District 2 Councilman Files Council Consideration for Natural Hair Act

Published on March 01, 2023

District 2 Councilman Files Council Consideration Request in Support of the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act

SAN ANTONIO (March 1, 2022) – On this first day of Women's History Month, Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez filed a Council Consideration Request (CCR) to address to address discrimination against race-based hairstyles. The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (C.R.O.W.N.) Act is a national movement aiming to protect hair textures and styles such as Afros, braids, locs, twists, cornrows, and Bantu knots, among others.  

“District 2 is grateful to the young women of the Lemonade Circle for advocating for the C.R.O.W.N. Act and for bringing their voices to City Council. Their leadership is a wonderful example of young people working to create the future we all deserve. We are happy to support this effort to make our city safer and more accessible to all San Antonians, especially Black, Indigenous and people of color who face discrimination that limits their economic potential,” said the District 2 Councilman. 

Hair discrimination has real, measurable social and economic impact on people of color, but especially Black women. A 2021 study conducted by Duke University, revealed that Black women with natural hairstyles were perceived to be less professional, less competent, and less likely to be recommended for a job interview than Black women with straightened hairstyles and white women with either curly or straight hairstyles. 

At least 20 states, the US. Virgin Islands, along with several cities and counties have passed CROWN laws. The federal government and other jurisdictions also have these laws currently under consideration.  

Written in collaboration with The Lemonade Circle, an organization dedicated to empowering young women of color in 5th grade and beyond, this Council Consideration Request aims to adopt this policy as a priority in the City’s legislative agenda and as an explicit protection within our City’s Non-Discrimination policy.