Texas Student’s Locs Hairstyle Sparks Renewed Calls for National CROWN Act
A legal battle over a high school student’s locs hairstyle in Texas has reignited the push for a national CROWN Act, which aims to protect against race-based hair discrimination. The CROWN Act, short for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” seeks to make it illegal to deny employment and educational opportunities based on natural hair texture and protective hairstyles. Advocates argue that Black Americans have long faced discrimination in the workplace and schools due to their hair.
The legislation generally prohibits discrimination based on hairstyles associated with a particular race or culture, such as locs, braids, or Bantu knots. These styles, known as “protective hairstyles,” help maintain the health of the hair by preventing stress and breakage and protecting it from excessive heat. However, discrimination against these hairstyles dates back to slavery. Adjoa B. Asamoah, the lead legislative strategist and co-creator of the CROWN Coalition, explains that for many Black people, hair care is intertwined with family, community, and pride.
Throughout history, Black people, especially women, have faced discrimination because of their hair. Asamoah highlights that historically, Black hair has been stereotyped and disrespected, with some referring to it as unsightly or wool. Louisiana even enacted the Tignon laws in 1786, which required Black women to cover their heads in cloth. However, today, hair discrimination is most commonly seen in professional and educational settings, where policies often favor European standards of beauty.
Efforts to pass a national CROWN Act have faced obstacles. While the then-Democratic controlled House advanced such legislation in March 2022, it later stalled in the Senate. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have written a letter urging Senate leaders to take action, but Congress has yet to revisit the legislation. Nonetheless, the Biden administration has expressed strong support for the CROWN Act and hopes to work with Congress to pass and implement it. Organizations like Dove, National Urban League, Color of Change, and the Western Center on Law & Poverty also champion federal legislation.
Although national efforts have hit roadblocks, the movement has gained traction at the state level. In 2018, a video showing a school official cutting a Black student athlete’s locs sparked outrage. This incident prompted calls for legislation to protect students from hair discrimination. New York City issued guidance to protect New Yorkers’ right to maintain natural hair or hairstyles associated with their racial, ethnic, or cultural identities. The state of New York later amended its laws to include protection against discrimination based on hairstyles associated with race. California also passed a law banning hair discrimination in 2019.
As of July 2023, over 20 states have enacted legislation to combat race-based discrimination against hair texture and protective hairstyles. Texas joined this movement when a version of the law went into effect on September 1, 2023. However, the law was quickly put to the test when Darryl George, a high school student in the Houston area, was suspended for violating the school’s dress code with his locs hairstyle. George and his family argue that his hairstyle does not violate the dress code and have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against school officials and Texas state leaders.
In response, the school district has also filed a lawsuit seeking clarification on whether the dress code violates the state law. A Texas judge is set to hear arguments in this legal battle. The superintendent of the school district defended the dress code by arguing that conformity is necessary for unity. However, advocates like Asamoah stress that a child’s education should never be impacted by their hair and emphasize the need for a national law.
The case of Darryl George highlights the urgency of passing a national CROWN Act. No child should be denied an education based on their hairstyle. While state-level progress has been made, a comprehensive federal law is necessary to ensure consistent protection against hair discrimination across the country. The fight for equal rights and recognition of diverse hair textures and styles continues, and advocates are hopeful that a national CROWN Act will soon become a reality.
