On March 18, 2022, the House of Representatives passed the C.R.O.W.N. (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act. The detail of this bill is that it prevents anyone from being discriminated against due to their hair texture or style. However, it is not done as this is just a bill and in order for a bill to become a law there are a few steps. This is going in the right direction though, since it passed the House, it is now time for the Senate to vote on it. Then if the senate passes it, it moves onto to the president to sign it and then it will become an actual law nationwide. It is important to note the C.R.O.W.N. act has already been passed in certain states like California or New York. I definitely think that this would be a valuable law for everyone.
Usually when people wear their natural hair whether it be curls, twists, braids, or dreads this can be thought of as ‘unprofessional’ by some. I do not agree with this because curls are literally someone’s natural hair, and they should take pride in it. I have seen countless times where some people with natural hair just straighten their hair constantly to be seen as ‘professional’. While straight hair does look nice this should not be the reason that they are straightening it in the first place. Moreover, when it comes to dreads especially when African Americans have them there is a negative stereotype surrounding this that these people smoke weed which is just plain wrong. It is someone’s hair they should be able to do whatever they want with it (the only exception to this is, if they have to work in the food industry where they have to wear the hairnet so maybe they have to wear a specific style so it can fit in the hairnet). Nevertheless, natural hair to me is beautiful.
I have naturally curly hair and in the past when I was in middle school my mom used to straighten my hair, so it was easier to handle. I did not mind because she used to braid it when I was younger and I as long as my hair was done, I was fine. Then she stopped and I started doing it on my own just in like 2 braids and a ponytail. Then some time in high school I started watching natural hair videos on YouTube and really got invested in my hair. I started doing braids with beads, an afro, twists, and then wearing my curls out. I really liked wearing my hair in those styles or in its natural state and I still do. I love watching tutorials and trying new hairstyles for fun. For my birthday I am hoping to try African hair threading and there are more styles I would love to try. Moreover, I have not quite thought about how I would wear my hair when I entered the work force because that is years from now. However, if the C.R.O.W.N. Act becomes a law me and other people who want to wear their natural hair would really benefit from it, which is amazing. People would not have to worry about how they do their hair and just do what they think would look good.
Sources:
https://www.npr.org/2022/03/18/1087661765/house-votes-crown-act-discrimination-hair-style
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2116/text