Will Indiana pass the Crown Act?

Legislation to prevent race-based hair discrimination — also known as the CROWN Act — was recently introduced in the state of Indiana. The bill did not pass, but what does that mean for Hoosiers of color? Sponsored by The Crown Coalition, in partnership with DOVE, The National Urban League, The Color of Change and Western Center on Law and Poverty, The CROWN Act stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.” The legislation aims to end race-based hair discrimination and prevent employers and schools from disciplining students and employees for wearing natural or protective hairstyles, such as Afros, braids, locs, bantu knots or twists. “In my opinion, I don’t know that there is a difference between the feelings and the trauma that’s experienced when they’re discriminated against for their hair versus their race or their skin complexion,” Jantina Anderson, a doctoral candidate at Indiana University, told the Recorder. “Because our hair is so closely aligned with who we are.” Anderson’s interest in hair discrimination began in 2013, when she was looking for early childhood education schools for her children. She came across a charter school in Ohio with a dress code that prohibited protective hairstyles and said...