Delaware Passes The Crown Act, Makes Hair Discrimination Illegal

Thanks to the Crown Act, hair styled in braids, locs, and other natural styles will be legally protected by the act in Delaware.

The bill was enacted on April 13 by Governor John Carney. It makes hair discrimination in schools and workplaces illegal, Glamour reported.

Hair discrimination is already prohibited in California, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Colorado, Washington, Virginia, Connecticut, and New Mexico.

The new bill helps African Americans who have been discriminated against because of their hair. Blacks have been told their hair is “ugly,” “unprofessional,” and “distracting.” This extends to children in the school systems who have been sent home early and barred from school activities all because of the way they wear their hair.

Brands and organizations like Dove, the National Urban League, and Color of Change established CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open world for Natural Hair) Coalition ensures that anyone who wants to wear their hair naturally or in protective styles—like braids or locs–will not be penalized for doing so.

California was the first state to endorse the Crown Act into law.

“My vision for the bill is twofold,” Mitchell told Glamour at the time. “First, by introducing the bill, I wanted to use it as an opportunity to educate my colleagues about the unique experience and opportunities of having Black hair. I didn’t want them to see it as a negative. Because of my natural hair texture, I have the unique opportunity to wear these amazing natural hairstyles,” Democratic state senator Holly J. Mitchell stated in support.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Crown Act last fall. It is currently in review by the Senate, and if passed, hair discrimination will be illegal across all 50 states.