Question 2
Question 3
Question 4
Question 5
"Ban Hair Discrimination Gaining Momentum"
by Candice Norwood
What is the CROWN Act?
Final legislation can vary slightly from state to state, but most CROWN Act bills forbid discrimination against certain hairstyles and textures within workplaces and schools.
The bill builds off existing state laws, which generally prohibit workplace or school discrimination based on religion, gender, sexual orientation and race. But the CROWN Act expands the definition of “race” to include “traits historically
associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles,” like braids, locs and twists. These and other styles known as “natural” looks do not involve processing to straighten the hair.
Some bills also seek to end discrimination against adornments related to certain religious and indigenous communities.
“Our civil rights statutes have been narrowly interpreted by federal courts, among other enforcement bodies, in such a way that it limits racial discrimination to what is known as ‘immutable’ or unchangeable characteristics,” said D. Wendy
Greene, a law professor with Drexel University who has played a lead role working with legislators to draft and testify on the CROWN Act. “[The bill] clarifies that natural hair discrimination in all forms constitutes race discrimination.”
In 2019, California became the first state to pass the CROWN Act. Since then, a handful of cities, including New Orleans, Cincinnati and Albuquerque, have passed similar bills, as have New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia,
Colorado, Washington and, this month, Connecticut. Both chambers of the New Mexico legislature have also passed the CROWN Act this year; the bill awaits the governor’s signature.
A federal bill passed the House last year, but died in the Senate. A group of five Black Democratic congresswomen reintroduced the federal bill this month in the House and issued a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris calling for her
support. Sen. Cory Booker, D-NJ, re-introduced the legislation in the Senate last week.
Anthony first introduced the CROWN Act in the Michigan legislature in 2019, but after it went to a committee informally known as the “legislative graveyard,” she reintroduced the bill in late February. It is currently awaiting a hearing in the
state House Judiciary Committee.
A)
Use the passage to answer the question.
Which is the central idea of this passage?
(1 point)
The CROWN Act is being introduced by African American politicians in mostly liberal states.
The CROWN ACT is designed to provide legal protection from discrimination against hairstyles and textures tied to racial identity.
The CROWN Act protects not only hairstyles, but also adornments worn by indigenous and religious communities.
California was the first state to pass a CROWN Act, but several other states and cities soon followed.
"Ban Hair Discrimination Gaining Momentum"
by Candice Norwood
What is the CROWN Act?
Final legislation can vary slightly from state to state, but most CROWN Act bills forbid discrimination against certain hairstyles and textures within workplaces and schools.
The bill builds off existing state laws, which generally prohibit workplace or school discrimination based on religion, gender, sexual orientation and race. But the CROWN Act expands the definition of “race” to include “traits historically
associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles,” like braids, locs and twists. These and other styles known as “natural” looks do not involve processing to straighten the hair.
Some bills also seek to end discrimination against adornments related to certain religious and indigenous communities.
“Our civil rights statutes have been narrowly interpreted by federal courts, among other enforcement bodies, in such a way that it limits racial discrimination to what is known as ‘immutable’ or unchangeable characteristics,” said D. Wendy
Greene, a law professor with Drexel University who has played a lead role working with legislators to draft and testify on the CROWN Act. “[The bill] clarifies that natural hair discrimination in all forms constitutes race discrimination.”
In 2019, California became the first state to pass the CROWN Act. Since then, a handful of cities, including New Orleans, Cincinnati and Albuquerque, have passed similar bills, as have New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Colorado,
Washington and, this month, Connecticut. Both chambers of the New Mexico legislature have also passed the CROWN Act this year; the bill awaits the governor’s signature.
A federal bill passed the House last year, but died in the Senate. A group of five Black Democratic congresswomen reintroduced the federal bill this month in the House and issued a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris calling for her
support. Sen. Cory Booker, D-NJ, re-introduced the legislation in the Senate last week.
Anthony first introduced the CROWN Act in the Michigan legislature in 2019, but after it went to a committee informally known as the “legislative graveyard,” she reintroduced the bill in late February. It is currently awaiting a hearing in the
state House Judiciary Committee.
A)
Use the passage to answer the question.
How does the author support this central idea of the passage: The CROWN ACT is necessary to provide legal protection from discrimination against hairstyles and textures tied to racial identity?
(1 point)
By explaining why the courts have not always protected hairstyles.
By listing the different states that have passed a version of the CROWN Act.
By detailing how few laws protect workplace discrimination of any kind.
By mentioning that the Vice President of the United States supports the law.
"Ban Hair Discrimination Gaining Momentum"
by Candice Norwood
As a young Black professional, Michigan state Rep. Sarah Anthony said she vividly recalls mentors saying that wearing straightened hair would be better for her career than wearing her natural curls.
Her curly hair would be seen as a “distraction,” or would “make the employer uncomfortable,” Anthony recalls being told by other Black women. Anthony’s experiences with anxiety and fear over the professional impact of her hairstyle are
not unique. Though stories of Black people experiencing hair discrimination are not new, in recent years national media attention has brought a new level of scrutiny to the issue.
In 2015, now retired Staff Sgt. Chaunsey Logan faced a possible demotion for violating the Army’s hair policy banning locs. Logan was ultimately able to maintain her position by twisting her locs together, which apparently did not violate the
grooming policy. The Army removed its ban on locs in 2017.
That same year, sisters Deanna and Mya Cook, then 15 years old, returned from spring break wearing long braids. Their Massachusetts charter school, which prohibited hair extensions, reportedly removed them from their sports teams
and threatened them with expulsion until the state attorney general condemned the school policy.
The long list of similar stories have prompted lawmakers around the country — including Anthony — to introduce legislation aiming to establish legal protections for hair textures and styles tied to racial identity. Versions of this legislation,
known as the CROWN Act, have been signed in eight states since 2019 and are gaining attention in other state legislatures.
What is the CROWN Act?
Final legislation can vary slightly from state to state, but most CROWN Act bills forbid discrimination against certain hairstyles and textures within workplaces and schools.
The bill builds off existing state laws, which generally prohibit workplace or school discrimination based on religion, gender, sexual orientation and race. But the CROWN Act expands the definition of “race” to include “traits historically
associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles,” like braids, locs and twists. These and other styles known as “natural” looks do not involve processing to straighten the hair.
Some bills also seek to end discrimination against adornments related to certain religious and indigenous communities.
A)
Use the passage to answer the question.
Which statement from the text alludes to the central idea that the different versions of the CROWN Act are designed to provide legal protection for hairstyles tied to racial identity?
(1 point)
“People don’t even realize that white dominant culture has been normalized and has been imposed upon people whose hair texture is different.”
“…most CROWN Act bills forbid discrimination against certain hairstyles and textures within workplaces and schools.”
“…requirements for Black people to straighten their hair can have negative mental, economic and physiological effects.”
“…many people don’t understand how prohibiting certain hairstyles could be tied to racial discrimination.”
At times, an author may state the directly; at other times, it must be inferred by the reader from the in the text.
A) Drag and drop the words into the correct locations. (1 point)
A) How can readers determine the central idea of a text? (1 point)
by restating the conclusion
by defining key words
by defining acronyms
by identifying the text structure
details topic acronyms central idea text structure
1 answer
Question 1: Which is the central idea of this passage?
The correct answer is: The CROWN ACT is designed to provide legal protection from discrimination against hairstyles and textures tied to racial identity.
Question 2: How does the author support this central idea of the passage: The CROWN ACT is necessary to provide legal protection from discrimination against hairstyles and textures tied to racial identity?
The correct answer is: By explaining why the courts have not always protected hairstyles.
Question 3: Which statement from the text alludes to the central idea that the different versions of the CROWN Act are designed to provide legal protection for hairstyles tied to racial identity?
The correct answer is: “…most CROWN Act bills forbid discrimination against certain hairstyles and textures within workplaces and schools.”
Question 4: How can readers determine the central idea of a text?
The correct drag-and-drop responses are:
details (to support the central idea)
topic (to identify what the text is about)
acronyms (to clarify any abbreviations)
text structure (to see how the information is organized)
Based on the provided choices, the best option would be: by identifying the text structure.
There are no additional questions provided, so the response ends here. If you have further questions or need clarification, feel free to ask!
