Senate Republicans blocked the bill from passing on a federal level in December 2022, despite it having succeeded through the House of Representatives.
The co-founders are now preparing to introduce an amended version of the bill, incorporating tweaks that reflect “lessons learned” since it was blocked while still “preserving the integrity of the intentions and making no changes to protections that are extended,” explains Asamoah, who formerly served as national advisor for Black engagement to President Biden. “For example, there have been some valid concerns about workplace safety, so the new bill will reflect that: This bill does not interfere with workplace safety rules that are imposed strictly for safety.”
Discrimination based on race is illegal thanks to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but what most people don’t realize is that hair offers a sort of loophole. This is because race’s legal definition doesn’t acknowledge hair as a trait correlated with race.
“This is not about culture. This is not about hair color. This is not about wearing a headwrap. The CROWN Act specifically and explicitly amends the existing definition of race to include those traits historically associated with it, such as hair texture and protective styles like locs, braids, twists, bantu knots, et cetera,” says Asamoah. “I have to sometimes fight against misinformation because some people think that the CROWN Act is about headwraps or durags.”
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Though 23 states have been won over by the CROWN Act, it has a long road ahead for the 27 states that have yet to adopt it. If passed and enacted federally, the bill would extend statutory protection by amending the existing definition of race as mentioned above.
“The CROWN act is a legislative fix. Changing laws does not necessarily change hearts and minds,” she explains. Asamoah consults for companies herself and recommends that businesses hire diversity, equity and inclusion experts to help them put effective practices into place. It’s all part of shifting the culture and changing what is a racial and equity issue, she says.
“No matter which hat or, dare I say, which crown I’m wearing, I’m still always going to be an organizer and an activist at my core,” Asamoah says.\
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