People impacted by hair discrimination are encouraged to share their stories at micrownact.com
LANSING, Mich. (May 18, 2023) – Today, the Michigan Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee passed Sen. Sarah Anthony’s (D-Lansing) Senate Bill 90, also known as the CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act, to protect Michigan residents from discrimination in the workplace based on wearing their natural hair. The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
“As we continue the important effort to make our workplaces and our state as a whole a more welcoming place, protecting Black Michiganders against hair discrimination is a necessary and significant step,” said Sen. Anthony. “This bill even getting a hearing has been years in the making. But as our new legislative leaders seek to better align our state’s laws with our values and the needs of our people—all people—I am confident this bill will continue to progress.”
An overwhelming percentage of employees of color in the workplace feel their success or reputation is negatively impacted when they elect to style their natural hair texture or wear protective styles such as braids, locks, twists, and knots. This systemic discrimination based on one’s hairstyle has no place in Michigan, which is why adopting the CROWN Act is a necessary step to take towards breaking down these invisible barriers to success.
“With Sen. Anthony’s bill passing committee and advancing to the full Senate, Michigan is one step closer to banning racial discrimination based on how one wears one’s hair,” said Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor), Chair of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus. “Hopefully, we will get the CROWN Act passed so that everyone is protected from racial and ethnic hair discrimination.”
Earlier this year, Sen. Anthony was joined by other Senators and Representatives, including members of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus, as well as impacted individuals for a press conference to discuss the importance of this legislation. And last week, Sen. Anthony, Adjoa B. Asamoah from ABA Consulting and the creator of the CROWN Act, Steve Japinga from the Lansing Regional Chamber, and Gabrielle Dresner from ACLU Michigan spoke in support of the bill at a hearing of the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. More than 100 individuals and organizations also submitted cards of support on the bill last week.
Sen. Anthony has also launched a website, micrownact.com, to provide additional information and collect stories of people who have been impacted by hair discrimination.
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