Orange County government passed the CROWN Act banning discrimination based on a person’s hair texture or hairstyle, especially those associated with a particular race, religion, or national origin. CROWN is an acronym standing for “create a respectful and open world for natural hair.” The Orange County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed adopting language from the act to update its non-discrimination ordinance.
The act prohibits discrimination in federal, state, and local assisted programs, housing programs, public accommodations, and employment, based on a person’s hair texture or hairstyle. According to Chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners Renee Price, Black women have faced socio-economic pressure to conform to white or European beauty standards.
“What the act is attempting is to help predominately people of Black, African descent to be able to wear our hair with pride and not feel as though we have to straighten it, or wear it in a certain hairstyle in order to be accepted particularly in the workplace,” Price said.
The CROWN Act is just one part of the growing non-discrimination ordinances within Orange County. After House Bill 142 expired in December, Carrboro, Hillsborough, and Chapel Hill created their own anti-discrimination ordinances. The initial protections covered sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, but now will include natural hair protection.
The CROWN Act initially created by California lawmakers expanded the definition of race in the Fair Employment and Housing Act and state Education code to ensure protection in workplaces and K-12 schools. The CROWN Act is law in seven states and 16 cities.
Discrimination based on hairstyles has a real measurable social and economic impact on Black women. According to a 2019 Joy Collective CROWN Research Study, Black women are more likely to spend more money on their hair, hair appointments and products. Price says this act could help alleviate the anxiety related to hair and finances.
“This now is saying this notion that dreadlocks, Bantu knots, coils, or whatever, that these are accepted and it’s illegal to discriminate against us for wearing our hair naturally,” Price said.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners is requesting the North Carolina General Assembly pass legislation similar to the CROWN Act as well as a Fair Employment law for all North Carolinians to be protected from all forms of employment discrimination.
Orange County joins Hillsborough and Carrboro in adopting these new non-discrimination ordinances.
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