What historical discrimination does the CROWN Act address for Black hair?

Roots

Consider the strand of hair, not merely as a biological filament, but as a living archive, a whisper of ages past, holding stories of resilience and profound cultural identity. For those of African descent, each coil and curve carries the weight of ancestral wisdom, a tangible link to a heritage that spans continents and centuries. This inherent connection to textured hair, deeply rooted in history, forms the very ground upon which the CROWN Act stands, seeking to mend fissures caused by generations of systemic bias.

The Helix’s Ancestry

The unique anatomical structure of textured hair, with its elliptical follicle and distinctive curl pattern, is not a deviation from a norm, but a testament to genetic diversity shaped over millennia. Ancient African civilizations understood this intrinsic design, honoring hair as a conduit for spiritual energy and a canvas for societal communication. This deep understanding of hair’s elemental biology, however, was violently disrupted.

During the transatlantic slave trade, the deliberate shaving of African captives’ heads served as a brutal initial act of dehumanization, a calculated attempt to sever their ties to identity and ancestral practices. This forced removal of hair was a profound assault on their spiritual and cultural connection to self, marking the beginning of a long, painful legacy of hair suppression (Byrd & Tharps, 2001).

Echoes of Adornment

Long before the arrival of colonial powers, hair in Africa was a vibrant language. Styles conveyed a person’s Tribe, Age, Marital Status, Wealth, Religion, and even Rank within a community. Intricate braiding patterns, passed down through generations, were not merely decorative; they were living narratives. For example, in Yoruba culture, hair was seen as the most elevated part of the body, and braided hair was used to send messages to the gods.

The time-consuming rituals of washing, oiling, braiding, and adorning hair with shells, beads, and cloth were communal activities, strengthening social bonds and preserving oral histories. This deep respect for hair as a cultural marker and a spiritual vessel stands in stark contrast to the later colonial and post-colonial attempts to diminish its significance.

Each coil and curve of textured hair holds stories of resilience, a tangible link to ancestral wisdom.

The Language of Strands

The arrival in the Americas brought a new, oppressive lexicon to Black hair. What was once a symbol of pride and belonging became a target for control. The 18th-century Tignon Laws in Louisiana, for instance, forced free Black women to cover their elaborately styled hair with a simple knotted headscarf, an overt attempt to diminish their social standing and perceived attractiveness to white men. This historical moment marks a clear shift, where hair became a battleground for identity and societal control.

The forced adoption of Eurocentric beauty standards, often involving painful and damaging chemical straightening processes, became a means of survival and assimilation in a hostile environment. The concept of “good hair,” often implying straight or loosely curled hair, emerged as a racially charged notion, contrasting sharply with the inherent beauty of diverse Afro-textured forms (Martin, 2017).

What are the Historical Roots of Hair Discrimination?

The roots of hair discrimination are deeply intertwined with the history of slavery and the subsequent efforts to enforce racial hierarchies. Following emancipation, the pressure to conform to white aesthetic norms persisted, leading many Black individuals to chemically alter their hair to secure employment or educational opportunities. This systemic devaluation of natural Black hair manifested in various forms, from outright bans on specific styles to subtle biases in hiring and school policies. A 2023 research study found that Black women’s hair is 2.5 times as likely as white women’s hair to be perceived as “unprofessional”.

This statistic powerfully illuminates the enduring legacy of historical discrimination, demonstrating how ingrained biases continue to affect Black women’s professional lives, often compelling them to alter their hair to fit narrow, Eurocentric standards. The historical context of this discrimination is crucial to understanding the need for protective legislation like the CROWN Act.

Ritual

Step into a space where the rhythm of hands intertwining strands echoes through generations, a testament to shared knowledge and persistent creativity. This section unveils the intricate rituals that have shaped textured hair, from ancient techniques to contemporary expressions, all while recognizing how historical biases attempted to constrain this profound heritage. We consider how the wisdom of past practices informs our present understanding, guiding us toward a future where every strand is celebrated.

Protective Weavings

The practice of protective styling is not a modern invention; it is a legacy. Ancient African communities mastered the art of braiding, twisting, and knotting hair not only for adornment but also for the preservation of hair health and as a means of cultural communication. Cornrows, for instance, date back to 3000 B.C. in Africa, with patterns indicating tribe, age, marital status, and even serving as maps for escape during the era of enslavement.

This ingenuity, born of necessity and artistic expression, highlights the profound practicality and symbolism embedded in these styles. The systematic suppression of these styles in the diaspora, labeling them as “unprofessional” or “untidy,” was a direct assault on this rich heritage, forcing individuals to abandon practices that were both culturally significant and beneficial for hair maintenance.

Tools of Tradition

The implements used in hair care also carry stories. From ancient combs carved from bone or wood to the modern picks designed to lift and shape natural hair, these tools are extensions of a living tradition. Enslaved people, denied access to traditional African grooming tools, adapted, using whatever was available—such as butter, kerosene, or even combs meant for livestock—to care for their hair.

This resourcefulness, though born from harsh conditions, underscores the unwavering commitment to hair care and the preservation of identity. The evolution of these tools, from necessity to specialized instruments, mirrors the ongoing journey of textured hair care, connecting historical ingenuity with contemporary advancements.

The wisdom of past hair practices guides our present understanding, ensuring every strand is celebrated.

The Veil of Identity

Wigs and hair extensions, often seen as modern fashion statements, also possess a deep historical and cultural lineage within Black communities. In ancient Egypt, elaborate wigs signified wealth, religious devotion, and social standing. In the diaspora, during periods of intense discrimination, wigs and straightened extensions offered a means of conforming to dominant beauty standards, sometimes as a shield against prejudice in workplaces and schools.

However, this conformity often came at a personal cost, a disjunction from one’s authentic self and heritage. The CROWN Act acknowledges this historical pressure, aiming to dismantle the necessity of such concessions.

How Did Historical Practices Shape Hair Care Today?

Historical practices continue to shape contemporary hair care by underscoring the enduring value of protective styling and the significance of communal grooming. The resilience shown by enslaved people in preserving their hair traditions, despite immense pressure, has contributed to the resurgence of natural hair movements today. Modern hair care routines often draw directly from ancestral wisdom, recognizing the efficacy of natural ingredients and gentle handling.

For instance, the use of natural oils like Shea Butter and Coconut Oil, common in ancestral African hair care, remains central to many contemporary regimens. The understanding of hair as a spiritual and social marker, once nearly erased, is now actively reclaimed, influencing product development and styling philosophies that prioritize health and cultural authenticity.

• Shea Butter ❉ Revered for centuries across West Africa, its rich emollients provided deep moisture and protection for textured hair against harsh climates, a tradition that continues today.
• Coconut Oil ❉ A staple in many tropical African and diasporic communities, used for its conditioning properties and to impart shine, linking current practices to ancient remedies.
• Black Soap (Alata Samina) ❉ Originating from West Africa, this cleansing agent, often made from plantain skins and palm oil, offers a gentle yet effective wash, echoing ancestral purity rituals.

Relay

To truly grasp the significance of the CROWN Act, we must delve into the less apparent complexities, where the strands of science, culture, and enduring heritage converge. This exploration invites a profound insight into how the query, “What historical discrimination does the CROWN Act address for Black hair?”, unearths not merely legal statutes, but a living narrative of identity, struggle, and profound reclamation. It is a journey from the cellular structure of a hair shaft to the societal structures that sought to diminish its inherent beauty, revealing how an act of legislation can echo through the deepest channels of cultural memory.

The Crown’s Burden

For generations, the natural state of Black hair was systematically devalued, often deemed “unprofessional,” “unruly,” or “unkempt” within dominant societal frameworks. This perception was not accidental; it was a deliberate imposition of Eurocentric beauty standards designed to police Black identity and maintain white supremacist structures. The psychological toll of this relentless pressure was immense. Black individuals, particularly women, often felt compelled to chemically straighten their hair or adopt styles that mimicked straighter textures to secure educational opportunities or employment.

The consequences of non-conformity were tangible ❉ a 2019 study revealed that Black women were 1.5 times more likely to be sent home from work because of their hair. Moreover, 66% of Black children in majority-white schools reported experiencing hair discrimination, with 100% of Black elementary school girls in these environments reporting discrimination by the age of 10. This constant scrutiny and the associated disciplinary actions—from being sent home from school to job offer revocations—created an undue burden, forcing a choice between cultural authenticity and social acceptance.

The CROWN Act’s Dawn

The CROWN Act, standing for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” emerged as a direct legislative response to this deeply ingrained historical discrimination. Introduced in 2019, with California being the first state to enact it, this legislation broadens the definition of race in anti-discrimination laws to explicitly include hair texture and protective styles, such as Braids, Locs, and Twists. The Act addresses the loophole in previous civil rights legislation, which, while prohibiting race-based discrimination, often failed to account for phenotypical markers of race like hair.

By specifically protecting these hairstyles, the CROWN Act acknowledges that discrimination based on hair is, in essence, a form of racial discrimination. It seeks to dismantle policies that, under the guise of “professionalism” or “grooming standards,” have historically targeted Black individuals, denying them access to education and employment.

The CROWN Act stands as a legislative response to deeply ingrained hair discrimination, explicitly including hair texture and protective styles in anti-discrimination laws.

Reclaiming the Strand

The CROWN Act’s true power lies in its affirmation of textured hair heritage. It provides legal recourse for those who have faced discrimination, shifting the burden from the individual to the system. For instance, the widely publicized case of Deandre Arnold, a high school student prevented from participating in his graduation ceremony due to his locs, became a powerful symbol of the discrimination the CROWN Act seeks to prevent. While some interpretations and applications of the Act still face challenges, as seen in the Darryl George case where hair length was not explicitly covered in Texas’s CROWN Act, the legislation represents a significant stride towards protecting the right to cultural expression.

It signals a societal recognition that natural hair is not a distraction or a defiance, but an intrinsic part of Black identity and heritage. This legal backing supports a broader movement of self-acceptance and pride, allowing individuals to wear their crowns without fear of penalty.

What Cultural Narratives Did the CROWN Act Seek to Mend?

The CROWN Act seeks to mend cultural narratives that equated natural Black hair with unprofessionalism, disorder, or unruliness, narratives deeply embedded during centuries of systemic oppression. It directly challenges the historical pressure for Black individuals to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards, a pressure that often led to damaging chemical treatments and a disconnection from ancestral practices. The Act aims to restore the narrative of Black hair as a symbol of Identity, Resistance, and Celebration, echoing its pre-colonial significance as a source of spiritual power and social communication.

By providing legal protection, it empowers individuals to reclaim their authentic selves, fostering an environment where textured hair is not merely tolerated, but respected and valued as a beautiful manifestation of a rich cultural lineage. This legislative effort contributes to a broader societal healing, acknowledging the historical harm and working towards a future where cultural expression through hair is universally honored.

Reflection

The journey through the historical discrimination addressed by the CROWN Act reveals a profound truth ❉ textured hair is far more than mere keratin and pigment. It is a living, breathing testament to an enduring heritage, a repository of stories, resilience, and unyielding spirit. From the communal rituals of ancient African societies, where hair was a sacred map of identity and lineage, to the deliberate acts of suppression during enslavement and beyond, the narrative of Black hair mirrors the larger arc of a people’s experience.

The CROWN Act, in its legislative reach, does not simply alter legal definitions; it offers a pathway to mend deep societal wounds, allowing the soul of a strand to unfurl without constraint. It invites a collective understanding that the beauty of textured hair is not merely aesthetic, but a vital thread in the vibrant tapestry of human history, a legacy to be honored, protected, and celebrated for generations to come.

References

• Byrd, A. D. & Tharps, L. (2001). Hair Story ❉ Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America. St. Martin’s Press.
• Martin, A. (2017, August 23). The Hatred of Black Hair Goes Beyond Ignorance. Time .
• Dove & LinkedIn. (2023). CROWN Workplace Research Study .
• Duke, C. (2020). The Natural Hair Bias in Job Recruitment. Michigan State University & Duke University.
• Owens Patton, T. (2006). Braids and Afros ❉ A Sociological Look at the Evolution of Black Hair in America .