If you have natural hair, you NEED to know about The CROWN Act! The CROWN Act is a law that prohibits race-based hair discrimination. It combats the denial of employment and educational opportunities because of hair texture or protective hairstyles. This includes braids, locs, twists, or Bantu knots. We also have an entire day dedicated to our beautiful crowns called National CROWN Day which commemorates the inaugural signing of the first CROWN Act legislation in California. This holiday has a special place in the hearts of all naturalistas, including myself!
How Race-Based Hair Discrimination Impacted My Hair Journey
Before starting my natural hair journey, I straightened my hair religiously. I worked as a hostess in a restaurant my freshman year in college and I never felt comfortable wearing my curls in most places. I was fearful of my curls not being accepted! Honestly, at this point in my life, I may have thought straight hair was more desirable. The topic of women who feel less desirable with curly hair isn’t talked about enough… Women feel that way because subconsciously society has embedded in our heads that curly hair is not desirable.
Hair discrimination in the workplace is something that is not talked about enough and often only applies to a specific community of people. I’ve never experienced race-based hair discrimination in a workplace but I’ve felt the pressure of having “presentable hair.” For graduations, job interviews, dates…etc, my “go-to” hairstyle was straightened hair because it was the most “presentable.”
Unsubscribing To Dated Ideologies
For a lot of us, this type of conditioning started at home. Society placed the pressure of having presentable hair on us, but our parents enforced it. I know that it started off as a protective measure so that we didn’t experience things like hair discrimination. I could only imagine the things our parents and family members experienced before The CROWN Act existed. Unsubscribing to ideologies like this has been key to learning to love my curls.
In honor of National CROWN Day, I’m challenging you to compliment someone’s curls when you see them! Give a fellow naturalista the boost of confidence they need to continue to own their crown!
xoxo
Koiya (@koiyaaaa)
