Black Women’s Roundtable joins Citizen SHE United effort to end Race Based Hair Discrimination The C.R.O.W.N. Act

State-and-local-news-african-womens-featured-image — Nia Weeks, Founder and Executive Director of Citizen SHE United in New Orleans, with her two daughters, Peyton (left) and Cameron (right) [Photo credit: Phoebe Jones/WWNO]

NEW ORLEANS DATA NEWS WEEKLY – (Source: www.blackpressusa.com) – In a published report by WWNO’s Bobbi-Jeanne Misick, it was noted that the City of New Orleans became the first City in the South to “pass the C.R.O.W.N. Act Ordinance, which prohibits race-based hair discrimination, including the denial of employment and housing because of hair texture or protective hairstyles like braids, dreadlocks and bantu knots… C.R.O.W.N. is an acronym for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.”

Louisiana Unity Coalition

The Black Women’s Roundtable is pleased to join hands with Citizen SHE United to increase awareness and build added support for passage of House Bill No. 382 by Representative Candace Newell (Democrat-District 99) to become the first state in the Deep South to adopt a C.R.O.W.N. Act. “The C.R.O.W.N. Study, by Cosmetic Company Dove, revealed Black women are 80 percent more likely to change their hair to fit social norms and workplace expectations.”

In a published report by WWNO’s Bobbi-Jeanne Misick, it was noted that the City of New Orleans became the first City in the South to “pass the C.R.O.W.N. Act Ordinance, which prohibits race-based hair discrimination, including the denial of employment and housing because of hair texture or protective hairstyles like braids, dreadlocks and bantu knots… C.R.O.W.N. is an acronym for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.”

Citizen SHE United’s founder Nia Weeks, who encouraged New Orleans City Council President Helena Moreno to introduce the measure, said, “we are so excited about our success… to pass an Anti-Race Based Hair Discrimination Ordinance! We are now shooting to be the first state…

Representative Newell’s bill closely aligned with both former State Senator Troy Carter’s (Congressman Carter, LA-2nd District) and State Representative Tammy T. Phelps District 3’s CROWN Act bill, but also includes Natural hair protection addresses issues related to work, school and housing. This version is in line with previous bills successfully passed in a number of other states, with language that is crafted to address the language specifically outlined in the Louisiana Code, according to Weeks.

She adds, “This movement is being spearheaded by incredible Black Women and allies all over the Country and we have rejoiced in their success and have been grateful for the support and guidance given to us so that we can join the ranks! So, for us to be successful, we need your support!

The post Black Women’s Roundtable joins Citizen SHE United effort to end Race Based Hair Discrimination The C.R.O.W.N. Act appeared first on New Orleans Data News Weekly.

This article originally appeared in New Orleans Data News Weekly.