The House on Friday passed a law banning it hairstyle discrimination and hair texture.
The CROWN Act, which was introduced by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, would prohibit discrimination based on hair “if the texture of the hair or this hairstyle is habitually associated with a particular race or national origin.” The legislation lists among the hairstyles it would protect, those “in which the hair is either curly or curly, locs, cornrows, twists, braids, bantu knots and afros.”
The move was approved by a 235-189 vote, with 14 Republicans joining Democrats in support of the legislation.
“Natural black hair is often considered ‘unprofessional’ simply because it does not conform to white beauty standards,” Watson Coleman said in a statement. “Discrimination against black hair is discrimination against black people. I’m proud to have played a role in ensuring that we end discrimination against people for how their hair grows.”
More than a dozen states have passed similar measures. Democratic leaders tried to speed up the passage of legislation last month by voting on it as a suspension bill, a House rule that allows non-controversial measures to be considered expeditiously, without amendment. However, the passage of suspended bills requires the support of two-thirds of the members present, and the CROWN bill fell short.
An accompanying bill introduced by Senator Cory Booker has not yet come forward.
In a House speech on Friday, Watson Coleman listed cases of black Americans losing job opportunities, denied federal assistance, or treated unfairly based on their hair.
“It’s important for girls and young boys to have their hair cut in the middle of a wrestling match in front of everyone because some white referee says your hair is unsuitable to play in your match,” he said. .
Congresswoman Cori Bush, a freshman, Missouri Democrat, talked about hair discrimination based on personal experience.
“As a black woman who loves my braids, I know what it’s like to feel isolated by the way I wear my hair,” she said. “This is the last time we say no more that blacks are degraded and discriminated against by the very hairstyles that corporations benefit from.”
Congressman Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, argued in plenary that the Constitution already prohibits racial discrimination and that this bill was superfluous.
“Fourteen months of chaos and we’re doing a hair bill,” Jordan said. “I think the American people expect more from their Congress … I hope we can really focus on the things that matter to the American people.”
In a rebuttal, Congressman Al Green, a Texas Democrat, later accused Jordan’s assessment of the bill of ignoring what black Americans want.
“When you say the American people don’t want it, you can’t rule out blacks. Blacks should be on the floor. That’s a problem with the kitchen table in black homes,” he said.
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- United States Congress
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