National CROWN Day is a special holiday commemorating the inaugural signing of the first CROWN Act legislation in California on July 3, 2019, to “Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.”
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.
First introduced in California in January 2019 and signed into law on July 3, 2019, the inaugural CROWN Act expanded the definition of race in the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and state Education Code, to ensure protection in workplaces and in K-12 public and charter schools. Since then, The CROWN Act has galvanized support from federal and state legislators in the movement to end hair discrimination nationwide.
On March 18, 2022, the measure, H.R. 2116 — or the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act — passed on a vote of 235 to 189, with 14 Republicans joining all Democrats in supporting the measure. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.)
The CROWN Act movement was created by a team of Black women leaders, in partnership with a coalition of organizations and individuals actively supporting the movement.
The CROWN Coalition is an alliance of organizations, including founding members Dove, National Urban League, Color Of Change, and Western Center on Law and Poverty, that is dedicated to the advancement of anti-discrimination legislation across the United States. With the help of a diverse array of organizations in the social justice, business, legal, and education sectors, the CROWN Coalition has had tremendous success elevating the public narrative around this important issue and inspiring a movement to end hair bias and discrimination.
How YOU can help the movement
Help #PassTheCROWN by taking these TWO actions:
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Email Your Senator: You can email a letter right now to your senator using the CROWN template.
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Sign the Petition: Help end hair discrimination by adding your signature to the petition.
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At Our Kind, we are committed to making an impact. We exist to empower generations to heal. Starting with Crown and working our way down.
Source: The Crown Act: https://www.thecrownact.com/home