Wauwatosa Common Council passes resolution to support banning hair discrimination in Wisconsin

 

WAUWATOSA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee suburb hopes to send a message to state lawmakers regarding hair discrimination.

Wauwatosa Common Council passed a resolution in Tuesday's meeting supporting the CROWN Act, an acronym for "Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair."

Twenty states, including Illinois and Minnesota, have passed legislation banning race-based hair discrimination.

"This is legislation that's way overdue," said Wauwatosa Alderman Sean Lowe.

Lowe authored the resolution voicing the city's support and asking the state to pass legislation originally proposed in 2019.

"It sends a strong message, not only to residents in Wauwatosa, but at the state level, that Wauwatosa is simply a welcoming place for all," Lowe said.

Lowe wants to eliminate the discrimination seen in workplaces, clubs, and private schools, often targeting hairstyles worn by black women and children.

"We've been conditioned to relax our hair, straighten our hair, pin it certain ways to be aesthetically accepting to the rest of society," said Ciara King, loctician and owner of Beautifully Loc'd hair salon in Milwaukee.

King's shop provides braids, locs, and twists, all styles that would be protected under the CROWN Act.

"My mission is to change the way the corporate world sees locs, and see it as beautiful and professional and clean," King said.

Growing up, King shared the experience of many black Americans; changing her natural hair to meet traditionally white beauty standards.

"My mother was relaxing my hair since I was 5, because society dictated you needed to have straight hair," King said.

King developed fibroids caused by the harsh chemicals used to straighten her hair.

She has clients with similar issues.

"Some of them have dealt with severe migraines, hair loss," King said.

King turned to locs as a safer way to maintain natural hair.

"We can grow our hair, we can have a healthy aesthetic, and still be presentable to the world," King said.

Acceptance is growing, and Lowe hopes Tosa's support will help Wisconsin catch up.

"Wisconsin has fallen behind because of lack of understanding and knowledge," Lowe said, noting diverse representation on all levels of government is important.

"Our voices matter, and we know the struggles and challenges we deal with," King said.

The city of Milwaukee passed a similar ordinance banning hair discrimination in 2021.

The CROWN Act is also being considered at a federal level. It was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last year.