June 15th 2024.
Recently, there has been a groundbreaking development in the state of Ohio. The Ohio House of Representatives has passed the CROWN Act, a significant piece of legislation that aims to protect students from being penalized for wearing natural hairstyles in public schools. This historical decision was made during the week of June 12.
The CROWN Act, which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, was proposed by State Representative Juanita Brent, a Democrat from Cleveland. The House Bill 178 was introduced by Representative Jamie Callender. Brent, who has always been a strong advocate for inclusivity, stated, "We want to make sure that students can confidently wear protective hairstyles, such as braids, locks, or puffs, without facing any discrimination within the state of Ohio."
This act will prevent any Ohio public school, from preschools to K through 12, from enforcing any form of punishment on students, especially students of color, for embracing their cultural identities through their natural hair. Despite its passing, Brent expressed disappointment as some lawmakers still voted against it, claiming that hair discrimination is not a real issue. She further explained, "Unfortunately, our decision-makers are mostly old white men who may not fully understand the impact of such discrimination, as they have not experienced it themselves."
Brent believes that the rejection of the CROWN Act by all white male lawmakers is a clear indication of the larger race issues prevalent in society. However, this bill is a significant step forward, particularly for black women. In an interview with News 5 Cleveland, Ladosha Wright, a cosmetologist from Cleveland Heights, shared her thoughts on the matter. She expressed, "The passing of the CROWN Act is not just the right thing to do, it is the humane thing to do." Wright has been a strong advocate for the inclusion of women of color and firmly believes in the power of hair to transform one's identity.
She further added, "In America, textured hair has historically been treated unfairly, and this is a result of the lack of understanding and knowledge about our hair before slavery." The passing of the CROWN Act is a significant step towards acknowledging and rectifying the mistreatment of textured hair in society. It is a victory not just for students but for the entire community. This legislation marks a critical milestone in the fight against discrimination based on hair.
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