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5/22/2025
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House passes Stewart bill that would add protective hairstyles to racial discrimination law
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STATE HOUSE — The House of Representatives today passed legislation (2025-H 5841) introduced by Rep. Jennifer A. Stewart (D-Dist. 59, Pawtucket) that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of race by expanding the definition to include traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles.
The legislation is one of 15 bills that have been identified by the Rhode Island Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus as legislative priorities. It is nationally known as the CROWN Act, which is an acronym meaning “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.”
“While the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and our current statutes protect us against race-based discrimination, they do not explicitly protect against discrimination based on phenotypical markers that embody and convey race, such as hair texture and style,” said Representative Stewart. “This has created a loophole whereby employers and schools can effectively engage in race-based discrimination. This involves more than what is considered beautiful or aesthetically pleasing. The discrimination and pressure to conform that Black and Brown people — especially women — face at school and in the workplace is very real. It’s about stereotypes and long-standing biases that can impede people’s life opportunities.”
A 2019 study by the Dove company found that Black women were disproportionately burdened by workplace policies and practices that single them out for natural hair styles —referring to the texture of hair that is not permed, dyed, relaxed or chemically altered. The study found that Black women are 1.5 times more likely to be sent home from the workplace because of their hair, 30% more likely to be made aware of a formal workplace appearance policy and 3.4 times more likely to have their hair viewed as unprofessional.
B. Joe Reddish III, chairman of the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias, testified in support of the bill, telling the House Committee on Education, “By affirming that students cannot be discriminated against for their natural hair or protective styles, this bill represents a meaningful step forward in promoting educational equity. It will help reduce disproportionate school discipline, foster inclusion, and affirm the identities of all students, regardless of race, gender or gender identity.”
The measure now moves to the Senate where similar legislation (2025-S 0519) has been introduced by Sen. Tiara T. Mack (D-Dist. 6, Providence).
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
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