New York Follows California’s Lead In Banning Hair Discrimination

The fight against hair discrimination continues to sweep across the country, as another prominent state just announced its own ban in discriminating against others due to their hair.

Weeks after California passed its official ban on hair discrimination, New York has now followed its lead. As reported by @THR, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill into law on July 12^th, signaling a complete ban of racial discrimination based on natural hair textures.

New York’s new law expands its definition of race to include various hair textures and styles, such as braids and twists. Back in June, neighboring state New Jersey introduced its own proposal on banning hair discrimination.

California’s law surrounding banning hair discrimination, known as The CROWN Act (Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair,) says that America’s long history is “riddled with laws and societal norms that equated ‘blackness,’ and the associated physical traits, for example, dark skin, kinky and curly hair to a badge of inferiority, sometimes subject to separate and unequal treatment.”

The CROWN Act also states that these long-held ideals have influenced American standards of professionalism, which is “closely linked” to European beauty features, as some workplace dress codes don’t allow natural black hair. Ultimately the favoritism toward white grooming is in “direct opposition to equity and opportunity for all.”

Several prominent black figures in Hollywood have recently come out about how racial hair discrimination has impacted them while on set. Viola Davis, Kerry Washington, Lupita Nyong’o and DeWanda Wise have all openly called out how natural black hair textures are represented and perceived in the media.

Roommates, what are your thoughts on banning hair discrimination?