Welcome to the Deeper Than Hair newsletter!

Latest updates on the CROWN Act, natural hair discrimination throughout the United States, and the untold stories of women with lived experiences of hair discrimination.

This newsletter serves a community whose hair identity is believed to just be an aesthetic—Black and brown women in workplaces, schools, and society. According to a CROWN research study conducted by the JOY Collective for Dove, Black women are 1.5 times more likely to be sent home from work due to their hair. The study also reports 80% of Black women are likely to change their hair from its natural state to be accepted at work.

Due to Eurocentric beauty standards, many Black and brown women feel they must assimilate to fit in. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) are not only discriminated against because of their hair texture; it’s about their race and skin complexion. Thanks to the CROWN Act, which is the basis of my work in this community, Black women in qualifying states are protected by this legislation. The CROWN Act prohibits hair discrimination based on race in workplaces and schools. The law first passed in California on July 3, 2019, which is now known as CROWN Day.

I am partnering up with the CROWN Campaign, where I serve as their fellow. The CROWN Campaign is an interdisciplinary team and growing village of Black women and grassroots advocates across the U.S. who have either experienced hair discrimination or know people impacted by it. The CROWN Campaign is comprised of experts in the legal, research, advocacy, and equity fields. Through working with them, I have been able to continue the conversation on natural hair discrimination and utilize my journalism experience to address the untold stories.

To learn more about the CROWN Campaign’s history and mission, check out this 10-minute video: