The CROWN Coalition has commended the states of Maine and Tennessee for officially passing and signing the CROWN Act into law.
The coalition was founded by Dove, the National Urban League, Western Center on Law and Poverty and Color Of Change, along with dozens more members.
Maine Governor Janet Mills signed the CROWN Act into law on April 20 and last month, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed the bill into law.
CROWN stands for: Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. The CROWN Act was created in 2019 by Dove and the CROWN Coalition to protect against discrimination based on race-based hairstyles by extending statutory protection to hair texture and protective styles such as braids, locs, twists and knots in the workplace and public schools.
A 2019 Dove CROWN Research Study found that Black women are 1.5 times more likely to be sent home from the workplace because of their hair.
“Another major moment for this grassroots movement that continues to grow!” stated Esi Eggleston Bracey, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of North America Beauty and Personal Care at Unilever.
“We applaud all the great work done in Maine and Tennessee to make the CROWN Act law! The Dove team is equally thrilled Louisiana has passed anti-hair discrimination legislation inspired by the CROWN Act in both chambers – now it’s up to Governor John Bel Edwards to sign it into law. We appreciate the leadership of State Senators and Representatives as they stand up for the CROWN Act! We applaud Representative Candace Newell who introduced House Bill 1083, inspired by the CROWN Act, to protect Black men, women and children in the workplace and schools from hair discrimination. As we head to NOLA this summer to celebrate National CROWN Day (July 3, 2022), we look forward to celebrating Louisiana’s victory along with Tennessee, Illinois, Maine, Alaska and the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
