National Crown Day Marks 4th Anniversary With 2-Week Celebration
National Crown Day has been extended this year to a two-week celebration commemorating the initial signing of the Crown Act in 2019.
The celebrations began on June 12 and will finish on July 3 with the official National CROWN Day celebration in New Orleans as it marks the fourth Crown Day anniversary.
Black women have faced hair discrimination in the workplace for a long time since the 2023 CROWN Workplace Research study found that Black women’s hair is 2.5 times more likely to be perceived as unprofessional.
What is National CROWN Day?
CROWN stands for Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair and was formed by Dove, the National Urban League, the Western Center on Law and Poverty, and Color of Change.
The Crown Coalition was founded in 2019 and included over 1000 community organizations working toward real, actionable change.
It was formed to create a more equitable and inclusive experience for Black consumers through advancements in race-based hair discrimination legislation, also known as The Crown Act.
Dove, the CROWN Coalition, and LinkedIn joined forces this year to launch the #BlackHairIsProfessional to adopt a comprehensive approach involving awareness, education, and legislation to redefine what is considered ‘professional’ hair.
What happens on National CROWN day?
The main event is on July 2 at the annual CROWN Awards hosted by journalist and entrepreneur Tai Beauchamp.
The ceremony highlights the extraordinary strength, grace, and impact of notable Black women and girls whose talents and leadership help advance the legacy of Black beauty and brilliance.
Some honorees and attendees include Carolina Wanga, Camille Friend, MC Lyte, Quvenzhane Wallis, Michelle Miller, Lynae Vanee, Tabitha Brown, and Kim Whitley.
“We look forward to uplighting Black women and girls who are standing proudly in their full, unapologetic beauty as part of this year’s fourth annual CROWN day festival,” stated Esi Eggleston Bracey, President of Unilever US and CEO of Unilever Personal Care, NA.
“While there is much to celebrate with 23 states and 50 municipalities that have passed CROWN legislation, there is still work to be done to ensure protection and inclusivity.”
A step forward
As part of this year’s CROWN Day celebration, Dove invites newscasters across the country on July 3 to wear their natural and protective styles on air and their social channels, representing the beauty and diversity of black hair on air.
They also invite all celebrating National CROWN Day to post photos and videos online using #CROWNProud.
Read: Meet The Black Engineer That Is Committed To Wearing Braids In The Lab
The CROWN Act has impacted more than 30 million Black lives. Just over two weeks ago, the Act became law in Texas, in time for their debut of the “Kinky, Curly, Coily Festival” on June 25, teaching Black people embracing their natural hair how to treat, style, and maintain it.
