Hair Discrimination Officially Illegal in Massachusetts Following Signage of The Crown Act

Massachusetts is the 18th state to sign the CROWN Act banning school officials and employers from discriminating against individuals based on their natural hair and protective hairstyles. 

 

On Tuesday, July 26 Gov. Charlie Baker (R) signed The CROWN Act into law, prohibiting hair discrimination in schools and workplaces. 

 

The CROWN Coalition is a national alliance founded by Dove, National Urban League, Western Center on Law & Poverty and Color of Change, along with over 100 supporting members of the CROWN Coalition.

 

The Massachusetts legislation known as the Crown Act states that no school district, school committee, public school or nonsectarian school shall adopt or implement a policy or code that impairs or prohibits natural hairstyles. The law bans workplace discrimination based on the use of natural or protective hairstyles, which includes natural hair texture, as well as styles including twists, locs, braids, and bantu knots. The department of elementary and secondary education shall provide written guidance for the administration about this new law.

 

On March 18, the US House of Representatives passed the CROWN Act, which protects against prejudice based on hair texture and protective styles, including locs, cornrows, twists, braids, and Bantu knots. The bill now heads to the Senate, where Democratic Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey sponsored the chamber's version of the bill. These natural hair styles would be protected under Titles VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act, and other Federal civil rights laws. As a proud co-founder and champion of the Crown Coalition, Dove is committed to progressing The Crown Act until hair discrimination is abolished in all 50 states and at the federal level. 

 

Representative Steven Ultrino (D-Boston) first introduced the bill, which was co-sponsored by Representative Chynah Tyler (D-Boston), Senator Adam Gomez (D-Springfield), and Senator Sal DiDomenico (D-Middlesex).

 

“We are so excited to see Massachusetts enact the CROWN Act,” said Esi Eggleston Bracey, president Unilever USA, CEO North America Personal Care. “Dove is proud to be a leader of the Crown Act movement and on behalf of the Crown Coalition, we thank and applaud Representative Ultrino for his championship of The Crown Act in Massachusetts and Gov. Baker for signing this critical legislation into law. Now Massachusetts residents are free and protected against any harmful policies that prevent educational or employment opportunities based on a natural or protective hairstyles. This brings us to 18 states that have enacted The CROWN Act or legislation inspired by the Crown Act and we continue to advocate for the passing of federal legislation in the US.”

 

To support the movement, the petition can be viewed here.