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A law to protect against discrimination against natural hair
For centuries it has been easier to assimilate than to be our natural selves.
How many of you have permed, straightened, or colored your hair to make it appear more euro-centric?
None of these actions are wrong; even I have performed all of these things on my hair (my hair is colored right now), but when we perform these actions because we are trying to emulate another race, it’s a problem.
Why We Need The Crown Act
For those who decide to wear their natural hair textures in public spaces such as the workplace, it hasn’t been met without friction (discrimination), which is why The Crown Act came into place.
Decades ago, one of my friends was told to go home because she had braids in her hair; she could not return to work until the braids were out of her hair and her hair was straightened. Not only did she waste several hundred dollars on the hairstyle, but this was a blatantly clear example of workplace discrimination.
Did she oblige to the request? Yes, because she needed the money.
How can we address this issue of hair discrimination?
Thankfully, we have The Crown Act, which explicitly bans bias against African-American hair, but we still have a ways to go. The law is not passed in every state yet.
As we continue to wear our hair in its natural state, we can desensitize and overexpose culture to our natural hair, which might increase acceptance and help normalize our hair types. Because we all ultimately know that laws don’t eradicate discriminatory behavior 100%.
I’m thankful for the Crown Act because ever since I joined the workforce, I have worn my hair in three styles only:
Braids
Twists
Sister Locs
I don’t know if I will ever straighten my hair again because it’s locked, and I don’t plan on ever taking them out. There is no such thing as assimilation for now unless I wear a wig.
Straightened hair is beautiful for those who decide to straighten their hair to assimilate. However, if you desire to wear your natural hair, you can, and the world needs to see your natural hair.
The more we show the world what our natural hair looks like, the more accustomed they will become to it.
Unfair treatment for natural African-American styles
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.