22 Nov Richmond Adopts CROWN Act Against Black Hair Discrimination

As a Richmond teen, Naja Ji Jaga wrote for the Pulse about the negative experiences many Black girls and women like her have because of their hair. The City Council on Tuesday extended anti-discrimination protections to include hair style and texture. (Courtesy of Naja Ji Jaga / CC Pulse file)

By Samantha Kennedy

Richmond will review and update its policies to prevent discrimination based on race-based hairstyles and educate workers to increase acceptance of hair diversity.

The Richmond City Council on Tuesday adopted the CROWN Act, or the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act, a 2019 state law that extends anti-discrimination protections to include hair style and texture. 

“I think it’s important for us to remind ourselves in policy, when we onboard new people, when we’re training our workforce,” said Michelle Milam, “that this matters.” 

The CROWN Act extends protections to hairstyles like Bantu knots and cornrows, which the act says are some of the “natural presentation(s)” of Black hair that were previously not protected from discrimination. 

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According to the CROWN 2023 Workforce Research Study from Dove and LinkedIn, Black women’s hair is 2.5 times more likely to be seen as unprofessional. 

Policies that prohibit hairstyles, like afros or braids, “have a disparate impact on Black individuals,” according to the act, and are “more likely to deter Black applicants and burden or punish Black employees than any other group.” 

California was the first in the U.S. to pass the CROWN Act, and more than 25 states have since passed the protections, which also covers students. Two similar federal bills were introduced in 2019 and 2022, passing in the House of Representatives but failing to be voted on by the Senate. 

“We shouldn’t have to wait 125 years for something to change,” said Milam, who showed the council a straightening comb that’s been in her family for that length of time. 

Milam, who is Black, said she’s experienced hair discrimination, including being asked if she has fleas. 

Adoption of the act, which was brought forward by council member Cesar Zepeda and passed alongside other items on the consent calendar, will also educate workers on the CROWN Act as part of the Race Equity Initiative.

The next Richmond City Council meeting, where an update on capital improvement projects will be given and council members will direct staff to evaluate traffic calming measures, is on Nov. 26.