BALTIMORE — When Stephanie M. Smith was an undergraduate faculty scholar in Virginia, an older Black man approached her in a grocery store and made a essential remark about her newly self-locked pure hair.
Maryland
Confidence built since Maryland’s CROWN Act took effect
![Confidence built since Maryland’s CROWN Act took effect Confidence built since Maryland’s CROWN Act took effect](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/3QLH3ZCS2II63LELBC57VMOFUU.jpg&w=1440)
Smith, who’s Black, efficiently pushed in 2020 for Maryland lawmakers to cross the Making a Respectful and Open World for Pure Hair Act, which bans employment discrimination on the premise of racial perceptions relating to hair texture or kinds reminiscent of Afros, locks and braids. Previous to the CROWN Act taking impact in October 2020, Black folks might face employment loss or punishment in fields reminiscent of regulation enforcement, the airline trade and the armed providers.
“As an individual who wears my hair in locks, plenty of time folks don’t notice the emotional labor that folks put in in order that they don’t seem to be discriminated in opposition to within the office,” she mentioned, recalling tales of how her fellow Black feminine legal professionals would agonize over how you can put on their hair throughout image day on the agency.
Smith mentioned the passage of comparable legal guidelines in New York and California prompted her to introduce laws in Maryland. “It’s not a beauty situation, it’s a civil rights situation. It’s the subsequent leg within the evolution of the discrimination that has a disproportionate impression on Black and brown folks,” Smith mentioned.
Because the CROWN Act’s passage, Smith mentioned, the eyes of many colleagues have been opened to the extent to which hair has been weaponized. She mentioned she has additionally met with many individuals, from college students to members of girls’s teams, who now really feel extra empowered beneath the safety.
“It’s giving folks a real authorized treatment. Earlier than, they might simply brush it off. It’s constructing accountability,” she mentioned.
Maryland employers who violate the CROWN Act face penalties that embody, however are usually not restricted to: financial aid for the sufferer, together with misplaced/again wages, extra time and precise damages. They could even be required to supply coaching for the employer and/or the staff, and to draft or revise anti-discrimination insurance policies for all workers.
Civil penalties may be imposed beginning at $500 for the primary offense, $1,000 for the second offense and $2,500 for the third offense.
Previous to the regulation’s passage, Baltimore Metropolis’s Workplace of Fairness and Civil Rights acquired two complaints regarding hair discrimination. Because the measure handed, the workplace has not acquired a single grievance.
“The laws has a robust preemptive impact. The extra schooling we do across the laws, the larger the chance that no worker or job applicant will expertise discrimination due to the best way they put on their hair,” mentioned Caylin Younger, the workplace’s deputy director. “The laws additionally helps individualism all through our workforce. Staff and job candidates are free to put on their hair nonetheless they need, and never worry retribution or unfair consideration.”
The Maryland Fee on Civil Rights additionally reported no complaints beneath the brand new regulation.
Nicki Mayo, a 42-year-old Bowie resident who has labored in broadcast journalism for greater than twenty years, recalled the ache of her early years on air, when she was inspired to put on her hair in a Eurocentric manner.
“I want the CROWN Act was round after I bought out of college in 2001,” mentioned Mayo, who presently works on-air for exhibits on TV One and Oxygen. She is now the editor at massive for Black Ladies Unmuted, a platform devoted to Black girls and politics.
“All of my work in small markets on-air had consultants come and inform us how you can look,” she added. “I had a everlasting relaxer on the time. That they had completely different recommendation for me yearly. They informed me to place weave in, or colours that weren’t pure to my pores and skin hue. I used to be by no means inspired to go pure. That hurts if you find yourself not making some huge cash and you are attempting to do the most effective with wardrobe, and they’re coming after you for the hair that’s naturally popping out of your head.”
Now, she loves sporting her pure curls on-air.
“They (curls) are daring and glossy and it actually seems like me for as soon as,” mentioned Mayo, who labored at Baltimore station WMAR from 2012 to 2014 and is a previous president of the Baltimore Affiliation of Black Journalists. “The truth that most of my on-air work now could be on a Black community, I really feel so proud that I’m sporting my pure hair on a Black community. I really like the mainstreamness of all of it. That’s simply so wild to me.”
Smith mentioned she felt sorry for the older man who years in the past disparaged her coiffure within the grocery retailer. She believes he was conditioned to imagine that pure hairstyles have been unacceptable. She additionally realizes that if she didn’t have such a robust sense of self, his phrases might have been damning to her spirit.
“It might have been so chilling,” she mentioned. “It might have made me cease (sporting my hair like that).”
Smith mentioned she needs white folks to know that “what’s most necessary about an individual — your worker, colleague, classmates — is what’s inside their head, not on their head. I additionally need them to grasp that what this regulation is doing is increasing the definition of discrimination to guard pure Black hair and protecting hairstyles.”
The passage of the CROWN Act in Maryland has affected companies — significantly within the magnificence trade.
Movie star hairstylist Ericka Cherrie estimates that fifty% of the purchasers at her Baltimore salon, Create The Lovely Salon, have pure hairstyles.
Previous to the regulation, numerous her purchasers wouldn’t show pure hairstyles. One went as far as “hiding” her dreadlocks beneath a wig whereas at work.
“Now persons are extra snug to say, ‘That is who I’m,’” mentioned Cherrie, who has accomplished the hair of a number of members of TV’s “The Actual Housewives of Atlanta,” in addition to at numerous New York Style Week exhibits reminiscent of these of Marc Jacobs and LaQuan Smith. “Ladies who wore perms for years wished to be pure and felt as if they couldn’t due to work and the way folks would react.”
Movie star hairstylist Edward Harvey has witnessed an 85% bounce in purchasers sporting pure hairstyles because the CROWN Act handed in Maryland.
“Ethnic girls from all cultures have started to embrace their curls earlier than it was frowned upon within the office or deemed as unprofessional,” mentioned Harvey, a Baltimore resident who’s a key hairstylist for OCTET Productions in Washington, D.C. His purchasers have included rapper Remy Ma; comic and actress Sherri Shepherd; and actress Victoria Rowell. “Women and men have started to lock their (hair) and put on fashionable ethnic hairstyles reminiscent of coils, fake locks, field braided bobs, bantu knots, large puffs and plenty of buns.”
Resort Revival in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood lately added protecting silk bonnets and pillowcases to their reward store in an effort to raised serve company with pure hairstyles. The lodge introduced the debut of the merchandise by linking them to the CROWN Act.
“My colleagues at Revival have skilled hair discrimination for themselves, and we’re fed up with fellow hoteliers leaving Black vacationers behind,” mentioned Jason Bass, the lodge’s director of tradition and impression. Bass oversaw the addition of the model to the property. “Tremendous Silky Bonnets and Pillowcases are tailor-made to neighborhood members who depend on these necessities to guard and protect their pure hair.”
In Washington, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat, final yr reintroduced a invoice to ban discrimination based mostly on hair textures and hairstyles generally related to a selected race or nationwide origin. However Smith believes it should solely cross within the U.S. Senate if Democrats seize a transparent majority.
“I feel it ought to be the regulation of the land. It shouldn’t be this piecemeal safety,” Smith mentioned. “I need to be optimistic, however let’s be actual.”
Maryland is now amongst at the very least 18 states which have authorised a model of the CROWN Act. However debates over hairstyles proceed in different states. Lawsuits have been filed in opposition to Texas faculty districts over hair and grooming insurance policies, together with in a single district the place two Black teenagers have been informed to chop their dreadlocks or face in-school suspensions. The ACLU of Texas estimated final yr that there have been “outdated and unconstitutional costume codes” at near 500 of the greater than 1,200 faculty districts within the state, in keeping with the Texas Tribune.
Black individuals who imagine that they’ve been discriminated in opposition to due to their coiffure can file a grievance with the Maryland Fee on Civil Rights. In Baltimore Metropolis, they’ll contact the Group Relations Fee within the Workplace of Fairness and Civil Rights.
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Maryland
University System of Maryland to only allow university-sponsored events on October 7
![University System of Maryland to only allow university-sponsored events on October 7 University System of Maryland to only allow university-sponsored events on October 7](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/937564c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5312x2789+0+100/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F16%2F61%2F70999d9446deb2038878edb3108f%2Fumd-administration-building-2015-1.jpg)
University of Maryland President William Pines announced this weekend that only university-sponsored activities “that promote reflection” will be held on October 7th.
The day will mark one year since Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel killed around 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages. Israel retaliated, declaring war on Hamas, which has resulted in more than 40,000 people dead, according to Gaza health officials.
This came after the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) group had reserved the McKeldin Mall and Jewish organizations on campus had reserved Hornbake Plaza on October 7th to mark the day.
The announcement cancels both of these events.
“Jointly, out of an abundance of caution,” wrote Pines in an email to the campus community, “we concluded to host only university-sponsored events that promote reflection on this day. All other expressive events will be held prior to October 7, and then resume on October 8 in accordance with time, place and manner considerations of the First Amendment.”
This policy is in place for all University System of Maryland Schools.
“The intent is not to abridge students’ right to free expression; the intent is, instead, to be sensitive to the needs of our students. Our university communities may use this day to safely come together to reflect and to share, to learn and to listen, and, yes, to challenge one another. That’s the premise—and the promise—of higher education.”
-University System of Maryland Statement
SJP wrote in a statement on its Instagram account: “We as Students for Justice in Palestine are deeply angered, though not surprised, by the University of Maryland administration’s decision to cancel our reservation for a vigil at McKeldin Mall on October 7th.”
It continues, “Rest assured that we will find ways to mark this one year of genocide and one year of resistance.”
University of Maryland students worried about antisemitism on campus
The Jewish Student Union also posted a statement to its Instagram account.
“We are reassured to learn that Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Maryland will no longer be permitted to host their event on McKeldin Mall, or anywhere on campus, on October 7th,” the organization writes.
“Only university-sponsored events will occur on October 7th,” they continued. “While this is not an ideal situation, it ensures that our physical and psychological safety is protected on this day of grief.”
In the email from Pines, he noted that a safety assessment had been done and that there was “no immediate or active threat.”
The Jewish Student Union added that they would be holding an event to memorialize the day at Maryland Hillel, a center for Jewish life and students, which is located just off campus.
The UMD Chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace also released a statement standing with SJP “in their anger with the university admin’s decision to cancel our registration to hold a joint vigil on October 7th.”
The email from Pines added that “we encourage our entire community to mark the anniversary of October 7 with remembrance and reflection.”
At the moment, it’s unclear what university-sponsored events will take place on October 7th, at the College Park campus.
Maryland
Best Online Colleges In Maryland Of 2024
![Best Online Colleges In Maryland Of 2024 Best Online Colleges In Maryland Of 2024](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Maryland-1.jpg)
Pro Tip
Ensure that your prospective college offers globally recognized credentials if you plan to further your education or practice internationally.
Consider Your Future Goals
Considering your goals when choosing an online college helps you select a program that fits your current needs and prepares you for long-term success.
If you intend to work right after graduation, choose a program that aligns with your desired career path. Look for concentrations or specialized tracks that can provide in-depth knowledge in your field.
However, if you plan to pursue further education such as a master’s or doctoral degree, ensure that credits from your online college are transferable to other schools. Also ensure that the college’s credentials are globally recognized, if you intend to work or study abroad.
Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options
Online colleges in Maryland (particularly private institutions), can be quite expensive, compared to other online schools. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average undergraduate tuition and required fees for four-year public schools is $9,750 per year; meanwhile, enrollees in four-year private colleges may pay north of $38,000 per year.
If private university tuition is out of your budget, consider enrolling in a state-owned online school such as the University of Maryland Global Campus, which only requires about $8,000 in annual tuition and fees.
Aside from seeking affordable online programs, here are other ways to fund your college education:
- Complete the FAFSA®
- Apply for institutional scholarships
- Take a private student loan
- Enroll in a work-study program
- Ask your employer about a tuition reimbursement program
Maryland
Maryland voters weigh in on presidential election, governor’s approval in new Gonzales Poll
![Maryland voters weigh in on presidential election, governor’s approval in new Gonzales Poll Maryland voters weigh in on presidential election, governor’s approval in new Gonzales Poll](https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/09/03/38829637-9a7e-4385-b9c4-1dab1e5eb53d/thumbnail/1200x630/828b5ff2405662f3f8e86587e46507f2/maryland.jpg?v=25685eaa472b1a5dbb5bd46ae506d232)
BALTIMORE – With a little more than two months until election day, the majority of Marylanders surveyed in the new Gonzales Poll would vote for Vice President Kamala Harris over Donald Trump for president.
A total of 820 registered voters in Maryland who indicated they are likely to vote in the 2024 general election were queried for the poll by live telephone interviews, utilizing both landline and cellphone numbers between August 24 and August 30.
A cross-section of interviews was conducted throughout the state, reflecting Maryland’s general election voting patterns, the pollster said.
The Gonzales Poll stated that “the margin of error, per accepted statistical standards, is a range of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points and if the entire population was surveyed, there is a 95% probability that the true numbers would fall within this range.”
Presidential survey
According to the latest Gonzales Poll, 56% of Marylanders surveyed said they would vote for Harris over Trump for president.
The poll says 84% of Democrats support the Harris/Tim Walz ticket and 80% of Republicans support the Trump/JD Vance ticket. Also, 83% of Black voters polled would vote for Harris/Walz.
Among the independents, 38% favor Harris/Walz and 36% prefer Trump/Vance, according to the poll.
Gov. Moore’s approval gets a bump
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who led the state’s response to the deadly Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in March, has the approval of 64% of Marylanders surveyed. Moore has a 35% “mostly soft approval” among Republicans who were surveyed (7% strongly approve, 28% somewhat approve),” the poll shows.
His approval rating increased by 33% since the last Gonzales Poll in the winter.
Last month, the governor spoke at the Democratic National Convention in support of Harris, who was nominated as the party’s presidential candidate.
He framed Harris’ candidacy as “the story of a prosecutor who defended our freedoms and had Maryland’s back when we needed it most. And now MVP: We’ve got yours.”
President Biden’s approval
The Gonzales Poll shows that 53% of Maryland voters surveyed approve of the job President Joe Biden is doing, while 45% disapprove. Seventy-six percent of the Democrats believe Biden is doing a good job in office, and 84% of Republicans disagree.
State transportation and juvenile reform
According to the poll, 95% of Marylanders think it is “important for the State to invest in improving its transportation infrastructure.”
And, when it comes to juvenile crime, voters were asked, “What type of laws, in your opinion, ultimately better help our children under 18 who commit crimes – Laws that are strict, which include things such as juvenile detention and boot camps. This hold individuals responsible and accountable for their behavior; or Laws that are lenient, which include social programs and counseling. This recognizes that society is responsible for much of this behavior?”
The poll shows that 58% of Marylanders are in favor of strict laws, which holds juveniles responsible and accountable for their behavior, and only 34% desire laws that are lenient.
“A majority of nearly every demographic group backs strict laws to inspire a sense of personal responsibility and to best assist our juvenile offenders ultimately realize at least a chance at a successful, happy life,” the poll said.
Is the country going in the right direction?
Fifty percent of Marylanders polled say the country is headed in the right direction, while 45% say the country is headed in the wrong direction.
According to the poll, 93% of Maryland voters who think the country is moving in the right direction are voting for Harris/Walz, and 70% of Maryland voters who think the country is moving in the wrong direction are voting for Trump/Vance.
In the previous poll, 41% of voters said the country was headed in the right direction.
“The mood of voters in Maryland vis-à-vis how they perceive things overall going in the country is a tad less grumpy than it was in winter,” the Gonzales Poll said.
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