18 Year Old Darryl George Sheds Light on School Oppression

It seems unlikely that students attending school would be reprimanded for their hair, but an african american high school student from Texas who refused to alter his hairdo would soon be reuniting with his usual classmates after facing disciplinary action and being suspended from school for 13 days. His situation highlights the ongoing struggle against discriminatory hair policies, where his locs became the center of a controversy with his school. Although this bias is tough on Darryl George and his family, it allows us to shed light on the broader societal talk on the oppression going on in places such as school or work. Although many social buildings express their beliefs on inclusion, things such as hate crime for ones individual expression through culture can still be seen today.

 Darryl George's attorney is still trying to persuade a judge to put a stop to his unusual punishment by his Houston school district for his locs. He and his distraught family's September civil rights case is still pending in federal court.

Last Monday, Darryl George, an 18-year-old highschool student, was placed back on in-school suspension at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, Texas, and he will stay there for the time being. He had attended an off-site disciplinary program for a month prior to it. When school officials argued that Darryl's locs dropped below his eyebrows and ear lobes and allegedly violated the district's dress code, they initially removed him from his classroom. His family contends that there are no rules violated by his culturally significant hairstyle. Darryl said he felt picked on because of the fact that his hair was shorter than other students, and was still being unjustly treated.

Following a hearing on the federal complaint on Wednesday, Allie Booker, the family's attorney, stated that George has been receiving contradictory advice. The family was told to give up and trim his hair.

Their attorney Booker expressed her fear of him being expelled, as he is not willing to give up this fight, saying “But he’s not going to break. He’s strong ... He’s like, ‘I’m not going to cut my hair, but I just can’t believe I’m going through this,’” . Darryl’s bravery has been said to have inspired many other people in our communities to stand up for themselves, fighting against the injustices committed everyday.

The CROWN Act, which went into effect in Texas in September and forbids employers and academic institutions from unjustly punishing individuals for their hair texture or protective hairstyles like Afros, or in this case, locs. Many families attending the school like the George family found this disrespectful to not only their people, but their unique culture.

Opposing attorneys for the Barbers Hill School District have stated in court documents that children are not entitled under federal law. This means they aren't permitted to wear their hair in any style or length when they are in class. One of the school district's attorneys, Jonathan Brush, stated during the hearing on Wednesday that Barbers Hill has vehemently maintained a hair restriction policy for male students regarding length for decades.