Texas Judge Rules That Suspension Of Black Student For Long Hair Isn’t Discrimination
Americans are currently honoring the annual Black History Month. But for one African American student in Texas, the celebration, dedicated to honoring and recognizing the achievements, contributions, and struggles of African Americans throughout history, was brutally overshadowed by disappointment after a judge ruled against his challenge to the school dress code regarding hair length. This incident has since highlighted a greater issue regarding marginalized people’s cultural identity.
- A Texas judge ruled against Darryl George, a black student, challenging his school's hair-length dress code that resulted in his suspension.
- Texas' CROWN Act doesn't protect against hair length discrimination in schools, the judge ruled.
- The George family is to appeal the ruling, as they fight for the inclusivity of natural hairstyles.
A Texas judge ruled on Thursday (February 22) that the state’s CROWN Act did not make it unlawful for school dress codes to limit a student’s hair length.
The Texas CROWN Act, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” prohibits discrimination based on natural hairstyles and hair textures that are commonly associated with a particular race or culture.
The Act seeks to address instances where individuals, particularly those of African descent, have faced discrimination or bias in employment, education, and other areas due to their natural hair.
The Act specifically prohibits employers and educational institutions from enforcing grooming policies or dress codes that disproportionately impact individuals with natural hairstyles, such as afros, locs, braids, and twists.
Darryl George faced disappointment after a judge ruled against his challenge to his school’s dress code on hair length, leading to his suspension
Image credits: WFAA
The judge’s decision came as a blow to Darryl George, a Houston-area high school student who sued the Barbers Hill Independent School District after he was suspended for months over the length of his locs hairstyle, CNN reported.
The George family did reportedly not make an appearance after the trial, but attorneys for the family said they intended to appeal the ruling.
At a news conference outside the courthouse, Candice Matthews, a spokesperson for the family, said the teenager had tears in his eyes as they had left the courtroom, as per CNN.
She said the family was disappointed, angered, and confused by the ruling. The lawyer explained: “Darryl made this statement and told me this straight up with tears in his eyes, ‘All because of my hair?’
“‘I can’t get my education because of hair? I cannot be around other peers and enjoy my junior year because of my hair?'”
The high school student sued Barbers Hill Independent School District after he was suspended over the length of his locs hairstyle
Image credits: WFAA
Matthews reportedly said that George will continue to serve in-school suspension and that his attorneys plan to file for an injunction in an upcoming federal civil rights lawsuit.
Barbers Hill Independent School District Superintendent Greg Poole said the ruling “validated our position that the district’s dress code does not violate the CROWN Act and that the CROWN Act does not give students unlimited self-expression.”
As per CNN, Poole further stated: “The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that affirmative action is a violation of the 14th Amendment, and we believe the same reasoning will eventually be applied to the CROWN Act.”
Poole had previously told the American broadcaster: “Hair length of male students is only constitutionally protected for Native American students.”
The judge ruled on February 22 that the state’s CROWN Act did not make it unlawful for school dress codes to limit a student’s hair length
Image credits: WFAA
Ron Reynolds, a Texas state representative who was a co-author of the CROWN Act, which went into effect on September 1, 2023, testified at the trial on George’s behalf. The Democrat, who is also an African American man, reportedly said that he was disappointed by the outcome.
Reynolds said: “We will not stop. We will continue to speak truth to power,” adding that if George’s appeal is unsuccessful, lawmakers will file new legislation that will include hair length.
He continued: “We know the purpose of the bill. The purpose of the legislation is to protect students like Darryl.”
The Barbers Hill Independent School District’s dress code reportedly allows students to wear locs hairstyles but places limits on the length of male students’ hair.
The Texas CROWN Act prohibits discrimination based on natural hairstyles and hair textures that are commonly associated with a particular race or culture
Image credits: NBC News
According to the school’s official policy: “Boy’s hair will not extend below the eyebrows, below the ear lobes, or below the top of a t-shirt collar.”
When it comes to hairstyle, the school also states that: “Hair must be neat, clean, and well-groomed, geometric or unusual patterns (including Mohawks) shaved or cut in the hair are not permitted, unnatural color or color variation in hair (i.e. scarlet, purple, blue, green, orange, etc.) will not be permitted, and ponytails or tails are not acceptable on male students.”
In September 2023, the school district filed a declaratory judgment lawsuit asking the court to decide if the “Barbers Hill Independent School District’s dress and grooming code policy limiting student hair length does not violate the CROWN Act,” CNN reported.
George and his family have also filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against school officials and Texas state leaders, including Greg Abbott, who is the governor of Texas, alleging they have failed to enforce the state law and have caused emotional distress.
Darryl George will continue to serve in-school suspension while his attorneys plan to file for an injunction in an upcoming federal civil rights lawsuit
Image credits: WFAA
Before the trial began, George told reporters that spending most of this academic year isolated and on in-school suspension has been “very lonely,” CNN reported.
The 18-year-old said: “I started my dreads for a reason and that’s just to feel close to my people … to feel my ancestors.
“It just makes me feel angry, very angry … that throughout all these years, throughout all the fighting for the Black History that we’ve done, that we still have to do this again, and again, and again. It’s ridiculous.”
Darresha, who is Darryl’s mother, also became emotional as she thanked supporters “for making us stand strong.”
The George family was disappointed, angered, and confused by the ruling
Image credits: WFAA
Supporters of Darryl George were seen protesting outside Superintendent Poole on Wednesday (February 22), holding a banner that read: “End discriminatory policies and practices that contribute to over-policing and push out black students. #MyHairIsNotaThreat.”
In January, Poole placed a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle, arguing that “being an American requires conformity with the positive benefit of unity,” CNN reported.
He wrote in the ad: “Barbers Hill ISD will continue to make decisions to protect and fight for the rights of its community to set the standards and expectations for our school district even if that path takes us to the U.S. Supreme Court.”
According to the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), an American civil rights organization, hair discrimination is rooted in systemic racism and often helps preserve white spaces.
The LDF notes that policies that further hair discrimination advance white Anglo-Saxon Protestant cultural norms as the default norms to which everyone should adhere.
“I can’t get my education because of hair? I cannot be around other peers and enjoy my junior year because of my hair?’” Darryl said
Image credits: WFAA
Additionally, hair and grooming policies that prohibit natural hairstyles, like afros, braids, Bantu knots, and locs, have been used to justify the removal of black children from classrooms and black adults from their employment.
The LDF further explains that black hair goes beyond just cultural differences. The waves, curls, coils, and ringlets that black hair can have cause it to have unique needs, it explains.
According to the organization, black people often choose to wear “protective hairstyles,” like braids, twists, and locs, to maintain healthy hair and prevent breakage.
These hairstyles can be worn for long stretches of time without constant manipulation. The alternative is often to use chemical or heat straighteners that can damage the hair in the short and long term.
Black hair is also an expression of identity and culture, the LDF says. It’s a representation of history and carries deep emotional significance. Historically, Black hair has carried a profound symbolism.
Moreover, cornrows, locs, twists, afros, bantu knots, and more all have historic connections to black pride, culture, religion, and history, which makes wearing these styles all the more significant.
Darryl George’s story sparked further reactions from readers
How does the length of a person's hair effect their or their classmates' ability to learn? And why only the boys? Why is long hair on girls fine but not boys?
I guarantee not a single one of his classmates ever had a single issue receiving their education as a direct result of being in the same room as him and his hair. He’s now definitely having issues receiving his own education, thanks to this judge, but honestly everyone else in the vicinity was fine. I can’t imagine not being able to learn math because somebody in my class has their hair braided up a certain way. This hairstyle is pretty low-key for American culture, I wouldn’t have glanced twice at him on the street. Not that that should matter at all, but just makes it even more silly that they’re wringing their hands over something that isn’t even that weird or different to see out in the general public. This story makes me so mad, like did they actually think this kid was the super distracting main attraction everywhere he went because of his hair or something? It’s not made of gold and fireworks and fairy floss, it’s just hair.
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No offence, but I think it’s ridiculous to be so controlling over appearances in the first place; these kids are just trying to get an education & build a positive future. To expel boys with long hair or girls with short hair is utterly petty & (IMO) kinda childish. It’s 2024, not the dark ages! People don’t write with their hair/clothing, so it’s hardly worth destroying these kid's futures over! 🤨🤷♀️
Look Pandas, this is what the end-game looks like that the "christian-right" has been working on for decades. There are non-profits here that aid law students and help them with networking and resources for religious-freedom lawsuits and stuff in an attempt to groom them to maybe one day become judges. They know that a lot of pushy-religious stuff will come down to a judge's opinion and the judges aren't punished for openly going against a law because the only thing you can do as an individual is appeal the decision if you can afford to do so. It plays into a strategy known as forum shopping in the judicial world. Our supreme court recently ruled in favor of a person who claimed their state violated her religious freedom to operate a business with sanctioned discrimination that didn't even exist at the time! She had no actual standing to make such a claim and the highest court in the US said yes, this hypothetical business and fabricated situation was actual discrimination.
ex. - that alabama judge that quoted the bible as legal reference in deciding that frozen embryos are children . I understand why this particular case was brought ( a patient accidentally destroyed others' ) but the ruling in its way is meant to bring what how?
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Seriously? You chose a test case on a person's right to leave his hair long in a school called BARBER'S Hill? That was the wrong hill to dye on.
Poole placed a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle, arguing that “being an American requires conformity with the positive benefit of unity.” - That reminds me of the time when the principal of my high school took out a full page ad against me in a major newspaper to publicly explain why I am such a whiny punk. Good thing they found that judge to interpret the CROWN act didn't apply to this situation because the law didn't specify hair length. The fact that the lawyers that helped write that law were in the courtroom arguing that it applies specifically to this type of discrimination didn't bother him at all.
I can't believe this is even a thing in this day and age. What needs to happen is for every male in that school to wear their hair in a non-conforming way. Not only is this racist, it is sexist and intolerable.
This is the endgame of “states rights,” folks. Many states like to use “states rights” to violate people’s rights which is blatantly unconstitutional. States cannot have rights, only people can have rights. The right would also love to end the “incorporation doctrine” so as to give their state supremacy over people’s rights. The only individual rights they support are gun and property rights. Remember that when anyone says, unironically, “ Democrats and Republicans are basically the same!”
"The land of the free - if you don't leave the fold", as Chumbawumba sang. Sad.
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I am so angry about this that I can't even get a coherent sentence out.
Schools do so love a dam fool rule. I honestly thought we'd be over this shït by now, silly me.
Awe look. Schools not focusing on if the kid is Making good grades, noooooo They are worried about a BLACK KIDS LOCCS. 🙄Over it.
Dress codes should only dictate what articles of clothing are worn. It sounds like they want a school full of clones. Kids have to be able to express themselves.
On one hand; who cares what his hair is like. On the other; that's the school dress code, and you have to follow the rules. Also: his hair isn't even long lol
Texas has earned all the jokes and condemnation aimed at it. It is a shame that there is no rating lower than the 1 star. I lived there for several years would never consider moving back
Texas is clawing its way to the bottom of the barrel. This is obviously discrimination and racist. That was the intent. Texas HATES people of color, women, and well anyone who isn't a religious fanatic white middle class man.
I went to school with many folks having cool mohawks, bright colors of purple and pink hair, Afros on all races, greased combed 50s do's, Jerry Curls, buzzcuts, high and hugh on anyone's head hairdos, intentional bald skulls, etched barbershop artwork heads, ponytails on both genders, braids that would qualify as true art, hair lengths and volume that could be used as a blanket, hair with multi-colored beads, and none of them were ever considered a violation in my SF Bay Area schools. None of these were ever consideted true distractions, unhealthy, or unsafe for school officials staff or fellow students.
So does this long hair ruling apply to girls? It's just beyond weird that the Crown Act had to be passed in the first place to allow people to wear the hair that GROWS NATURALLY OUT OF THEIR SCALP. WTF???
His hair is locced, then braided into an updo so they wouldn't get in the way/violate the so called hair code. Hairsyles like this usually have a deep spiritual connection for the people that sport them. Plus how on earth does having long hair prevent you from learning? I have big curly hair and I learn, listen just fine. I'm sure girls with hair to their butts learn just fine. This is a racist a*s ruling and you should think more deeply on why you agree with it. But something tells me you won't.
Load More Replies... How does the length of a person's hair effect their or their classmates' ability to learn? And why only the boys? Why is long hair on girls fine but not boys?
I guarantee not a single one of his classmates ever had a single issue receiving their education as a direct result of being in the same room as him and his hair. He’s now definitely having issues receiving his own education, thanks to this judge, but honestly everyone else in the vicinity was fine. I can’t imagine not being able to learn math because somebody in my class has their hair braided up a certain way. This hairstyle is pretty low-key for American culture, I wouldn’t have glanced twice at him on the street. Not that that should matter at all, but just makes it even more silly that they’re wringing their hands over something that isn’t even that weird or different to see out in the general public. This story makes me so mad, like did they actually think this kid was the super distracting main attraction everywhere he went because of his hair or something? It’s not made of gold and fireworks and fairy floss, it’s just hair.
Load More Replies... No offence, but I think it’s ridiculous to be so controlling over appearances in the first place; these kids are just trying to get an education & build a positive future. To expel boys with long hair or girls with short hair is utterly petty & (IMO) kinda childish. It’s 2024, not the dark ages! People don’t write with their hair/clothing, so it’s hardly worth destroying these kid's futures over! 🤨🤷♀️
Look Pandas, this is what the end-game looks like that the "christian-right" has been working on for decades. There are non-profits here that aid law students and help them with networking and resources for religious-freedom lawsuits and stuff in an attempt to groom them to maybe one day become judges. They know that a lot of pushy-religious stuff will come down to a judge's opinion and the judges aren't punished for openly going against a law because the only thing you can do as an individual is appeal the decision if you can afford to do so. It plays into a strategy known as forum shopping in the judicial world. Our supreme court recently ruled in favor of a person who claimed their state violated her religious freedom to operate a business with sanctioned discrimination that didn't even exist at the time! She had no actual standing to make such a claim and the highest court in the US said yes, this hypothetical business and fabricated situation was actual discrimination.
ex. - that alabama judge that quoted the bible as legal reference in deciding that frozen embryos are children . I understand why this particular case was brought ( a patient accidentally destroyed others' ) but the ruling in its way is meant to bring what how?
Load More Replies... Seriously? You chose a test case on a person's right to leave his hair long in a school called BARBER'S Hill? That was the wrong hill to dye on.
Poole placed a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle, arguing that “being an American requires conformity with the positive benefit of unity.” - That reminds me of the time when the principal of my high school took out a full page ad against me in a major newspaper to publicly explain why I am such a whiny punk. Good thing they found that judge to interpret the CROWN act didn't apply to this situation because the law didn't specify hair length. The fact that the lawyers that helped write that law were in the courtroom arguing that it applies specifically to this type of discrimination didn't bother him at all.
I can't believe this is even a thing in this day and age. What needs to happen is for every male in that school to wear their hair in a non-conforming way. Not only is this racist, it is sexist and intolerable.
This is the endgame of “states rights,” folks. Many states like to use “states rights” to violate people’s rights which is blatantly unconstitutional. States cannot have rights, only people can have rights. The right would also love to end the “incorporation doctrine” so as to give their state supremacy over people’s rights. The only individual rights they support are gun and property rights. Remember that when anyone says, unironically, “ Democrats and Republicans are basically the same!”
"The land of the free - if you don't leave the fold", as Chumbawumba sang. Sad.
Load More Replies... I am so angry about this that I can't even get a coherent sentence out.
Schools do so love a dam fool rule. I honestly thought we'd be over this shït by now, silly me.
Awe look. Schools not focusing on if the kid is Making good grades, noooooo They are worried about a BLACK KIDS LOCCS. 🙄Over it.
Dress codes should only dictate what articles of clothing are worn. It sounds like they want a school full of clones. Kids have to be able to express themselves.
On one hand; who cares what his hair is like. On the other; that's the school dress code, and you have to follow the rules. Also: his hair isn't even long lol
Texas has earned all the jokes and condemnation aimed at it. It is a shame that there is no rating lower than the 1 star. I lived there for several years would never consider moving back
Texas is clawing its way to the bottom of the barrel. This is obviously discrimination and racist. That was the intent. Texas HATES people of color, women, and well anyone who isn't a religious fanatic white middle class man.
I went to school with many folks having cool mohawks, bright colors of purple and pink hair, Afros on all races, greased combed 50s do's, Jerry Curls, buzzcuts, high and hugh on anyone's head hairdos, intentional bald skulls, etched barbershop artwork heads, ponytails on both genders, braids that would qualify as true art, hair lengths and volume that could be used as a blanket, hair with multi-colored beads, and none of them were ever considered a violation in my SF Bay Area schools. None of these were ever consideted true distractions, unhealthy, or unsafe for school officials staff or fellow students.
So does this long hair ruling apply to girls? It's just beyond weird that the Crown Act had to be passed in the first place to allow people to wear the hair that GROWS NATURALLY OUT OF THEIR SCALP. WTF???
His hair is locced, then braided into an updo so they wouldn't get in the way/violate the so called hair code. Hairsyles like this usually have a deep spiritual connection for the people that sport them. Plus how on earth does having long hair prevent you from learning? I have big curly hair and I learn, listen just fine. I'm sure girls with hair to their butts learn just fine. This is a racist a*s ruling and you should think more deeply on why you agree with it. But something tells me you won't.
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