“The impact of race-based hair discrimination can last a lifetime,” said Carol Johnson, director of the Office of Civil Rights. “We know that discrimination hurts and this is particularly harrowing when it impacts our children, scarring their self esteem.”
People who wear cornrows or any other hairstyle commonly associated with race, national origin, ethnicity or culture are protected from discrimination under Austin's new CROWN Act.
It's the first city in Texas to pass what is know as a CROWN Act, but joins a growing number of cities and states across the country that have implemented the measure. Austin's Office of Civil Rights defines these as hairstyles"necessitated by, or resulting from, the characteristics of a hair texture or hairstyle commonly associated with race." Examples include afros, braids, cornrows and bantu knots.
After receiving a string of complaints during community conversations, officials from the Office of Civil Rights acknowledged discrimination based on hairstyle is a pervasive issue in Austin. At meetings earlier this year, a number of people described incidents of discrimination. One resident said a coworker told her she was “more approachable and friendly” when her hair was straight. Another said he was called a “gang member” for wearing cornrows.