LANSING, Mich., Feb. 19, 2021 — State Rep. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) hosted a press conference today to discuss House Bill 4275, also known as the Michigan CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural hair). Anthony introduced this legislation to prevent discrimination by expanding state law to recognize a person’s hair as a characteristic of race.
“Discrimination based on hairstyles has long served as a thinly-veiled excuse to discriminate based on race,” Anthony said. “This form of prejudice is a real problem, one that countless men, women, and children are forced to face every day.”
The CROWN Act will specify hair texture and protective hairstyles, such as braids, locs and twists, as traits historically associated with race to protect Michiganders from discrimination in the workplace, all levels of public education, public accommodations and services, and real estate transactions. This legislation echoes successful efforts in seven other states to ban discrimination against natural hairstyles in the workplace, all levels of public education, public accommodations and services, and real estate transactions. Anthony introduced a similar bill last term which was not brought to a vote.
Anthony was joined at today’s press conference by community advocate Adjoa B. Asamoah, Good Girl Podcast CEO Cameo King, and VP of Public Affairs for the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Steve Japinga.
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