Texas high school sends Black student back to in-school suspension over his locs hairstyle
BY CHEYANNE MUMPHREY, AP News
A Texas high school sent a Black student back to in-school suspension Tuesday for refusing to change his hairstyle, renewing a monthslong standoff over a dress code policy the teen’s family calls discriminatory.
The student, Darryl George, was suspended for 13 days because his hair is out of compliance when let down, according to a disciplinary notice issued by Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, Texas. It was his first day back at the school after spending a month at an off-site disciplinary program.
George, 18, already has spent more than 80% of his junior year outside of his regular classroom.
Key points
Darryl George, previously disciplined over his locs hairstyle, returned to classes on Tuesday but was suspended again for refusing to cut his hair.
- George was suspended because his hair was out of compliance, according to a disciplinary notice issued by Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu.
- He has already spent more than 80% of his junior year outside of his regular classroom.
- His family argues the punishment violates the CROWN Act, which became law in Texas in September and is intended to prohibit race-based hair discrimination.
“We are just trying to take it day by day. That’s all we can do,” his mother, Darresha George, told The Associated Press. “We do not see the light at the end of the tunnel. But we are not giving up.”
The dress code policy at Barbers Hill Independent School District attracted headlines in 2020 when a Black student was forbidden to return to school or attend his graduation ceremony unless he cut his locs. Greg Poole, who has been district superintendent since 2006, has said the policy is legal and teaches students to conform as a sacrifice benefitting everyone.
School officials said George was sent to the disciplinary program for violating the dress code and the tardy policy, disrupting the in-school suspension classroom and not complying with school directives. As he completed his punishment there, district spokesperson David Bloom said George was told he would go back to in-person suspension unless he trimmed his hair.
The school district has filed a lawsuit in state district court asking a judge to clarify whether its dress code restrictions limiting student hair length for boys violate the CROWN Act.
“They are acting in bad faith to continue discriminating against African American students,” Reynolds said in an email.
“It’s frustrating because I’m getting punished for something everyone else is doing, growing hair, having hair,” George said.
