discrimination based on hair texture in the united states discrimination based on hair texture in the united states in the united states, discrimination based on hair texture is a form of social injustice that has been predominantly experienced by african americans and predates the founding of the country. part of a series ondiscrimination forms institutional structural attributes age disability genetics hair color hair texture height looks size language race / ethnicity nordicism skin color rank caste class religion sex sexual orientation social acephobia arophobia adultism anti-albinism anti-autism anti-drug addicts anti-homelessness anti-intellectualism anti-intersex anti-left handedness anti-masonry aporophobia audism biphobia cronyism elitism ephebiphobia fatphobia gayphobia gerontophobia heterosexism hiv/aids stigma homophobia leprosy stigma lesbophobia misandry misogyny nepotism pedophobia perpetual foreigner pregnancy sectarianism supremacism black white transphobia non-binary 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such discrimination. california was the first state to do so in 2019 with the crown (create a respectful and open workplace for natural hair) act (sb 188). as of 2023, twenty states have passed similar legislation, but there is no equivalent law at the federal level. a federal crown act was proposed in 2020, and was passed by the house of representatives but not the senate. another bill was introduced in the house of representatives in 2021; it was approved by the house in 2022, and awaits consideration in the senate. history in the late 1700s, free africans in new orleans were able to buy their freedom from slavery, resulting in an increase of interracial marriage in louisiana. in response, charles iii of spain demanded louisiana colonial governor esteban rodríguez miró to "'establish public order and proper standards of morality,' with specific reference to a "large class" of "mulattos" and particularly "mulatto" women.'" louisiana women of african descent wore hairstyles that incorporated feathers and jewels, which caught the attention of white men. to comply with charles iii's demand, miró issued an edict that required creole women to wear a tignon to conceal their hair. by the late 1800s, african american women were straightening their hair to meet a eurocentric vision of society with the use of hot combs and other products improved by madam c. j. walker. however, the black pride movement of the 1960s and 1970s made the afro a popular hairstyle among african americans and considered a symbol of resistance. in 1964, the u.s. federal government passed the civil rights act, which prohibited employment discrimination based on race, but it was left to interpretation by the courts as to what this constituted. in 1970, beverly jenkins was denied a promotion in the blue cross by her white supervisor due to her afro. in 1976, the federal court case jenkins v. blue cross mutual hospital insurance determined that afros were protected by title vii of the civil rights act of 1964. however, the case did not extend protections against hair discrimination. in the 2010s, natural hairstyles saw an increase in popularity in response to celebrities such as viola davis, lupita nyong'o, ava duvernay, and stacey abrams wearing natural hair. however, the popularity also resulted in increased attention to dress codes and hair regulations as african american workers and students across the u.s. were subjected to punishment due to their hair. because of awareness to the issue, california passed the crown act in july 2019, becoming the first u.s. state to prohibit discrimination against workers and students based on their natural hair. california's passage of the bill has led many other states to consider similar bills banning hair discrimination and a bill proposed at the federal level by u.s. representative cedric richmond and u.s. senator cory booker. in september 2020, u.s. representative ilhan omar announced the passage of the crown act in the house of representatives, which would prohibit racialized hair discrimination nationally if enacted. legislation as of july 2022, 18 u.s. states have prohibited discrimination based on hair texture. passed law that prohibits discrimination based on hair texture legislation only applies to workplace discrimination based on hair style or texture legislation only applies to students in schools at least one legislative chamber has passed similar legislation state date enacted notes california july 3, 2019 passed the crown act new york july 12, 2019 passed an amendment to the new york human rights law new jersey december 19, 2019 passed the crown act virginia march 3, 2020 passed the virginia human rights act colorado march 6, 2020 passed the crown act washington march 19, 2020 passed an amendment to the washington state law against discrimination maryland may 8, 2020 passed without governor's signature connecticut march 4, 2021 passed the crown act new mexico april 5, 2021 passed the crown act delaware april 13, 2021 passed the crown act nebraska may 5, 2021 passed the crown act nevada june 4, 2021 passed the crown act oregon june 11, 2021 passed the crown act illinois august 13, 2021 passed simmons law maine may 3, 2022 passed the crown act tennessee may 27, 2022 passed the crown act; only applies to workplace discrimination louisiana june 21, 2022 passed the crown act massachusetts july 26, 2022 passed the crown act alaska september 8, 2022 passed "an act relating to dress codes and natural hairstyles"; only applies to educational discrimination in schools. minnesota february 1, 2023 passed the crown act