Bill
Bill > AJR146
summary
Introduced
02/19/2026
02/19/2026
In Committee
02/19/2026
02/19/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This joint resolution designates September 15 of each year as "World Afro Day" in New Jersey. Beginning on September 15, 2017 in the United Kingdom, World Afro Day has stood as a celebration of natural hair and as an educational event to teach about Afro hair. The date was chosen to mark the day in 2016 when the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the rescinding of a job offer for Chastity Jones, who had her job offer rescinded for refusing to cut her dreadlocks. The court later withdrew this opinion and issued a revised opinion with the same outcome. The organization World Afro Day provides educational resources and hosts events to teach about natural hair and end hair discrimination. Afro hairstyles have been discriminated against for centuries. This has led to exclusion, bias, and low self-esteem. New Jersey recognized this problem and passed the "Create a Respectful and Open Workspace for Natural Hair Act" in 2019. Positive representations of natural hair and shifting perspectives on natural hair are crucial to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where all residents of New Jersey can thrive.
AI Summary
This joint resolution designates September 15th of each year as "World Afro Day" in New Jersey to celebrate natural hair and promote inclusivity, recognizing that Afro hairstyles have historically faced discrimination, leading to exclusion and bias, as exemplified by a 2016 court case where a job offer was rescinded for refusing to cut dreadlocks. The resolution acknowledges the efforts of the organization World Afro Day in providing educational resources and hosting events to combat hair discrimination and highlights New Jersey's own "Create a Respectful and Open Workspace for Natural Hair Act" (often referred to as the CROWN Act) passed in 2019, which aims to prevent discrimination based on hair texture and style. By establishing this annual observance, New Jersey seeks to foster positive representations of natural hair and create a welcoming environment where all residents can feel confident and proud of their heritage.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 02/19/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/AJR146 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/AJR/146_I1.HTM |
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