"Ban Hair Discrimination Gaining Momentum"

Question

by Candice Norwood

Why do supporters think the CROWN Act is necessary?

Oregon state Rep. Janelle Bynum, who introduced a CROWN Act bill in her state legislature this year, said one of the biggest challenges is how little lawmakers know about the issue of hair discrimination.

“People don’t even realize that white dominant culture has been normalized and has been imposed upon people whose hair texture is different,” Bynum said.

Anthony said that when she first introduced CROWN Act legislation in 2019, she was “laughed out” of some rooms and told to focus on “serious” legislation. That criticism came from both sides of the political aisle, she noted.Among other challenges is that fact that many people don’t understand how prohibiting certain hairstyles could be tied to racial discrimination.

After Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts vetoed a hair discrimination bill passed by his state legislature last year, he issued a statement saying, “The bill covers features based on mutable characteristics that are not attributable to one racial group. While hair type is an immutable characteristic, hairstyles can easily be changed. Additionally, the hairstyles named in the bill (locks, braids, and twists) are not exclusively worn by one race.”

But proponents of the legislation say that while the hairstyles mentioned in the bill are not exclusively worn by Black people, these styles have long existing cultural ties to Black communities. Styles like braids or twists also help Black people maintain and protect their natural hair.

Use the passage to answer the question.

How does the author support the following central idea of the passage: Hairstyle rules are tied to racial discrimination?

(1 point)
Responses

By presenting two opposing views on the issue.
By presenting two opposing views on the issue.

By including a detailed history of racial discrimination.
By including a detailed history of racial discrimination.

By citing a study conducted by a university.
By citing a study conducted by a university.

By using an anecdotal example of hair discrimination.

Answer 1

The author supports the central idea that hairstyle rules are tied to racial discrimination by using an anecdotal example of hair discrimination. Specifically, the passage includes the experiences of state Rep. Janelle Bynum and Anthony, who faced challenges when attempting to introduce CROWN Act legislation, including being laughed out of discussions about hair discrimination. This personal narrative emphasizes the real-world implications of the issue and illustrates how hairstyles linked to Black culture are subjected to discrimination.