The Official Campaign of The CROWN Act is led by the CROWN Coalition, founded by Dove, National Urban League, Color Of Change, and Western Center on Law & Poverty.
The CROWN Act, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” is a law that prohibits race-based hair discrimination, which is the denial of employment and educational opportunities because of hair texture or protective hairstyles including braids, locs, twists or bantu knots.
23 States Down, 27 To Go
Help Us End Hair Discrimination Nationwide
Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)
The Bill Passed in the U.S. House of Representatives
On March 18, 2022, the measure, H.R. 2116 — or the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act — passed on a vote of 235 to 189, with 14 Republicans joining all Democrats in supporting the measure. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.)
U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)
The Bill Did Not Pass in the U.S. Senate
On December 14, 2022, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) took to the United States Senate Floor and made a case for the passage of the CROWN Act by unanimous consent. It did not pass the U.S. Senate and will need to be re-introduced during the 2023 legislative session.
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U.S. Representative Cedric Richmond
(D-LA)
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Representative Ayanna Pressley
(D-MA)
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Marcia Fudge
(D-OH)
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Barbara Lee
(D-CA)
Join the Movement
You can help be a part of the change by taking these 2 steps:
Step 1. Email Your Legislator
You can email a letter right now to your senator using our template.
Step 2. Sign the Petition
Help end hair discrimination by adding your signature to the petition.
A team of Black women leaders created the CROWN Act movement in partnership with a coalition of organizations and individuals actively supporting the movement.
Esi Eggleston Bracey
President Unilever USA, CEO North America Personal Care
Kelli Richardson Lawson
Founder & CEO, House of JOY
Orlena Nwokah Blanchard
Managing Partner, Seven Elements Group
Adjoa B. Asamoah
Founder & CEO, ABA Consulting
Lawmakers Who Lead The CROWN Act
First introduced in California in January 2019 and signed into law on July 3, 2019, the inaugural CROWN Act expanded the definition of race in the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and state Education Code to ensure protection in workplaces and K-12 public and charter schools.
Since then, The CROWN Act has galvanized support from federal and state legislators in the movement to end hair discrimination nationwide.
CALIFORNIA: Senator Holly J. Mitchell, first to introduce and name The CROWN Act SB188
NEW YORK: Assemblymember Tremaine S. Wright S6209A A7797
NEW YORK: Senator Jamaal T. Bailey S6209A A7797
NEW JERSEY: Senator Sandra B. Cunningham S3945 A5564
NEW JERSEY: Assemblymember Angela McKnight S3945 A5564
VIRGINIA: Delegate Delores L. McQuinn SB 50 HB 1514
VIRGINIA: Senator Lionell Spruill Sr. SB 50 HB 1514
WASHINGTON: Representative Melanie Morgan HB 2602
COLORADO: Representative Leslie Herod HB20 - 1048
COLORADO: Senator Rhonda Fields HB20 - 1048
COLORADO: Representative Janet Buckner HB20 - 1048
PHILIADELPHIA, PA City Coucilmember Cherelle L. Parker 200252
MARYLAND: Senator William C. Smith, Jr. SB 531/HB 1444
MARYLAND: Delegate Stephanie M. Smith SB 531/HB 1444
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD: Councilmember Nancy Navarro 30-19
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD: Councilmember Will Jawando 30-19
CINCINNATI, OH: City Councilmember Chris Seelbach
CONNECTICUT: Representative Robyn Porter (HB 6515)
DELAWARE: Senator Darius Brown - SB 32
DELAWARE: Rep. Kendra Johnson – SB 32
NEW MEXICO: House Majority Leader Sheryl Williams Stapleton (HB29 Inspired by the CROWN Act)
NEW MEXICO: Senator Harold Pope (SB80 Inspired by the CROWN Act)
NEVADA: Senator Dina Neal SB 327
OREGON: Rep. Janelle Bynum (HB 2935)
MAINE: Senator Matthea Daughtry (LD 598)
NEBRASKA: Senator Terrell McKinney (LB 451)
TENNESSEE: Senator Raumesh Akbari (SB 136)
MASSACHUSETTS: Senator Sal DiDomenico (MA H4554)
MASSACHUSETTS: Senator Adam Gomez (MA H4554)
MASSACHUSETTS: Representative Chynah Tyler (MA H4554)
MASSACHUSETTS: Representative Steven Ultrino (MA H4554)
MINNESOTA: Representative Esther Agbaje (HF 37)
MINNESOTA: Senator Bobby Joe Champion (HF 37)
The CROWN Coalition Is Ending Discrimination Against Black Hair
The CROWN Coalition is an alliance of organizations, including founding members Dove, National Urban League, Color Of Change, and Western Center on Law and Poverty, that is dedicated to the advancement of anti-discrimination legislation across the United States. With the help of a diverse array of organizations in the social justice, business, legal, and education sectors, the CROWN Coalition has had tremendous success elevating the public narrative around this important issue and inspiring a movement to end hair bias and discrimination.
Supporting Members of the Coalition and
Supporters of The CROWN Act
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
The Links, Inc.
Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
National Black Caucus
of State Legislators (NBCSL)
National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women (NOBEL Women)
African American Mayors Association (AAMA)
National Action Network (NAN)
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Black Women’s Agenda
National Council of Negro Women (NCNW)
Black Women’s Roundtable
National Women’s Law Center
Black Women Organized for Political Action
National Black MBA Association, Inc.
National Black Child Development Institute, Inc. (NBCDI)
U. S. Black Chambers, Inc.
Anti-Defamation League
YWCA Black Business Association
Girls, Inc.
Black Women’s Health Imperative
Private School Village (PSV)
Association of Black Psychologists
Mocha Moms, Inc.
Women’s Foundation of California
YWCA of the Greater Capital Region
ACLU New York
ACLU Maryland
Auxiliary to the National Medical Association
Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc.
Greater Sacramento Urban League
National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc.
Women’s Missionary Council – CME Church
Black Women for Wellness Action Project
Greater Sacramento Urban League
National Coalition of
100 Black Women-Sacramento Chapter
EMERGE
Natural Beauty Industry Alliance
Beauty and Barber Empowerment Center
Ujima, Inc.
Hip Hop Sisters Foundation
Alliance for Boys and Men of Color
Equal Rights Advocates
Public Health Advocates
American Academy of Pediatrics
Personal Care Products Council (PCPC)
Courage Campaign
Greenlining Institute
Women Impacting Public Policy, Inc.
Professional Beauty Association
The Natural Hair Industry Convention
Curly Girl Collective
Save A Girl, Save A World
EARTHGIRL
California Black Health Network
Black American Political Association of California
Mothers of Black Boys United
National Association of University Women-Windy City Branch
National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs (NACWC)
Women’s Equity Center and Action Network (WE CAN)
Black Girls Vote
Black Kids Swim
PrettyPonytails, LLC
ACLU Virginia
ACLU Tennessee
Black American Political Association of California
Continental Societies, Inc.
Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc.
National Drifter’s Incorporated
Women’s Missionary Society for the African Episcopal Methodist
California Black Chamber of Commerce
Women’s Foundation
of California
National Association
of Social Workers-California Chapter
California Employment Lawyers Association
California Civil Liberties Advocacy
California Teachers Association
American Federation of State; County and Municipal Employees
NYC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
ACLU New Jersey
ACLU California
ACLU of Northern California
ACLU of Southern California
ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties
ACLU Georgia
Berkeley City Council
National Lawyers Guild – Sacramento Chapter
Los Angeles County Office of Education
Los Angeles Community College District
City and County of San Francisco Department on the Status of Women
NYC Black Women’s Political Club
ImpactEDI
ACLU New Mexico
Building Opportunities and Opening Minds (BOOM)
Junior League of Boston
Hustlers Guild
Black Girls Vote
YWCA USA
YWCA White Plains & Central Westchester
Mahogany Mermaid
ACLU DelawareACLU
OregonACLU MaineBlack
Business AssociationThe
GirlFriends, Inc.LambdaThe
Society, Inc.Women’s Home and
Overseas Missionary Society, AME Zion
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