Hairstyles That Define a Culture

About the Module

The CROWN Act was created in 2019 by Dove and the CROWN Coalition, in partnership with then State Senator Holly J. Mitchell of California, to ensure protection against discrimination based on race-based hairstyles by extending statutory protection to hair texture and protective styles such as braids, twists, and knots in the workplace and public schools.  The social, emotional, intellectual, and physical implications of the issues related to the Act will be addressed. The Act is being looked at closely by both the state & federal levels in our government. Twenty-two states have come forward in support of the Act and have made it law. Internet resources will be noted and links to the articles will be reviewed to form an accurate history and note the implications in today's world. 


As a result of attending this sessions, participants will be able to:

  1. Provide a brief historical perspective of African American women's experience with hair discrimination.
  2. Provide background on the Crown Act 0f 2019 and the attempt to make it a federal law.
  3. Provide an update on individual state's passage of the Act.
  4. Provide information on the future of the Act and how African American hairstyles are being celebrated.

Resources Available to AAFCS Members Only

Members: To view and access the resources for the module, you must be logged in to your MyAAFCS account.

Resources for this professional development module include the following:


AAFCS Members: To see the "View Recording" button and the Module Resources, you MUST be logged in to your MyAAFCS account.

Correlations to Standards

The resources provided for this VPD Module correlate with the:  

FCS Body of Knowledge

  • Community Vitality
  • Individual Well-Being
  • Capacity Building

Family and Consumer Sciences National Standards 3.0

  • 1.0 Career, Community & Family Connections

National Standards for Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences

  • Career, Community & Family Connections
  • Professionalism

Meet the Presenters

Stephanie Fians

 

Meilana Charles has over 10 years of Extension experience and currently works as Oregon State University's African Heritage Program Coordinator and Workgroup Leader. Her work has focused on improving the lives of low-income and limited-resource individuals, families, and communities through nutrition education, parenting programs, and financial literacy. Prior to Extension, Ms. Charles worked in childcare and after-school settings. Meilana has been a member of AAFCS since 2013 and serves as co-chair of the Building Leadership Capacity community and a co-facilitator in the Diversity and Inclusion community. Ms. Charles has an M.S. from Texas Woman's University in Child Development and B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences from Northwestern State University. 

 

Meilana Charles