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CROWN Act

Meaning ❉ The CROWN Act establishes legal protections against discrimination based on hair texture and styles frequently worn by individuals of Black or mixed heritage. This legislation provides a clear framework for understanding that hair, in its natural forms—such as coils, locs, braids, and twists—is a valid and respected presentation within schools and workplaces. For those seeking structured hair care, the Act supports systematization by removing barriers that might otherwise compel individuals to alter their hair’s natural state for professional or academic acceptance. It permits the practical application of care routines and styling choices aligned with hair health and cultural identity, without fear of adverse consequences. This legal measure grounds the ability to present one’s hair authentically, ensuring personal styling decisions align with inherent hair needs and cultural expression rather than prescriptive societal norms.

A monochrome portrait captures a woman with carefully sculpted Afro-textured hair, featuring a subtle design element. The image explores themes of heritage and identity through deliberate styling. Highlights define the facial structure, emphasizing her gaze, showcasing Afro hair culture with textured finesse.

Racial Discrimination Hair

Meaning ❉ Racial Discrimination Hair refers to prejudice and unfair treatment based on hair texture, particularly impacting individuals with textured hair and their heritage.
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A striking black and white portrait features a woman with voluminous afro coils, deeply rooted in Black hair traditions. The composition accentuates the interplay of light and shadow, highlighting her features and texture. Her confident gaze evokes heritage, resilience, and holistic hair care, celebrating natural beauty and expressive styling.

Pelo Malo Legacy

Meaning ❉ Pelo Malo Legacy signifies the historical denigration of textured hair within Afro-diasporic and mixed-race communities, rooted in colonial beauty standards.
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A portrait in black and white captures a smiling Black woman, her face illuminated by dappled light, showcasing the beauty of textured locs with intricate detail. Her geometrically patterned blouse echoes the complex beauty of her hair, highlighting cultural aesthetics and self-expression with radiant joy.

Sociocultural Stress

Meaning ❉ Sociocultural stress is the emotional and psychological strain from societal biases impacting an individual's hair and cultural identity.
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A powerful black and white studio shot reveals a person with expertly shaped and precision fade textured Afro hair, embodying strength and unique style, set against a neutral backdrop. The contrast emphasizes the short, textured curls and distinctive hairline, paired with a classic leather jacket.

Civil Rights Impact

Meaning ❉ The Civil Rights Impact refers to the profound effects of the Civil Rights Movement on the recognition, acceptance, and celebration of textured hair heritage.
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A close-up black and white portrait reveals a young Black woman's elegant features framed by a short, cropped natural hairstyle exhibiting tight coils and a defined hairline. Soft lighting highlights the textured hair's intricate formations and her smooth skin, emphasizing beauty and graceful confidence.

Hair Caste System

Meaning ❉ The Hair Caste System is a social hierarchy valuing hair textures based on Eurocentric ideals, deeply impacting Black and mixed-race hair heritage.
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Monochrome portrait shows a person from the back, securing a silk bonnet, indicative of nighttime hair care for textured hair. The bonnet's soft gathers and tied knot are visible, emphasizing protective styling within Black hair traditions. Gentle lighting accentuates texture. The image speaks to holistic hair wellness routines.

Black Hair Policies

Meaning ❉ Black Hair Policies define formal and informal rules governing textured hair, reflecting a history of control and cultural resilience.
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A group of women are depicted tending to their textured hair, freshly cleansed, in a sunlit outdoor setting. Their diverse afro hairstyles, ranging from tight coils to flowing spirals, are framed by their hands. The scene celebrates the beauty and ancestral heritage of Black and mixed-race hair.

Black Hair Military

Meaning ❉ The Black Hair Military defines the complex interplay between Black textured hair and military grooming regulations, highlighting cultural heritage and systemic bias.
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A young woman with striking features and dark skin tones is presented in a close up studio portrait. Her hair forms a large, spherical afro of tight coils. A soft light emphasizes the texture of her hair and the smooth planes of her face, neck, and shoulders. The monochromatic palette enhances the image's depth.

Natural Hair Military

Meaning ❉ The Natural Hair Military defines the inherent strength, disciplined care, and collective stance of textured hair as a historical and ongoing act of self-affirmation.
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A striking black and white portrait highlights a young woman's radiant skin and expertly shaped coiled textured hair, embodying natural hair beauty. Her confident gaze reflects a powerful sense of self. The graphic tee adds contemporary edge, connecting identity and expressive style.

Black Hair Legal History

Meaning ❉ The Black Hair Legal History examines laws and policies that have historically regulated Black and mixed-race hair, impacting identity and self-expression.
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A stark monochrome portrait reveals an African man adorned with a woven hat. His coiled hair contrasts with the hat's texture, the light emphasizing strong facial features. The image explores themes of identity, heritage, and the beauty of textured hair, embodying ancestral strength in a modern setting.

Identity Politics of Hair

Meaning ❉ The Identity Politics of Hair is the profound recognition that hair, particularly textured hair, is a living testament to heritage, a marker of self, and an arena where societal norms and personal autonomy intersect.
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A monochrome portrait captures a poised woman with eyes closed, light highlighting her face framed by bouncy, coiled afro texture. Strong contrast accentuates the three dimensional forms of her heritage, and highlights natural hair, conveying cultural pride and embracing mixed race identity while celebrating health.

Legal Hair Protections

Meaning ❉ Legal Hair Protections are legal frameworks safeguarding individuals from discrimination based on hair texture or style, particularly for textured hair heritage.
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