July 3, 2023, has officially been deemed as National Crown Day! It's a time when we celebrate the milestones regarding Black women having the freedom to wear their "crowns" as they please.
In 2021, the EBONY Power 100 List returned in all its glory to celebrate the publication's 75th anniversary. The gala event was held at the Beverly Hills Hilton in Beverly Hills, California.
The occasion celebrated Black achievement across industries from business, sports, media and activism to music and entertainment. The evening was dedicated to those who have positively impacted the African-American community, who are game-changers in their respective fields and have consistently challenged the status quo.
Ahead of the awards ceremony, to delve deeper into the expertise and passions of some of the honorees, EBONY curated "Power Talks," a series of in-depth discussions highlighting topics such as innovation, small Black business, identity, Black women as business leaders and more. The EBONY “Power Talks” was designed to inspire and awaken the greatness within our community as we honor our history and anticipate our future as African Americans.
In “The Crown Act,” former EBONY CEO Michele Ghee moderated an enlightening discussion with Holly J. Mitchell, Adjoa B. Asamoah, Kelli Richardson Lawson, Orlena Nwokah Blanchard and Esi Eggleston Bracey, the co-founders of the Crown Coalition (The ladies graced the cover of our special edition Power 100 digital issue). The organization was created to combat hair discrimination against Black women and other women of color with a legislative agenda.
Drafted in 2019 by Dove and the CROWN Coalition, in partnership with then State Senator Holly J. Mitchell of California, the Crown Act seeks to “ensure protection against discrimination based on race-based hairstyles by extending statutory protection to hair texture and protective styles such as braids, locs, twists, and knots in the workplace and public schools.”
The empowering conversation covered topics such as the dangers of policing Black women’s hair, the politics behind it and the power of sisterhood.
Happy National Crown Day!
