Discrimination + civil rights
CROWN Act: state by state
State protections against discrimination based on natural hair.
Why this matters for Black health
The CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) prohibits discrimination based on hair texture or protective styles associated with race. While not directly a health law, it removes a barrier to employment, education, and access to healthcare settings where Black people, particularly Black women, have been turned away or treated differently because of their hair.
No coverage / no protection: 7 states
In effect: 27 states
Alaska
AK
Arizona
AZ
Arkansas
AR
California
CA
Colorado
CO
Connecticut
CT
Delaware
DE
District of Columbia
DC
Illinois
IL
Louisiana
LA
Maine
ME
Maryland
MD
Massachusetts
MA
Michigan
MI
Minnesota
MN
Nebraska
NE
Nevada
NV
New Hampshire
NH
New Jersey
NJ
New Mexico
NM
New York
NY
Oregon
OR
Tennessee
TN
Texas
TX
Vermont
VT
Virginia
VA
Washington
WA