JCPenney’s Post

Yesterday was Crown Act Day, and I was overjoyed to see so many posts celebrating the beauty and diversity of Black women's hair in professional spaces on my timeline. 💁🏾♀️ The Crown Act, which stands for "Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair," was first enacted in California on July 3, 2019. This landmark legislation ensures protection against discrimination based on hair texture and protective styles such as locs, braids, twists, and knots. As someone who proudly wears her bright red locs, it's empowering to witness our community showcasing their authentic selves at work. The Crown Act is not just about hair—it's about dignity, identity, and the freedom to be our true selves in all aspect of our lives. While this policy is based in the US, there are some valuable lessons for the UK to take away. Embracing and protecting the natural hair of Black professionals is essential for fostering true inclusivity and representation in the workplace! I am my hair! 💅🏾 Read more about the Crown Act here - https://lnkd.in/eSifGzZ6 #CrownAct #NaturalHair #BlackProfessionals #BlackInHR #Athenticity

As someone who was constantly bullied at work (only by men if I might add 🙄) because of the many ways I wore my hair…. this is just disheartening. Looking back to those days, I wish I spoke up more, but I didn’t even understand the concept of micro aggressions and laughed it off as a “joke” but whenever I replay those scenarios in my mind, it makes my mind boil. Comments like.. “did you wash your hair today”? “when are you going to get your done”? “You’re sporting the ghetto look today”… So when people try to silence our voices, and say we are fighting for the wrong things, please understand that you’ll never be able to comprehend some of the things we deal with as Black women. Imagine if one of these men that made these comments were part of the hiring team, I know I never would have stood a chance because I didn’t fit the mold of what an Engineer should look like. This type of discrimination affects our finances and it reduces the types of high paying roles you get accepted for, this further widens the pay and wealth gap for Black women, simply because we were born with a different hair texture. I saw a post the other day where someone (guess their race) was complaining about how racism will never end if we keep creating spaces specifically for Black people. But the truth is, when the systems that oppress us do not change, racism will never go anyway. It starts from effecting laws like this. *cue in collective sigh of exhaustion* https://lnkd.in/gc6yip7x

Enough is enough. Black women athletes like Simone Biles spend countless hours honing their craft, pushing their bodies to the limit, and achieving greatness on the world stage. Their focus should be on their performance, not on whether their hair conforms to societal standards. Yet, the policing of Black women’s hair persists, overshadowing their hard-earned accomplishments and forcing them to think about whether their natural hair is "presentable." This is not just unfair—it's a distraction from their brilliance. The Crown Act was enacted to address this very issue. It's a step toward ending the systemic discrimination that Black women face, particularly when it comes to how they choose to wear their hair. The way someone wears their hair should never be a barrier to their success, and it should never be subject to criticism that diminishes their achievements. Let’s focus on celebrating these incredible athletes for their talents, dedication, and resilience. Their hair is not up for debate—it's part of their identity, their strength, and their beauty. #CROWNAct #SimoneBiles #BlackExcellence #EndHairDiscrimination #NaturalHair

Have you heard about EBIN New York and the alarming allegations made by employees? EBIN New York is a Korean-owned beauty brand specializing in hair care and styling products targeting mainly Black women and WOC. A former employee took it to Tiktok and aired out the mistreatment she experienced as one of the few if not only Black people working at EBIN at the time. She was bullied, micromanaged, and excluded by her peers until she was wrongfully terminated with her allegations being supported by Black beauty advisors who also worked for EBIN as well. Social media is in a frenzy and Black women are not having it with with talks of boycotting the brand. Yet, the company remains silent, with no statement and turning off comments on all platforms. Black women spend 7.5 billion dollars on beauty a year and the buying power of the Black dollar is undeniable. Yet despite our significant contribution to the industry, our market share remains disproportionately small due to monopolization by Koreans in sectors like hair care, nail salons, and beauty supply stores. Branding isn't just about external image but internal culture. But what happens when the inside doesn't match with the outside, a disaster strikes, as evident with EBIN New York. In today’s day and age, consumers seek relatability and authenticity but how can they find it when brands like EBIN are run by individuals who harbor biases against us? How are you marketing to a group of people whom you wouldn’t even hire? EBIN New York is just one example of a larger issue. Black women deserve a seat at the table, yet we're consistently excluded from boardrooms and conversations that impact us while companies like EBIN New York line their pockets with Black dollars.

Coily hair, textured hair, Black hair is prestige. I think there is still the perception that Black owned should be discounted / at a cheaper price point yet there is no pushback at the price points for non Black owned brands. Supporting prestige or higher priced Black owned brands is how we build equity within the beauty space and signal to the beauty industry at large that Black owned prestige is indeed good business. join our community to be part of what we're building SoftRows.com/newsletter

Today (July 3rd) is National Crown Day. Today marks the fifth anniversary of the Crown Act being first signed into legislation in the state of California in 2019. Today we celebrate Black Hair Independence, and the Crown Movement. The CROWN Movement supports making race-based hair discrimination illegal, while also celebrating the beauty of Black hair. To date, the CROWN Act legislation (and/or Executive Orders) inspired by the CROWN Act has been enacted in 26 states and 50 municipalities, positively impacting the lives of more than 30 million Black people in the US. While there has been significant progress made, there is still so much more work to be done. The 26 states include California, New York, New Jersey (2019); Virginia, Colorado, Washington, Maryland (2020); Connecticut, Delaware, New Mexico*, Nebraska*, Nevada, Oregon*, Illinois* (2021); Maine, Tennessee*, Louisiana*, Alaska*, Massachusetts (2022); and Minnesota, Arkansas, Texas, Michigan (2023), and Vermont (2024). A CROWN-inspired Executive Order is in place in Arizona (2023) and Kentucky (2024). *Legislation inspired by the CROWN Act. For more information on the CROWN Coalition, and Dove research studies on hair discrimination, visit www.thecrownact.com Take action to help end race-based hair discrimination by signing the petition at Dove.com/CROWN. #CROWNLOVE #CROWNPROUD #PASSTHECROWN #DOVE #impactthatmatters #everyonematters #everyonesincluded

Kaylah A. Joseph, founder of LAID Hair Care, is breaking barriers in the Black beauty industry by becoming one of the few Black-owned braiding hair distributors. Her journey highlights the challenges Black women face in an industry where they are primary consumers but underrepresented as owners. Through resilience and entrepreneurship, Joseph is reclaiming ownership and inspiring others to do the same. Read below https://lnkd.in/dqp2Fjx6

Today is National CROWN Day, also known as Black Hair Independence Day. 💛 Last year, I intentionally took my headshots with braids. When I shared the photos, a close male friend asked me earnestly, “Aren’t braids considered unprofessional?” Unfortunately, this isn’t an uncommon thought or perception. When I started my professional career, I NEVER interviewed with braids out of fear of being seen as “too black” and worrying it would adversely impact the hiring decision. Black hair is unfairly discriminated against every day, and it’s a reality that Black people think about and have to navigate. CROWN Act Day is incredibly important because it simply celebrates our hair—whether it’s braids, locs, natural, straightened, or any other style. This day marks the inaugural CROWN Act being signed into law on July 3, 2019, in California. The law prohibits race-based hair discrimination, including the denial of employment and educational opportunities because of hair texture or protective hairstyles. This law needs to be codified in all 50 states because of the many false perceptions about our hair, especially in corporate environments. Today, I think about Darryl George and countless others who have been unfairly judged and denied opportunities because of the way our hair naturally grows out of our scalp. Black hair is professional hair. Full stop. I’m grateful my home state of Colorado has passed the CROWN Act, but there are still 24 states to go. To show your support, please go to The CROWN Act website to see if your state has passed the bill or to contact your representative about passing the CROWN Act. thecrownact.com #CROWNDay #PasstheCROWN #BeYou ☺️

Good Hair (Jan. 2024) is on exhibition at Monroe Township Library from January 18- February 29, 2024, in conjunction with Art Against Racism. The Inspiration for this piece comes from my mixed-race heritage (Black, white, and indigenous), and the strong black women in my life and community. The piece is titled Good Hair because all hair is ‘good hair’. Everyone, especially Black women- who are the backbone of our community, deserve the right and the grace of being joyous in their natural form. All too much in our community, we see either negative representation or violence. Black people’s existence is much more than that. Black people should not be in a perpetual state of distress. There needs to be more representation of Black people’s achievements, well-being, and happiness.  To this day friends and family members make comments using terms such as ‘good hair’ versus ‘nappy’, not always realizing how this kind of language plagues the community. Hair is a long-debated and highly politicized matter. Black people face discrimination at school, work, or even within the community.    I see both in-person and online discourse, the policing over how Black women should wear their hair, and unfortunately, sometimes it comes from men in our community. Both in white dominating spaces and fellow minority men say that black girls/ women are not put together unless they wear a wig, weave, or have a silk press. While it is each Black person’s choice as to how they wear their hair, natural hair should be celebrated and can be an active form of resistance to Eurocentric standards of beauty. It is beautiful and as valid as any other style. Hair is a journey of self and community. Salons in the Black community are not simply just for getting your hair done, rather it is a place for fellowship, as other salons are unfortunately not familiar with handling and caring for black hair. Braiding and locking, for example, can sometimes be a community effort, as there can be multiple stylists, typically women, working on an individual’s head.

Fabric Of Hair Investigates D&I Really??🤔 The acceptance of textured hair in corporate America is a significant marker of diversity and inclusion. Historically, Black individuals have faced discrimination based on their natural hair textures and protective styles, such as braids, twists, and locs. This bias often stems from Eurocentric beauty standards that deem straight hair as more professional. Despite progress, including the adoption of the CROWN Act in 20 states, which prohibits hair discrimination, challenges persist. Many Black employees report being perceived as unprofessional or even being sent home due to their hair, This ongoing issue highlights a broader problem of systemic bias and the need for greater awareness and education within corporate environments. Embracing textured hair in the workplace is not about non-compliance but about fostering an inclusive culture that respects and values diversity. Companies can take proactive steps by implementing policies that protect against hair discrimination, providing diversity training, and encouraging open dialogue about biases, . By doing so, they not only comply with anti-discrimination laws but also promote a more equitable and supportive work environment. Ultimately, the acceptance of textured hair in corporate America is a reflection of a company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, ensuring all employees feel valued and respected for who they are. PERIOD ..... #d&i #inclusion #love #eugenedavishair #hairexpert #beautyexpert #diversity #professsional #blackwoman