(ThyBlackMan.com) The hair battle has seemed to remain a staple in the back to school argument. There is a lasting discussion about what qualifies hair as inappropriate, and a conflict to the learning process. It is understandable that it is the job of the parent to know the school policy regarding dress code and hair requirements. Before we can begin to discuss what is fair or not, too many parents are finding themselves ignorant to the actual school policy. With that being said it is unfortunate that many schools are starting, and maintaining, hair policies that target black girls and boys in the area of natural hair.
No, in the school administration, seems to be in objection to black girls relaxing their hair, nor black boys that keep their hair cut low. Furthermore, distractions caused by hair in the classroom are actually overlooked to target natural hairstyles.
When you go to school remembering the white girls constantly readjusting their ponytails, brushing their hair and applying makeup in the classroom if leaves you wondering why wasn’t that considered a distraction. When white girls come to school with weave in their hair (yes this happens more often than we realize) who will send them home for not wearing only their natural hair, no one. As black people have been moving more towards embracing the natural hair that comes out of their head, the way it comes out of their head, there has been an increase in children being confronted or sent home because their hair violates school policy. This school year has been no different. A Louisiana school, Christ The King Elementary School in Terrytown outside of New Orleans, sent a student home for “unnatural” hair. The young lady had her hair in extension braids. Her hair was pulled up out of the was and was a respectable length.
The school of course defends its position noting that the school policy states that students can’t have extensions, wigs and other unnatural hair. The private school can set standards as they see fit but are not allowed to discriminate in said policies. Extension braids is a style directly connected to black students. As previously mentioned one has to wonder if any white female students would be removed from school for wearing weaves? Many of us know that would more than likely not happen. In other instances when black students have simply worn their hair out naturally it was considered a distraction.
The parents of this student removed her from the school and will be seeking legal recourse. However, none of that will erase the embarrassment she had to endure being removed from school. If the parents knew this was an issue in the school policy, they must question would it have been a better idea to choose a school that would not have a conflict with hair. Every parent doesn’t have that option, but when you do it should be a consideration. Any school that has policies that are discriminatory is wrong without a doubt.
With that being said parents must do all they can to protect the dignity of their children while fighting to get discrimination removed. We need to know if our daughters will be persecuted for their hair, or if our sons will be required to cut all their hair off. It is important that we do all we can to place our children in an environment that will affirm them. As we embrace ourselves fully the hair battle, unfortunately, will rage on.
Staff Writer; Christian Starr
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