Protesters voiced out support for a Black teenager, Darryl George, who has been suspended for most of the school year due to the length of his dreadlocks. The protesters, consisting of hairstylists, children, and activists, have gathered in Baytown, Texas, particularly near the home of the school district’s superintendent, Greg Poole, a day before a judge hears whether the district can continue to punish George for refusing to change his hairstyle. They carried signs bearing hashtags that read “Justice for Darryl George” and “My Hair Is Not A Threat,” and also displayed synthetic hair for braiding and showed photographs of George and other children with dreadlocks. A loctician, Janaie Roberts, even styled protesters’ dreadlocks during the demonstration, emphasizing the importance of being able to express one’s self through natural hair.
George, a junior at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, has been in in-school suspension for most of the school year due to his neatly twisted dreadlocks, which the school said violates a district dress code regulating the length of boys’ hair. Ellen Reddy, an advocate with a group aiming to end physical punishment in public schools, remarked that the issue stems from policing Black hair and bodies, asserting the children’s right to wear their hair in natural styles. George’s family cited the Texas CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act in their defense, but the superintendent insists that the law does not address hair length, prompting the district to file a lawsuit to seek the court’s interpretation.
The legal battle between George and the school district highlights the larger issue of racial discrimination regarding hairstyles. This case has drawn significant attention as well as support from various groups and individuals who advocate for Black children’s right to express themselves through natural hairstyles. While the exact school policy on hair length remains subject to the court’s interpretation, the case has brought the issue of racial discrimination in schools into focus, particularly as it pertains to hairstyles.
