INTC Podcast: How the CROWN Act is Outlawing Hair Discrimination Featuring Adjoa B. Asamoah
On this week’s episode of the Introvert N the City Podcast, we’re choppin’ it up with Political and Impact Strategist Adjoa B. Asamoah as she lends us her knowledge and expertise on the CROWN Act.
Over the last couple of years, we’ve heard of countless Black women and men experience discrimination because of their natural hair. Here are some examples:
- Young man forced to cut his locs before a wrestling match
- Two Harlem girls banned from participating is Christmas play because of their braids
- Black teen girls face detention and suspension for wearing braids
- Black boy told to get rid of his braids if he’d like to continue to attend the Catholic school
- Black woman lost her job because she refused to cut her locs
- Black teen denied job at Six Flags because of his locs
The CROWN Act, which stands for “Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair”, is a law that prohibits discrimination based on hairstyle and hair texture. First introduced in California in January 2019 by Senator Holly J. Mitchell (District 30) as Senate Bill 188, The CROWN Act expanded the definition of race in the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and Education Code, to ensure protection against race-based hair discrimination in workplaces and in K-12 public and charter schools. The inaugural CROWN Act was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in California on July 3, 2019 and went into effect January 1, 2020.
ABOUT ADJOA B. ASAMOAH
Adjoa B. Asamoah is an international influencer and impact strategist. She is the founder of ABA Consulting, and is a trusted advisor to federal, state, and local elected officials. She is highly sought after to develop both high-profile and grassroots stakeholder coalitions, and liaise between political and corporate entities. As a mover of policy and culture, evidenced by the legislative victories she spearheaded to codify the nation’s first Office on African American Affairs and introduce and pass the groundbreaking anti-hair discrimination CROWN Act, she mobilizes leaders and communities for social change and collective political action.
Win some hair products from Design Essentials!
This episode is sponsored by Design Essentials, a Black-owned hair care brand that caters to both natural and processed hair. I personally LOVE their products and use the all the time. Peep my twist-out, courtesy of their shampoo, leave-in conditioner, and custard. Enter to win a gift set by:
- Subscribing to the INTC podcast
- Subscribing to the INTC website
- Leave a comment on this post naming 1 thing you learned from this episode.
The winner will be announced on Monday!
Take a listen to this week’s episode!
Mia
It amazes me the lengths we need to go to just to protect ourselves, loved ones and livelihoods while doing regular everyday normal shit
Kay
Awesome conversation! This act is definitely a MUST, although it shouldn’t have to be, in our society.
Gabby
Great discussion! The fact that we actually need a law to protect us from the way we choose to wear our hair is a little frustrating but Having the Crown act in place Makes it easier to protect us of our right to Express ourselves through our hair. It’s a shame that even our selective hairstyles puts us in the way of racial discrimination
Shantini Alleyne
Since an incredible conversation. I still can’t believe we actually have to have this convo in 2020, but I’m so happy people are advocating for black hair to be all the gloriousness that it is in any space.
Samjah Saulsberry
This was so informative! I’ve heard about the Crown Act and even read up on it, but this gave me a more in-depth view! I didn’t even know my Louisiana Congressman, Cedric Richmond, led the fight in getting this act on the books! Great listen!
Natalie Dauphin
I love this! So true what you said about girls being conditioned to perm our hair at a young age. But now seeing so many public facing women wear their natural hair helps inspire our little ones to love their hair and appreciate it as it grows. This legislation is so important. Thank you!!