In early African civilisations, hairstyles could indicate a person's family background, tribe and social status.
Headdresses and hairstyles indicated status and identities across Africa, including Cameroon (left), Ivory Coast (top) and southern Africa.
Slavery ends, but whites look upon black women who style their hair like white women as well-adjusted. “Good” hair becomes a prerequisite for entering certain schools, churches, social groups and business networks.
Marcus Garvey, a black nationalist, urges followers to embrace their natural hair and reclaim an African aesthetic.
Melba Tolliver is fired from the ABC affiliate in New York for wearing an Afro while covering Tricia Nixon’s wedding.
The case revolves around Chastity Jones, an Alabama woman who was offered a job as a customer service representative at a call center in Mobile in 2010. During the interview, Jones wore her hair in short, natural locs and was dressed in a business suit and pumps. An HR manager later told Jones that dreadlocks violated the company’s grooming policy because they “tend to get messy.” She told Jones she couldn’t wear her hair that way at work, and when Jones refused to cut her locs, the job offer was rescinded.
On July 3, 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 188 also known as the Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act. More states have followed California's footsteps including Maryland. October 1, 2020 Maryland put in place their version of the CROWN Act.