Texas Student Suspended Over Locs

LCPA students show their Hair Joy. The CROWN (Create a Respectful and Open Workplace) ACT passed 2019. Photo Credit: Madison McDuffie

In Mont Belvieu, Texas Darryl George, a 17 year old Junior at Barbers Hill High school, was suspended for his locs. This topic plays a huge part in society, considering that there is a lot of discrimination that still goes on throughout America. According to the school the reason that he is dealing with this suspension is because "his hair is falling below his eyebrows and ear lobes."

 Many people were outraged due to the fact that many African-Americans go through complications due to their hair but that was put to an end due to the Crown Act, a new law created in 2019 that prohibits race-based hair discrimination. The Crown Act stands for Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair, meaning that no one should be discriminated against regardless of their hair. The state of Missouri hasn't passed the Crown Act yet, although the Kansas City, Missouri City council passed the Crown Act Ordinance No. 200837.

 “I believe the Crown Act is such a great way to help students feel comfortable and confident in school regardless of how their hair looks,” Brian Anderson, 37, said. 

Locs are a very common hairstyle for all genders in the black community. They’re versatile, protective, and come in all different types. So George and his parents were very confused as to why he could be suspended for such a hairstyle. In George’s family it’s a tradition for the men to have locs as well. 

Barbers Hill Independent School District strictly prohibits boy students from having hair that passes their eyebrows or meets at the tops of their necks, according to the student code of conduct. Barber’s believes that hair on the longer side looks unclean and unprofessional. 

“Because that's what society has led people to think. We're a conditioned society and unfortunately pick up on what continuously happens," Ardriana Townsend, 29, said. "They think it means that a particular person may have come from a specific area so may 'act' a certain way they don't seem as professional or put together or they simply believe that the style means one is unkept." 

Anderson has had a similar experience as George that made him feel bad about his own hair as well. 

“This makes me feel really disappointed that it’s 2023 and children are still having to experience discrimination in such a way. Hair should not ever keep any child from learning in school,”Anderson said. “I went to a private school that was mostly white and I was only one of the few African American students who attended there. It felt as if the administration would only target us because they didn’t allow certain hairstyles such as cornrows and locs. This was all because they didn’t find it 'professional' in their eyes.” 

This situation brings up old controversy over black hair in professional settings. This issue was solved previously through the Crown Act but in this insistence the act was completely overlooked.

Many people view black hair as “just hair” or “just a hairstyle”, but black people use their hair for self expression and a way to show their roots and where they come from. 

These hair styles come from years back, all the way to slave times. 

“Locs have helped me learn who I am as a person and also helped me embrace my natural self,” Shonnette Smith. 

Micheal McDuffie, has had locs for over 10 years.

 “I have had to cut off my dreadlocks for a job before and that was really hard for me but I had to do it but that was way back in the day,” McDuffie said.

School should be a safe space for children to learn.

“All schools should be aware of the Crown Act, that's what this school in Texas should’ve done differently.” Anderson said.

“I know it 'prevents' the discrimination of people based on hair texture and hairstyles. I also know that the law was just passed in recent years which is hard to believe seeing as though we (the black community) have been trying so hard to be simply seen as equal and they're just now making strides towards that happening, we still have so far to go," Townsend said.