Bill against racist hair discrimination blocked by Republicans

The Crown Act, a proposed bill against racist hair discrimination practices has been blocked by Republicans on the last day of Black History Month.

The Crown Act needed a two-thirds majority to pass the House, 235 members voted for the bill and 188 members voted against the bill.

Democrat members of the House plan to bring the bill up again in upcoming weeks for a revote. Democratic Representatives Barbara Lee, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Gwen Moore released a statement saying they will reintroduce the bill through a longer process that would only need a majority to pass.

“We won’t allow Republican antics to stand in the way of Black people having the right to live as their authentic selves,” said the congresswomen.

The passing of the Crown Act would forbid discrimination in schools and the workplace against traditional Black hairstyles such as afros, braids, cornrows, locs, or any other style that doesn’t fit the white standard of “professional” hairstyles.

Lauren Boebert, a Republican Rep with a track record of making racist remarks called the legislation the “bad hair bill”.

Democrat Rep. Watson Coleman had this to say about discrimination against Black hair, “far too often [Black people]… derided or deemed unprofessional simply because their hair does not conform to white beauty standards.”