An 18-year-old Black student, Darryl George, enrolled at Barbers Hill High School in Texas, has been suspended for over a month due to the length of his locs hairstyle and has been referred to an alternative school, according to CNN. The school principal cited “multiple infractions of campus and classroom rules,” including a “violation of the dress and grooming policy,” as reasons for George’s suspension. As a result, George is now facing placement in a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program until November 29.
This isn’t the first time that Darryl George has faced suspension over his choice of hairstyle. The school district’s dress code places specific limitations on the length of male students’ hair, and officials had previously cautioned George and his family that further breaches of the dress code would lead to referral to an alternative program.
The decision to send George to an alternative program marks the latest development in an ongoing legal dispute over whether his locs hairstyle is a dress code violation in the school district.
Darryl George’s case brings into focus the ongoing debate on hair discrimination within educational institutions and workplaces. In recent years, there have been several high-profile instances where Black students faced disciplinary actions or discrimination due to their natural hairstyles. Responding to these concerns, multiple states, including California, New York, and Virginia, have passed laws explicitly banning hair discrimination.
The incident involving Darryl George has ignited discussions about the need for more inclusive and equitable dress codes within schools, ones that do not discriminate against students based on their cultural or natural hairstyles. Advocates argue that these incidents unfairly target Black individuals and infringe upon their right to express their cultural identity.
The suspension of Darryl George for wearing locs has sparked a broader conversation about the importance of addressing hair discrimination and enforcing more inclusive policies in schools. As the legal battle continues, this case serves as a reminder of the need to create an environment in which students can express their cultural identities without fear of punitive measures.
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3.https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/19/us/darryl-george-barbers-hill-suspension/index.html