct connection to his ancestors. But Williams’ locks became an issue after the 17-year-old moved from Cincinnati, Ohio, to East Bernard, 50 miles outside of Houston, Texas, in February. His new school’s dress code policy stated that “braided hair or cornrows will not be allowed,” a policy that went against his very sense of self. Read more.

Read More
Kenekts Global Kenekts Global

U.S. Virgin Islands Enacts CROWN Act to Ban Discrimination on the Basis of Hair Texture and Protected Hairstyles

U.S. Virgin Islands -- On April 11, 2022, U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan Jr. signed into law Act No. 8553, “The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act of 2022” or “The Virgin Islands Crown Act of 2022,” which prohibits discrimination based on hair texture or hairstyle. The act amends the Virgin Islands Civil Rights Act (VICRA), which prohibits discrimination in employment, as well as with respect to public accommodations and with respect to rental transactions, on the basis of race, creed, color, or national origin. Read more.

Read More
Kenekts Global Kenekts Global

DOVE and the CROWN Coalition Applaud the U.S. House of Representatives for Passing the CROWN Act

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., /PRNewswire/ -- The CROWN Coalition, a national alliance founded by Dove, National Urban League, Western Center on Law & Poverty and Color Of Change, along with over 90 members of the CROWN Coalition praise the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the CROWN Act of 2022. Led by Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-New Jersey's 12th congressional district), along with 116 cosponsors, the Democratic-led House voted 235-189 to pass the CROWN Act. Read more.

Read More
Kenekts Global Kenekts Global

The U.S. House Passes CROWN Act that Would Ban Race-based Hair Discrimination

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The US House on Friday passed legislation that would ban race-based hair discrimination in employment and against those participating in federally assisted programs, housing programs, and public accommodations. The Democratic-led House voted 235-189 to pass the CROWN Act, which stands for "Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair." The bill seeks to protect against bias based on hair texture and protective styles, including locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, and Afros. Read more.

Read More
Kenekts Global Kenekts Global

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado Calls the CROWN Act "a bad, hair bill."

DALLAS, TX — Your voice is your power. Your words are powerful. We know this, right? All week long, U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado has made a point to show that she knows the power of her words as well. But also this week, when providing a vote on the CROWN Act, a bill that would outlaw discrimination based on hair textures and hairstyles, she referred to it on the House of Representatives floor as "the bad hair bill." Read more.

Read More
Kenekts Global Kenekts Global

Minnesota House Passes ‘Crown Act’ Hair Discrimination Bill

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota House of Representatives passed legislation with bipartisan support Monday that would make it illegal to discriminate against someone because of their hairstyle. The “Crown” Act, an acronym meaning “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural hair,” would add hairstyle and texture to a provision in the Minnesota Human Rights Act that prohibits racial discrimination in housing, employment, and education, among other areas. Read more.

Read More
Kenekts Global Kenekts Global

New Haven-based Sorority Offers Natural Hair Legislation Virtual

MACOMB DAILY (MI) -- “A primary goal of our event is to raise awareness of the proposed CROWN Act legislation here in Michigan. If passed, this legislation would prohibit race-based hair discrimination and the denial of professional advancement, employment, and educational opportunities or sports participation for youth because of hair texture or protective hairstyles such as twists or braids,” states Robyn Murphy, Ph.D., The Arts! Chairman of AKA Sorority, Omega Xi Omega chapter, in a news release. Read more.

Read More
Kenekts Global Kenekts Global

Dove Highlights Hair Discrimination in Latest Purpose-Driven Effort

YAHOO! FINANCE -- Dove highlights hair discrimination in latest purpose-driven effort The beauty brand is using the campaign to raise awareness for CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act legislation to make race-based hair discrimination illegal. The act, which would help protect an estimated 2.3 million Black children nationwide, is the law in 14 states and 34 municipalities. Read more.

Read More
Kenekts Global Kenekts Global

Dove Launches ‘As Early As Five,’ Urges CROWN ACT In Remaining States

BLACK ENTERPRISE -- As CROWN Coalition co-founders committed to ending race-based hair discrimination nationwide, Dove continues to advocate for local and federal governments to pass The CROWN Act to help protect the estimated 2.3 million Black children nationwide who are most vulnerable to race-based hair discrimination. Currently, The CROWN Act is law in 14 states (CA, CT, CO, DE, IL, MD, NE, NM, OR, NY, NJ, NV, VA, WA) and 34 municipalities. Read more.

Read More
Kenekts Global Kenekts Global

Crown Act Still Not Passed in 36 States: DOVE launches ‘AS EARLY AS FIVE’ an ongoing effort to end Black Hair Discrimination

RADIO FACTS -- Fueled by research findings, Dove released a short film, As Early As Five, inspired by the far too many real stories of those who have experienced hair discrimination and bias in both schools and the workplace. As Early As Five depicts three scenarios of race-based hair discrimination experienced by a girl – starting in elementary school, in high school, and into adulthood – all inspired by real-life events. Read more.

Read More