The struggles of embracing natural hairstyles in the workplace has come to an end in Tennessee.
This year, state lawmakers passed the CROWN Act, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.” The new law prohibits companies from discrimination based on an employee’s hairstyle.
“For decades, Black hair has been unjustly policed as too ’unprofessional’ or ’unkempt’ for public spaces, such as classrooms and workplaces,” said Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis), the sponsor of the CROWN Act bill.
When the law passed here, Tennessee joined 15 U.S. states and the U.S. Virgin Islands in passing similar legislation. A CROWN Act bill was passed by the U.S. House in March and introduced in the Senate. The Senate bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee but has not seen action since March.
Porsha Hernandez, a graduate of the University Memphis said she struggled with her natural hair.
“It is actually sad because I first experienced this in middle [school] when I flat-ironed my hair and damaged it to fit in with the other girls,” Hernandez said. “My hair was so frayed that I had to cut it all off when I was at a comfortable age. When I did the big chop, people used to think I was another gender sometimes or make fun of me, which hurt my self-esteem at first. But I realized I’m beautiful either way, with or without hair.”
The CROWN Act was Hernandez’ platform last year when she sported her natural hair in a University of Memphis beauty pageant with the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. During her talent performance, she presented a poem about her natural hair and brought awareness to the importance of embracing one’s hair. She remembers people seeing her natural hair and wondering if she planned to wear it during the pageant.
”They were like, ’Is she gonna do her hair?’” she said. “My friends would tell them, ‘she is standing for the CROWN Act.”
Hernandez was crowned Miss Delta Nu 2021.
When the law was signed by Governor Bill Lee this year, Akbari called it “a big day for any Tennessean who has ever been told their hair looks unprofessional.”
“No one should ever have to experience discrimination because of the hair that grows out of their head,” Akbari said.
Under the new law, an employee may complain to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development if their right to wear their hair naturally is violated.
Hernandez urges people to always embrace their natural hair.
“Woman or man, wear your hair because it defines you, [whether] your hair defies gravity or plays along with it,” Hernandez said. “Your hair is natural and natural cannot be threatened. It cannot be changed. It is who you are, so show them you.”
Hernandez is elated about the new law and believes “it will expose all cultures to the ’new’ natural.
“It will show them the authenticity of people and it will bring more respect in the workplace,” she said. “It will show them that not all shapes are the same.”
