Press Statement: Atlanta’s Students Deserve the CROWN Act

ACLU of Georgia Supports Proposed Atlanta Public Schools Hair Discrimination Policy Changes

ATLANTA - The ACLU of Georgia will provide public comment at 6 p.m. today to the Atlanta Public School Board about proposed dress code policy changes to include the CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act. The act is aimed at ending race-based hair discrimination, which disproportionately affects Black students because of hairstyles and hair texture.

"Race-based hair discrimination has no basis on academic performance yet can often lead to disciplinary action that removes students from the classroom for days at a time. Race-based hair discrimination can also affect students mentally and emotionally. Being reprimanded for the way your hair naturally grows can reinforce negative feelings that many young Black children experience about their hair and appearance." - Sarah Hunt-Blackwell, first amendment policy advocate, ACLU of Georgia.

Last week, Black lawmakers introduced federal CROWN Act legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. CROWN Act legislation has been passed in more than two dozen states, and locally laws have been enacted in Gwinnett County, Clayton County, South Fulton, and East Point, and Stockbridge.