Central Florida hairstylists push for ‘CROWN Act’ to fight hair discrimination

Florida lawmakers are trying into whether or not to ban discrimination based mostly on hair texture, sort or fashion with a invoice filed within the state Senate this week.

The “CROWN Act” invoice — quick for “Making a Respectful and Open World for Pure Hair” — was filed by Sen. Bobby Powell on Wednesday to ban discrimination based mostly on hairstyles in Florida colleges.

A former Florida senator tried to get the CROWN Act handed in January 2022, nevertheless it died in the neighborhood affairs committee a pair months later.

Nonetheless, the CROWN Act is a legislation in 20 different states, and Central Florida hairstylists say that the laws is critical.

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Shakakan Stamper is a self-described grasp loctician: a specialised hairstylist who works with dreadlocks and related sorts of hair. She instructed Information 6 that she made the change from straight hair to locs years in the past, and she or he encourages different Black girls to embrace their pure hairstyles.

Nonetheless, Stamper stated that a few of her former purchasers have been hesitant to put on their hair naturally within the office.

“Coming from company America, I can perceive the place the worry comes from,” Stamper stated. “We nonetheless need to stay. We nonetheless need to eat, so typically, we do have to adapt, nevertheless it hurts within the inside as a result of it’s like, “OK, why can’t I be myself?”

Angel Neal, a cosmetologist of greater than 30 years, stated that she’s heard a number of related tales from her clientele.

“Lots of little children now, their mothers are holding their hair pure, so that they’re getting picked at, they usually’re getting teased in school,” Neal stated.

The dialog about what’s and isn’t acceptable or skilled hair is ongoing.

“I believe proper now, it shouldn’t even matter how we put on our hair,” Neal stated. “I believe that’s a disgrace that we’re nonetheless preventing for one thing to look pure, one thing that’s pure for us.”

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