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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 features a young girl with intricately styled cornrow braids demonstrating healthy scalp maintenance. The hairstyle highlights ancestral braiding techniques, emphasizing hair follicle stimulation, protective styling benefits, sebaceous balance, and low manipulation practices for optimal length retention and textured hair expression, illustrating a commitment to natural hair traditions and scalp wellness.

Ancestral Discrimination

Meaning ❉ Ancestral Discrimination defines systemic prejudice against inherited hair characteristics rooted in historical and cultural devaluation of textured hair.
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A monochrome portrait showcases an elder and child interweaving strands in a traditional craft, highlighting passing heritage down through generations. The elder's tightly coiled, light-colored hair contrasts youthful texture. Deep lines mark a face illuminated with wisdom. Beads adorn their neck, while detailed skirts add depth.

Wealth Inequity

Meaning ❉ Wealth Inequity, in the context of textured hair, is the systemic economic disparity stemming from historical oppression and ongoing burdens impacting generational prosperity.
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A young person, photographed in black and white, styles textured hair with white barrettes, lifting a section to secure it. The dark hoodie contrasts with the hair's blonde sections highlighting varied undulations. The soft light emphasizes the hair's unique texture and personal aesthetic expression reflecting both ancestral heritage and evolving modern style.

Cornrows Legal Status

Meaning ❉ Cornrows Legal Status delineates the evolving legal recognition and protection of cornrows as a racial and cultural expression.
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The black and white portrait showcases a woman with intricately braided textured hair accented by silver coin embellishments. Her traditional headdress highlights cultural heritage, emphasizing intricate coil patterns, precision styling. Soft diffused light reveals skin's tonal depth and the fabric's subtle texture. The image resonates with beauty and ancestral connections.

Social Marginalization

Meaning ❉ Social marginalization refers to the systemic exclusion of individuals or groups from full societal participation, often powerfully expressed through hair-based bias.
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A monochrome studio portrait showcases a subject with a closely cropped hairstyle featuring intricate wave-like texture. The interplay of light and shadow accentuates the fine details of the textured short hair formation highlighting the subject's features against a neutral backdrop, conveying strength and unique beauty.

Dignity Rights

Meaning ❉ Dignity Rights define the inherent worth and respect due to every person, particularly seen in the freedom to express textured hair heritage.
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The black and white photograph highlights a woman with a precisely styled bob, its straight lines conveying modern elegance. Her polished strands reflect light, accentuating the shape and smooth texture. Strong brows frame the face. A dark top complements the composition's tonal depth, emphasizing the face.

Anti-Bias Policies

Meaning ❉ Anti-Bias Policies protect and celebrate textured hair, dismantling historical prejudice and fostering equity through legal frameworks and cultural affirmation.
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Close-up black and white portrait focuses on a woman with short, wet-styled textured hair. Shadowing emphasizes her features, enhancing sleek, sculpted waves against her skin. The one-shoulder dress underscores the smooth skin, offering visual contrast, highlighting her form and her heritage, embodying modern beauty standards through ancestral roots.

Aesthetic Bias

Meaning ❉ Aesthetic Bias is a societal preference for certain visual attributes, often marginalizing textured hair due to historical Eurocentric beauty standards.
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The striking black and white image showcases a woman of African descent with voluminous, coiled textured hair, styled upwards. Her radiant skin contrasts with the dark background, emphasizing her symmetrical features and the soft light highlighting her shoulders. This artful portrait embodies strength and embraces heritage through expressive hairstyling.

Language Evolution

Meaning ❉ Language evolution describes the shifting meanings and creation of words related to textured hair, reflecting cultural identity and historical experiences.
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Six abstract floral forms exhibit a play of shadow, texture, and botanical rhythm. Their complex petal structure, reminiscent of unfolding coils, evoke ideas of ancestral roots, natural growth, and wellness inherent in holistic hair care practices. These elements offer contemplation of textured hair's intrinsic elegance.

Racial Discrimination Laws

Meaning ❉ Racial discrimination laws are legal frameworks combating unequal treatment based on race, increasingly encompassing hair texture and culturally significant styles.
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