A Texas school district is facing a lawsuit over its policy prohibiting a Black student from wearing dreadlocks.
The student, Darryl George, has been suspended for most of the school year for violating the dress code banning male hairstyles that extend past the ears or eyebrows.
“The Texas CROWN Act protects hair texture and the wearing of braids, twists, and locs. Those with agendas wish to make the CROWN Act a blanket allowance of student expression. Again, we look forward to this issue being legally resolved,” Barbers Hill Independent School District Superintendent Greg Poole stated.
George’s family argues this violates the state’s new CROWN Act, which prohibits race-based hair discrimination.
“I feel like I’m missing my full experience of being in the classroom,” George said.
“I hope I can start being a kid again, start living my life, start playing football again and enjoy my year, my last few years in high school,” he said.
While the school district maintains the policy does not violate the law, the lawmakers who wrote the CROWN Act say it was intended to protect hairstyles like dreadlocks.
The family has filed a complaint and lawsuit seeking enforcement of the CROWN Act.
“I have a son, 18 years old, that wants to go to school, that wants to get his education, and y’all messing with him. Why?” George’s mother, Darresha George said. “I’m glad that we are being heard too. I’m glad that things are moving and we’re getting through this.”
“I believe that we do have the law on our side,” Booker said. “What I want is for us to be comfortable in our natural state. We shouldn’t have to change or conform.”
On Thursday, a judge will hear arguments on whether the school can continue punishing George for refusing to cut his hair.
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