“Our civil rights statutes have been narrowly interpreted by federal courts, among other enforcement bodies, in such a way that it limits racial discrimination to what is known as ‘immutable’ or unchangeable characteristics,” said D. Wendy Greene, a law professor with Drexel University who has played a lead role working with legislators to draft and testify on the CROWN Act. “[The bill] clarifies that natural hair discrimination in all forms constitutes race discrimination.”
In 2019, California became the first state to pass the CROWN Act. Since then, a handful of cities, including New Orleans, Cincinnati and Albuquerque, have passed similar bills, as have New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Colorado, Washington and, this month, Connecticut. Both chambers of the New Mexico legislature have also passed the CROWN Act this year; the bill awaits the governor’s signature.
A federal bill passed the House last year, but died in the Senate. A group of five Black Democratic congresswomen reintroduced the federal bill this month in the House and issued a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris calling for her support. Sen. Cory Booker, D-NJ, re-introduced the legislation in the Senate last week.
Anthony first introduced the CROWN Act in the Michigan legislature in 2019, but after it went to a committee informally known as the “legislative graveyard,” she reintroduced the bill in late February. It is currently awaiting a hearing in the state House Judiciary Committee.
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Question
Use the passage to answer the question.
Which is the central idea of this passage?
(1 point)
Responses
California was the first state to pass a CROWN Act, but several other states and cities soon followed.
California was the first state to pass a CROWN Act, but several other states and cities soon followed.
The CROWN Act is being introduced by African American politicians in mostly liberal states.
The CROWN Act is being introduced by African American politicians in mostly liberal states.
The CROWN ACT is designed to provide legal protection from discrimination against hairstyles and textures tied to racial identity.
The CROWN ACT is designed to provide legal protection from discrimination against hairstyles and textures tied to racial identity.
The CROWN Act protects not only hairstyles, but also adornments worn by indigenous and religious communities.
The CROWN Act protects not only hairstyles, but also adornments worn by indigenous and religious communities.