BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

West Virginia bill bans hair discrimination in schools and workplaces

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

maylen

https://digital-stage.newsnationnow.com/

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241115200405

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118165728

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118184948

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — As more African American women embrace and wear their natural hair, two bills in the West Virginia legislature want to make sure ethnic hair textures and hairstyles aren’t discriminated against in West Virginia schools and workplaces.

It’s called the West Virginia Crown Act.

Supporters of the bills say throughout American history, African American hair has been a point of contention.

On Saturday a rally at the West Virginia Capitol steps drew a large crowd, and speakers in support of the bills.

Posters with images of 18th-century black women in Lousiana with rags covering their hair mandated under the Tignon Law were on display next to pictures of modern black women proudly displaying their curls.

Still, those at the rally say discrimination against African-American hair is still pervasive.

Last year, Matthew Moore, a black student in Beckley wasn’t allowed to play a basketball game because of his dreads.

“And I’m in the front seat, he’s in the backseat sitting there with a pick trying to rip his dreads out — if anybody knows, when you have dreads it’s a long-term commitment,” said his mother.

Yvonne Lee says she’s been wearing her hair natural for four years.

“I can get up in the morning, I can either not put my makeup on, put my makeup on, still look good, get up and go and handle business,” Lee said. “I am a social worker. I’m boots on the ground – I don’t have time to be worrying about hair.”

The West Virginia Crown Act is two bills: HB 2698 and SB 108.

They have already been introduced and are in the committee phase.

Del. Danielle Walker (D-Monongalia) says they’re calling it the West Virginia Crown Act out of respect, and because they want West Virginia to protect black people’s ‘crowns’.

“If you think there is something wrong with my kinks you need to get the kinks out of your mind,” said Walker.

Get fact-based, unbiased news coverage 24/7 with the NewsNation app. Download it here.

Northeast

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241119133138

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Sunny

la

69°F Sunny Feels like 69°
Wind
6 mph SW
Humidity
27%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.
46°F Clear to partly cloudy. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
1 mph N
Precip
9%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Gibbous