The CROWN Act

Rep. Esther Agbaje (DFL-Mpls), introduced the CROWN Act this past week. CROWN stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.

Agbaje claims this law is necessary due to the discrimination of people “based solely on the appearance of their naturally occurring hair”. During testimony, Agbaje and supporters of this bill boldly claim “Hair discrimination is racial discrimination.”

Rep. Matt Grossell (R-Clearbrook) appropriately questioned whether an additional law is necessary as the Minnesota Human Rights Act already covers discrimination based on race. However, in true fashion of the narcissistic left, Agbaje claims the law is necessary so everyone can feel protected by government.

One issue Agbaje’s bill does not take into consideration is individuals who have lost their hair, aka the Baldies. Through no actions of their own, besides being unable to keep the destructive nature of time on the body at bay, Baldies face a lot of negative stereotypes in our society. Because employers are not required to track this number, no one knows how many baldies have not been hired because the hiring manager didn’t want to deal with the excessive glare of light reflecting off the baldies head.

While one of the individuals testifying on behalf of Agbaje’s bill claims to like his thick naturally dense hair to keep him warm in the cold Minnesota winters, the committee did not allow a single Baldy to testify. In Agbaje’s defense, Baldies can rectify their problem by placing a fake piece of hair on their head to cover up their natural occurring state, but imagine the emotional distress someone who decides to wear dreadlocks as a hair style must face if their consumer facing job pressures them into getting a hair cut.

While Agbaje is championing such important bills like this one, bills like HF1775, which makes it easier for other political parties (yes, there are other political parties in Minnesota besides the Democrats and Republicans) to have ballot access, thereby expanding the choice voters have at the polls, has yet to receive as much as a reading yet in the house. Priorities!

You can read more about Agbaje’s bill at https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17050