HYANNIS, MA -- 06/14/22 -- Keniqua Smith, of Divas Beauty Studio, works on re-twisting her brother's, Kenard Smith, dreadlocks, also known as locs. At right, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker spoke to supporters on Friday, Dec. 20, 2019, in Adel, Iowa.
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(Washington, DC) – US Senator Corey Booker — now New Jersey’s senior senator — doesn’t have much in the way of hair. But his latest legislative effort centers on hair. More specifically, Booker hopes to end so-called “hair discrimination,” with the CROWN Act.
The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act is aimed at avoiding racial bias as connected to Black American hair styles. Booker, a New Jersey Democrat who previously served as Newark’s mayor, has teamed up with Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins to re-introduce the bill. It aims to ban discriminations as tied to hairstyles commonly associated with Black Americans such as cornrows, braids, locs (dreadlocks), and tightly coiled or curled hair.
Senator Booker says everyone should be able to show up to school or work or life and embrace their racial identity without fear of prejudice or bias. There are already similar protections in place against hair discrimination in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
