HARRISBURG, P.A. (KYW Newsradio) — Legislation that protects Pennsylvanians against racial hair discrimination based on type, texture, or style is awaiting Governor Josh Shapiro’s signature after passing out of the State Senate on Thursday.
Pennsylvania’s Crown Act amends the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to clarify that the term ‘race’ includes traits associated with it — including hair texture and protective hairstyles or extensions. The bill makes it illegal to discriminate against someone because of their hair — whether it’s a tightly coiled afro, braids, locs, twists, or even extensions.
Paige Joki, senior attorney for the PA Education Law Center, said public school students are specifically protected by the law, which she called soul legislation.
“It's something I think about all the time when I'm trying to help students get what they deserve in schools and not be discriminated against by rules,” she said. “Adults can and must do better for kids, and this law helps move that along.”
Joki herself faced issues growing up in Boise, Idaho. She said random people would often talk about and touch her hair without her consent. It even leaked into her professional life with one of her clients.
“When she first saw me, she said, ‘I didn't know that you could be my lawyer because you had braids,’” said Joki. “Her mom had actually been fired for having a hairstyle like mine, which is box braids, so she didn't think that a lawyer could have braids.”
The measure cleared the State House in March and just passed in the State Senate. Joki said the pressure to conform to certain standards is rooted in racism, as many black men and women have been told their hair texture and styles are messy and unprofessional.
“It shouldn't be a question when someone walks into a room that there's even a thought that the way that their hair looks, or really how they look in general, could somehow make them less worthy to be there,” she said. “That is an antiquated ideal that we simply must do away with.”
The law will make Pennsylvania the 24th state to pass a version of the measure. Governor Shapiro is expected to sign the bill.