The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act will prohibit race-based hair discrimination

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas today applauded the unanimous passage of the CROWN Act and announced that he will sign the ordinance during a signing ceremony tomorrow. Introduced by Third District Councilwoman Melissa Robinson and Fifth District Councilwoman Ryana Parks-Shaw, and cosponsored by Mayor Lucas, this ordinance will explicitly prohibit racial hair discrimination in employment and educational opportunities throughout Kansas City.

According to the CROWN Research Study, Black women are 1.5 times more likely to be sent home from work or school and 3.4 times more likely to be perceived as unprofessional because of their hair. The CROWN Act provides legal protections so Black women and men can safely embrace natural hair textures and styles such as braids, locks, twists, and knots.

“For far too long, Black women and men in our community and throughout our country have been discriminated against—particularly in workplace settings—for embracing their natural hair texture and styles,” said Mayor Lucas. “This ordinance will provide Kansas Citians long-overdue legal protection to celebrate their natural hair. This is yet another example of ways racial discrimination, often through implicit bias, disproportionately affects members of our Black community. I appreciate Councilmembers Parks-Shaw and Robinson for leading the effort to dismantle this discriminatory regulation, and I look forward to signing our ordinance tomorrow.”

“I am proud to be a part of this historical moment,” said Councilwoman Parks-Shaw. “I know how it feels to be judged because of my hair and no one should have to deal with this kind of covert racism. Black men and women should be able to wear their natural hair without backlash or consequence, and the CROWN Act will ensure them this protection.”

“I am thankful to my colleagues for embodying the words today of the late Shirley Chisholm, ‘In the end, anti-black, anti-female, and all forms of discrimination are equivalent to the same thing: anti-humanism,’” said Councilwoman Robinson. “This legislation demonstrates that Kansas City recognizes the importance of racial reconciliation and we are committed to removing all barriers that are rooted in bias and prejudice. We have a long way to go, my hope is that Kansas City residents are increasing their confidence in their local government’s goal to improve the quality of life for all residents.”

"The passage of the CROWN Act is an example of city leaders walking the walk when it comes to equity and racial justice," said Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet Founder Michele L. Watley. "The Act will both strengthen discrimination policies and provide greater access to jobs, educational opportunities for Black Kansas Citians, while creating a more equitable and inclusive Kansas City for all of us.

“Black women are 1.5 times more likely to be sent home from work because of their hair than their colleagues,” said Monica Del Villar, Policy Associate for the ACLU of Missouri. “National surveys report 80 percent of Black women admitted they feel social pressure to change their hair from its natural state to fit in at the office. Bills like the CROWN Act look to ensure no one has to endure this type of humiliation and shame for expressing themselves through their natural hair and texture.”

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