September 19th 2023.
Darryl George, a 17-year-old Black student at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, Texas, was recently suspended for wearing locs. According to the school's dress code, male students' hair must not extend beyond the top of a t-shirt collar, below the eyebrows, or below the ear lobes. Despite Darryl wearing his locs pinned up, the principal and vice principal stood by the suspension.
Greg Poole, the district superintendent since 2006, believes the hair policy is rooted in a sense of collective responsibility and sacrifice. However, Darryl's mother, Darresha George, disagrees and maintains this is another example of discrimination against Black hairstyles and culture. In her words, "Our hair is where our strength is. That's our roots. He has his ancestors locked into his hair, and he knows that."
Unfortunately, the school officials informed Darresha that they plan to put her son into an alternative school if his "violations" continue. This news comes after Barbers Hill High School made headlines when they barred a senior from returning to school and attending his graduation unless he agreed to cut his dreadlocks.
Fortunately, Texas has enacted the CROWN Act which prohibits race-based hair discrimination and bars employers and schools from penalizing people because of their hair texture or protective hairstyles. Despite this, lawmakers failed to pass a federal version of the CROWN Act through the Senate, leaving the decision up to individual states. Darryl served his suspension on September 15th.
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