The same week his state outlawed racial discrimination based on hairstyles, a Black high school student in Texas was suspended because school officials said his locs violated the district’s dress code.

Darryl George, a junior at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, received an in-school suspension after he was told his hair fell below his eyebrows and ear lobes. George, 17, wears his hair in thick twisted dreadlocks, tied on top of his head, said his mother, Darresha George.

George served the suspension last week. His mother said he plans to return to the Houston-area school Monday, wearing his dreadlocks in a ponytail, even if he is required to attend an alternative school as a result.

  • brygphilomena@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Greg Poole, who has been district superintendent since 2006, said the policy is legal and teaches students to conform as a sacrifice benefitting everyone.

    “When you are asked to conform … and give up something for the betterment of the whole, there is a psychological benefit,” Poole said. “We need more teaching (of) sacrifice.”

    It’s explicitly said by the superintendent.

    • eric@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Follow up question Mr Superintendent: in what way does prohibiting this particular hairstyle “benefit the whole?”

      • brygphilomena@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        There is another quote from him saying it’s a rule that’s been on the books for 30 years. As if that’s a good enough reason to keep it rather than actually being a reason to reexamine it’s worth in today’s society.

        • Sir_Kevin@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          1 year ago

          Anyone who uses the excuse that “this is how it’s been done for x number of years so we’re going to keep doing it that way” should be punched in the face repeatedly until their teeth turn to fuckin dust because they should be able to speak anymore.