Puerto Rico's governor signed a law that bans discrimination against hairstyles such as Afros, curls, locs, twists, and braids in the U.S. territory. This move was celebrated by advocates seeking protection in work, housing, education, and public services.
"It's a victory for generations to come," said Welmo Romero Joseph, a community facilitator with Taller Salud. He emphasized that the law sends a message that "you can reach positions of power without having to change your identity."
Although Puerto Rico's laws and constitution, along with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, protect against discrimination, a 2016 U.S. Court of Appeals ruling set a precedent allowing an employer's no-dreadlock policy in Alabama. Earlier this year, Puerto Rican legislators held a public hearing where many shared stories of discrimination, including job offers contingent on haircuts. Romero recounted being told by a high school principal to cut his flat top, a hairstyle he described as "a source of pride."
Puerto Rico, with a population of 3.2 million, includes over 1.6 million identifying as multiracial and nearly 230,000 solely as Black, according to the U.S. Census. The newly signed law acknowledges that Black and Afro-descendant individuals in Puerto Rico "still face derogatory treatment, deprivation of opportunities, marginalization, exclusion and all kinds of discrimination."
Romero praised the law but emphasized the need for measures to ensure its enforcement. In the U.S., at least two dozen states have passed versions of the CROWN Act, which aims to ban race-based hair discrimination. Texas is among these states where a Black student was suspended for his locs violating the dress code. A March report from the Economic Policy Institute found that not all states protect high school students under the CROWN Act, and some have exceptions.
A federal version passed the U.S. House in 2022 but failed in the Senate. In May, Democratic lawmakers reintroduced the legislation.
Link: AP News
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