If you joke about it, you may get slapped, as Will Smith taught Chris Rock at the Oscars.

If you deny someone a job because of it, you may get sued.

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the CROWN Act, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.” Introduced by New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, H.R. 2116 prohibits discrimination based on an individual's texture or style of hair if that style or texture is commonly associated with a particular race or national origin. Specifically, the bill prohibits this type of discrimination against those participating in federally assisted programs, housing programs, public accommodations and employment.

The legislation states that “routinely, people of African descent are deprived of educational and employment opportunities because they are adorned with natural or protective hairstyles in which hair is tightly coiled or tightly curled, or worn in locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots or Afros.” Black women are 80% more likely to feel pressure to change their hairstyles in order to fit in at the office, according to a 2019 study by the JOY Collective, a marketing firm in Washington D.C.

“Discrimination against Black hair is discrimination against Black people,” Coleman said. “I’m proud to have played a part to ensure that we end discrimination against people for how their hair grows out of their head.”

The impetus for the CROWN Act comes from long-standing impositions by some...

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