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BOSTON – Earlier today, Governor Charlie Baker signed the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act, which prohibits discrimination based on natural and protective hairstyles in workplaces, school districts, and any school-related organizations.
“What a great day for the Commonwealth! It was an honor to be in the room when Governor Charlie Baker signed the CROWN Act today, which is now law because of the bravery and tenacity of Mya and Deanna Cook. These sisters were sent to detention in high school when they refused to remove their braids and extensions. They recognized this discrimination for what it was, called it out, fought for change – and now all Black and brown women and girls, men and boys are protected by law from this same hair discrimination. They are still in college, but they have already made a profound impact on our state,” said Senate President Karen Spilka.
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Massachusetts is now the 15th state to adopt the CROWN Act.
The legislation was inspired in part by sisters Mya and Deanna Cook, who as teens gained national attention after successfully overturning their school policy which had barred them from taking part in school activities.
The Mystic Valley Charter School in Malden came under fire for having a policy of disciplining Black students for their hair braid extensions in 2017. Sisters Deanna and Mya Cook fought the school after saying they were specifically targeted for their hairstyles. The school eventually eliminated the policy.
The CROWN Act would prohibit discrimination based on hairstyles by incorporating hair texture, hair type and protective hairstyle into the definition of race in the Massachusetts General Laws.
The protection means that no school district, school committee, public school, nonsectarian school, or any equivalent school organizations, can adopt or implement policies that would impair or prohibit a natural or protective hairstyle that has been historically associated with one’s race.
“Far too many people, especially Black women and children, experience race-based hair discrimination,” said Senate Assistance Majority Leader Sal DiDomenico (D- Everett), back in March when the Senate unanimously approved the Act. “I am incredibly grateful to the advocates who worked to pass this bill and especially our young students who shared their stories about how they have experienced hair discrimination in their daily lives. We are certainly overdue to pass this legislation, but I am proud that we are finally taking this step today and making clear that natural hairstyles should be celebrated, not discouraged.”
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“The CROWN Act addresses yet another structural racism issue in our society, by prohibiting hair discrimination traditionally directed at Black women, thereby helping eradicate unjust policing in the workplaces and schools,” said Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Judiciary, back in March 2022.
“Today, an African American woman with natural hair voted on the Crown Act. This is a perfect example of when the personal becomes political, said Senator Lydia Edwards (D-East Boston), back in March. “I am grateful to Maya and Deanna and so many black women who spoke up through and for our hair. This makes our commonwealth stronger and affirms our belief that we should be judged on the content of our character. Today’s politics is especially a blood sport so to see both houses and both parties come together for Justice is especially meaningful.”
“As a racial equity champion who developed the legislative and social impact strategy for the national CROWN Act movement on behalf of the CROWN Coalition, I applaud today’s Senate vote”, said Adjoa B. Asamoah, CROWN Coalition Co-Creator, back in March “Tackling injustice and protecting people’s civil rights require moral leadership. I thank Representative Steve Ultrino who championed the bill in the House with cosponsor Representative Chynah Tyler, in addition to Senators Adam Gomez and Sal DiDomenico for their leadership and partnership to outlaw race-based hair discrimination in Massachusetts.”
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Representative Jack Lewis 
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