July 3 is National Crown Day – a day commemorating the signing of the first Crown Act legislation in the country. It's designed to protect Black children and adults who wear their natural hair without fear of discrimination at work or school.The legislation was adopted in Arizona more than a year ago. Now we're reflecting on that day and what the Crown Act means for people of color."The signing of the bill is very symbolic of the change that needs to happen.
""We had all this hair oil because we had to lay it down, and it had to be so straight on the edges so that you could favor a white woman," said Woods.The history is deeply rooted, but a recent Crown Act study in 2019 shows Black children have experienced hair discrimination by the age of 5, and Black women are 2.5 times more likely to be perceived as "unprofessional." Both experiences Wood has had, especially during her hair journey using weaves and extensions.