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Less than one month after Texas’ CROWN Act went into effect, the same school district that largely prompted the law’s creation is delivering its first major test.
Darryl George, a high school junior attending Barbers Hill High School in Chambers County, has recently gained widespread media coverage due to his in-school suspension lasting over two weeks. The reason behind this disciplinary action was his dreadlocks, deemed by school officials as a violation of the district’s dress code.
George’s suspension has raised concerns regarding the legality of penalizing students based on their hair length, given that the dress code dictates guidelines for male students. Additionally, the extent of the CROWN Act’s safeguards is being questioned, as it aims to prohibit discrimination against hair texture or styles often associated with race.
What does the CROWN Act say — and not say?
As of September 1, Texas became the 22nd state to enforce its own version of the CROWN Act, short for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.” This act prohibits any form of discrimination based on hair texture or protective hairstyles that are commonly associated with specific racial backgrounds.
The law defines “protective hairstyle” to encompass braids, locks, and twists, with no specific mention regarding hair length.
The act, authored by state Rep. Rhetta Bowers, D-Garland, was largely spurred by Black student experiences with hair discrimination.
In 2020, De’Andre Arnold, a student at Barbers Hill High School, gained nationwide recognition and garnered support from activists across the United States. The reason behind this attention was due to the district administrators suspending him solely because of his dreadlocks. De’Andre was instructed to trim his hair in accordance with the district’s policy, leading his family to file a discrimination lawsuit against the school district. Subsequently, De’Andre decided to transfer to a different school.
What does Barbers Hill’s dress code say?
The district’s policy states male students’ hair cannot, at any time, extend below the eyebrows, earlobes, or the top of a T-shirt collar. Male students’ hair also may not “be gathered or worn in a style” that would allow hair to fall to these lengths “when let down.”
Protective hairstyles or those associated with race are not mentioned in the policy.
The Houston Landing conducted a review of dress code policies in numerous school districts across Greater Houston and discovered that only one other district, Devers ISD, had implemented regulations regarding hair length.
Darryl’s dreadlocks are styled in a twisted manner on the top of his head. The district officials have stated their inability to share any details regarding disciplinary actions taken against students, including whether Darryl faced consequences for his hair extending beyond his T-shirt, eyes, or earlobes when it was left loose.
Conflicting arguments on CROWN Act protections
To put it briefly, the dispute revolves around the question of whether Darryl’s dreadlocks constitute a hairstyle that is legally safeguarded. If they are indeed protected, another point of contention is whether the officials of the Barbers Hill Independent School District have the authority to impose restrictions on the length of such a protected hairstyle.
According to Allie Booker, a lawyer representing Darryl, the dress code at Barbers Hill is in violation of the CROWN Act as it fails to acknowledge his hair as a protective style. However, the district’s spokesperson at Barbers Hill refutes this claim, asserting that their rules do not breach the CROWN Act.
During an interview with WFAA, a Dallas-based television station, Bowers clarified that the law primarily focuses on safeguarding protective hairstyles rather than hair length or color.
However, Bowers called Darryl’s punishment “a CROWN Act violation” on social media last week. Multiple efforts to reach Bowers were not successful Monday.
What happens next?
George received another in-school suspension Monday after returning to school with his hair unchanged, the Associated Press reported, signaling the district’s firmness on its hair policy.
However, Darryl and his family are standing their ground. According to Booker, Darryl intends to maintain his dreadlocks at their present length and refuses to trim his hair to conform to regulations. His attorney emphasized that Darryl’s hair holds both personal and cultural significance, as it is intertwined with the dreadlocks of his family members.
“The locs serve as a tribute to our predecessors, acting as a constant reminder of our identity and the origins from which we hail,” Booker expressed. “They hold significant value in our culture and heritage, representing a community that has endured oppression, bondage, and adversity.”
According to Booker, Darryl’s family intends to take legal action, including filing a lawsuit and seeking a potential injunction, in order to challenge the district’s policy.
This article first appeared on Houston Landing.
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