Crowning Glory: Understanding the Impact of The CROWN Act

The CROWN Act, short for Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act, is legislation designed to combat discrimination based on hair texture and protective hairstyles. These styles include braids, locs, twists, and knots, which often carry deep cultural and ethnic significance. The Act directly addresses racial discrimination faced by Black individuals whose natural hair or traditional hairstyles have too often been unfairly targeted in schools, workplaces, and public spaces. By protecting the right to wear natural and cultural hairstyles, the CROWN Act promotes dignity, equality, and inclusion.

What Is The Purpose Of The CROWN Act

The CROWN Act aims to address the longstanding discrimination and oppression faced by Black individuals, particularly women, due to their natural hair and hairstyles. This discrimination often forces Black individuals to conform to White beauty standards, impacting their self-perception and societal interactions.

The Act provides legal protection against hair discrimination in various settings, including workplaces, schools, and daily life. It seeks to ensure that Black individuals can embrace their natural hair without fear of prejudice or bias.

The CROWN Act also serves as an affirmation of Black culture and identity. It recognizes the cultural significance of Black hair and hairstyles and aims to celebrate and uplift Black individuals’ choices regarding their hair.

The Act highlights the negative impact of hair discrimination in educational settings, where Black students, especially girls, face policing and bias due to their hair. The CROWN Act seeks to create more inclusive educational environments where Black students can express themselves freely.

The CROWN Act: A Revolutionary Legislation

The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair or CROWN Act is a groundbreaking piece of legislation that aims to provide legal backing for Black individuals, both women and men, to wear their natural hair without the fear of facing discrimination, disciplinary actions, or exclusion from schools, workplaces, or public spaces. This legislation emerges as a response to the pervasive issue of “hairism” – a form of discrimination that favors certain hair types and textures, particularly those that align with White beauty standards, which typically emphasize long, straight, and silky hair. In contrast, the CROWN Act recognizes and legally supports the right of Black individuals to choose hairstyles that resonate with their cultural identity, reflecting their moods, life circumstances, and personal preferences.

Historical Context and The Combahee River Collective Principles

The principles established by the Combahee River Collective in 1977 serve as a foundation for advocating for a national CROWN legislation. These principles emphasize the interconnected nature of various forms of oppression that Black women face, including racism, sexism, and hairism. The Collective’s principles highlight the continuous oppression Black women have historically endured and the need to eradicate its lingering influence.

The Combahee River Collective underscores that different forms of oppression, such as racism, sexism, and hairism, are interconnected. These oppressions reinforce each other and collectively contribute to the overarching oppression of Black women.

The Collective acknowledges the historical documentation of the continuous oppression Black women have faced. It emphasizes the importance of understanding this history to effectively combat its ongoing impact.

The personal experiences of Black women, resulting from intersecting oppressions, are inherently political. These experiences arise from societal and governmental systems that perpetuate discrimination. As the subjects of this intersecting oppression, only Black women can genuinely recognize, understand, or explain these experiences. They are also the ones most invested in ending the inequalities they face.

The CROWN Act, while revolutionary, is a necessary legislative intervention in a society where Black individuals, especially women, routinely face discrimination due to their natural hair and hairstyles. By legally recognizing and challenging hair discrimination, the Act aims to create a more inclusive and equitable society where Black individuals can freely express their cultural identity through their hair without fear of prejudice or bias.

What Is The Combahee River Collective In 1977

The Combahee River Collective (CRC) formed in 1974 when Black feminists recognised that the larger feminist movement failed to address the unique struggles Black women faced. Members chose the name “Combahee River Collective” to honour a guerrilla action that Harriet Tubman conceptualised and led on the Combahee River in South Carolina in 1863, freeing more than 750 slaves.

Key principles of the Combahee River Collective statement

The CRC became best known for its “Combahee River Collective Statement,” which it published in 1977. This document stands as a key text in the history of contemporary Black feminism and the feminist movement as a whole. Its central principles include the following:

The CRC introduced the concept of “interlocking oppression,” now more commonly called “intersectionality.” Members stressed that Black women endured multiple, interconnected forms of oppression, including racism, sexism, classism, and heterosexism.

The CRC pioneered the idea of “identity politics.” Members argued that Black women’s liberation directly tied to their unique identities and experiences as Black women. They insisted that mainstream feminism and the Civil Rights Movement failed to fully address Black women’s specific needs and struggles.

The CRC stressed the importance of Black women defining and valuing themselves instead of allowing oppressive societal structures to define and devalue them.

The CRC committed to addressing a wide range of issues affecting Black women, including reproductive rights, sexual assault, domestic violence, and economic injustice.

The legacy of the Combahee River Collective and intersectional feminism

The Combahee River Collective played a crucial role in highlighting the unique challenges faced by Black women and advocating for their rights. Their work laid the groundwork for contemporary intersectional feminism and has had a lasting impact on feminist theory and activism.

The CRC’s emphasis on the interconnectedness of various forms of oppression has been influential in shaping contemporary understandings of intersectionality, a term later coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in the 1980s. The idea that one’s various identities (race, gender, class, sexuality, etc.) intersect and create unique experiences of oppression and privilege is now a foundational concept in feminist and social justice movements.

The Combahee River Collective was a pioneering force in the feminist movement, emphasizing the unique struggles and experiences of Black women. Their work has left a lasting legacy, influencing contemporary feminist thought and activism and introducing key concepts like intersectionality and identity politics.

The Crown Act In Action

Darryl George, a 17-year-old student at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, Texas, became the center of a significant controversy when the school suspended him for more than three weeks. School officials suspended him because of his loc hairstyle, which he often wore in braids or a ponytail. They claimed that Darryl’s hairstyle violated the Barbers Hill Independent School District’s dress code for male students. While the policy did not explicitly forbid locs or braids, it restricted hair length for male students. The policy stated that hair should not fall below the top of a t-shirt collar, below the eyebrows, or below the ear lobes when let down.

In response to the suspension, Darryl and his mother filed a lawsuit against Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the state’s attorney general. They argued that these officials failed to enforce Texas’s CROWN Act. The CROWN Act, short for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” protects individuals from hair discrimination. The law specifically bans discrimination against natural textures and protective hairstyles, such as locs and braids, which hold strong ties to racial identity.

Through the lawsuit, Darryl and his mother argued that the suspension clearly violated the CROWN Act. They sought an injunction to stop state officials from allowing the district to discipline students for hairstyles that exceeded its length rules.

School District’s Response

The Barbers Hill Independent School District responded to the lawsuit and controversy by asking a Texas court to clarify whether the CROWN Act applied to its dress code. The district argued that the new law did not regulate hair length and requested the court’s interpretation.

Darryl’s family added another dimension to the case by revealing the cultural and familial importance of his locs. They explained that his locs included strands from his grandfather and father, representing family bonds and shared heritage. The family firmly declared that they would not cut them, regardless of the school’s demands.

Historical Context

The Barbers Hill Independent School District had already faced legal challenges over its hair policy in the past. In 2020, two students, including DeAndre Arnold, faced similar discipline because of their loc hairstyles. Administrators told them to cut their hair to comply with the policy. They warned Arnold that he would not participate in his graduation ceremony if he refused. Arnold chose to transfer to another school district instead of cutting his locs. Later, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction that blocked the district from enforcing its hair-length policy against Cindy Bradford’s son.

Darryl George’s case underscores the broader issue of hair discrimination that many Black students face in educational institutions. While laws like the CROWN Act aim to address such discrimination, their interpretation and enforcement can vary across districts and states. Darryl’s situation serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing challenges Black students face and the need for clear, inclusive policies that respect cultural expressions.

Legal Repercussions Of The CROWN Act:

Employers who discriminate against employees or potential employees based on their natural hair or protective hairstyles can face legal consequences. This means that an employer cannot refuse to hire, promote, or even fire an individual solely because of their hair. If an employer is found guilty of such discrimination, they could face penalties, lawsuits, and damage to their reputation.

Educational institutions, including schools and colleges, are also prohibited from discriminating against students based on their hair. This means that schools cannot suspend, expel, or otherwise penalize students for their natural hair or protective hairstyles. Schools that violate this provision can face legal actions, potential loss of funding, and public backlash.

Expanding protections of the CROWN Act in public spaces

The CROWN Act also extends to public accommodations, ensuring that individuals are not denied services or treated unfairly in public spaces because of their hair. This includes places like restaurants, hotels, theaters, and other public venues.

While the CROWN Act has been introduced at the federal level, its enforcement and specific repercussions vary by state. As of now, several states have adopted their versions of the CROWN Act, each with its own penalties for violations. For instance, in California, which was one of the first states to implement the CROWN Act, businesses and schools found in violation can face financial penalties.

Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against based on their hair can file a civil rights lawsuit against the offending party. If successful, the discriminating party may be required to pay damages, change their policies, and take corrective actions.

Training and awareness under the CROWN Act

Many states that have adopted the CROWN Act also emphasize the importance of awareness and training. Employers and educational institutions may be required to undergo training to understand the significance of the CROWN Act and ensure that they are compliant.

The CROWN Act marks a powerful step forward in addressing and eliminating hair discrimination, which has long and disproportionately affected Black individuals. By establishing clear legal consequences for violations, the Act not only deters potential discrimination but also provides meaningful recourse for those who experience it. As more states adopt this groundbreaking legislation, the hope is to end hair-based discrimination altogether—creating a society where individuals can embrace and express their natural hair without fear of prejudice or bias.

Need Help? Call Us Now!

Do not forget that when you or anyone you know is facing a criminal charge, you have us, the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, by your side to help you build the best defense case for you. We will put your best interests first and fight for the best possible outcome in your case. Our team will explain everything you need to know about your trial and guide you on the strongest defense strategies. Step by step, we will walk you through the entire criminal process, making sure you feel informed, supported, and prepared at every stage.

Therefore, do not hesitate to call us if you find yourself or someone you know who is facing criminal charges unsure about the court system. We will work with you to give you the best type of defense that can help you solve your case. It is vital to have someone explain the result of the charge to you and guide you in the best possible way.

Here at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, we have professional and knowledgeable criminal law attorneys who are experienced in building a defense case for you that suits your needs for the best possible outcome that can benefit you.  

Also, here at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, you are given a free consultation at your convenience. You may choose to have your appointment via Zoom, Google Meet, email, or an in-person appointment, and we will provide you with as much advice and information as possible so you can have the best possible result in your case. 

Call us now at (281) 810-9760.

Other Related Articles

1. The Distinctive Role of Class Action Lawsuits in Civil Law vs. Criminal Charges
2. Understanding Texas Family 162.023 Adoption Order from Foreign Country
3. Important Landmark Case: First Amendments Rights In School
4. When a Crime Becomes a Hate Crime: How Texas Handles Bias-Related Offenses
5. Texas Drug Testing Laws in Schools and Athletics
6. Texas’ Efforts to Combat Drug Abuse in Schools
7. End of Summer Possession and Transitioning to School Year Possession Schedules
8. Can an order to pay Private School tuition be modified?
9. Educational opportunities in River Oaks
10. Government Resources in River Oaks

The CROWN Act FAQs (Texas)