#Roommates, as you know the conversation surrounding efforts to ban the discrimination against natural hair has been a hot topic for quite a while, with certain states like California already banning the discrimination completely. Now, current 2020 presidential hopeful Senator Cory Booker has just announced a new federal bill to place a ban on natural hair discrimination across the country.
Sen. Cory Booker is adding even more to his plate these days despite being in the middle of a democratic presidential run. According to @GoodMorningAmerica, Booker has officially come out in support of the CROWN Act (Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair) with the announcement of a new bill. The bill will ban discrimination based on hair textures and hairstyles commonly associated with a particular race or national origin.
Speaking about the new bill, Booker had this to say:
“Discrimination against black hair is discrimination against black people. Implicit and explicit biases against natural hair are deeply ingrained in workplace norms and society at large. This is a violation of our civil rights, and it happens every day for black people across the country. You need to look no further than Gabrielle Union, who was reportedly fired because her hair was ‘too black’ — a toxic dog-whistle African Americans have had to endure for far too long. No one should be harassed, punished, or fired for the beautiful hairstyles that are true to themselves and their cultural heritage.”
Although there are currently existing federal laws that prohibit some forms of hair discrimination, some federal courts still have narrowly construed those protections in a way that permits schools, workplaces, and federally funded institutions to discriminate against people of African descent who wear certain types of natural or protective hairstyles.
The CROWN Act stops those practices by clearly stating that discrimination based on natural and protective hairstyles associated with people of African descent, is a prohibited form of racial or national origin discrimination. Rep. Cedric Richmond, a Democrat who represents Louisiana’s 2nd District, also introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives, and congresswomen Ayanna Pressley, Marcia Fudge and Barbara Lee are also on board to support Booker new bill.
A recent study conducted by Dove’s CROWN initiative, showed that black women are 50% more likely to be sent home from the workplace because of their hair, and 80% of black women feel the need to change their hair from its natural state to fit in at the office. Additionally, black women’s hair is three times more likely to be perceived as unprofessional.
We salute Sen. Cory Booker on such a long overdue step forward!
Roommates, what are your thoughts on this?
