If you are a person of color, one thing that may look a little different for you is your hair. Hairstyles for POC tend to include braids of various types, natural curls and other styles.
In the past, many POC felt that they needed to straighten or color their hair to fit in with so-called “white norms.” Today, there is legislation that protects POC against discrimination due to their natural or protective hairstyles of choice.
In September 2020, the CROWN Act banned natural hair discrimination and went into effect. The goal of the law is to stop employers and co-workers from discriminating against others in the workplace because of differences, such as wearing natural hairstyles.
No one should be penalized for their hair’s natural style
The law addresses the issue of people facing discrimination when wearing their natural hairstyles, which may include styles such as:
- Twists
- Braids
- Bantu knots
- Afros
- Tight curls
- Tight coils
- Locs
- Cornrows
This movement went on to spur many states into action. Similar laws had been passed in states like California, New York and New Jersey, and 22 states have considered similar anti-discrimination laws as a result.
Did you know that black women are 1.5 times more likely to have to go home from work because of discrimination against them due to their chosen hairstyles? That should no longer be an issue. If you feel you’ve been discriminated against, remember that you can fight back. You deserve to be treated fairly when you’re on the job, no matter what you look like or the type of hair you have.
