A Texas high school has suspended a Black student for his loc hairstyle on purported grounds it violated the school’s dress code.
The decision came the same week that the state’s new CROWN Act, which aims to prohibit discrimination based on hairstyles, went into effect.
Darryl George, a junior at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, received several disciplinary notes on Sept. 8 and was given an in-school suspension, his mother, Darresha George, said in a statement to CNN.
The reason was because of his loc hairstyle, which he wore in a ponytail, she claimed. A district spokesperson said that the decision to suspend George did not conflict with the new law.
In 2020, a similar incident at Barbers Hill High provided the impetus for passage of the legislation when student Deandre Arnold was told he had to cut his locks and he decided to sue the district.
“Absolutely zero excuse for this school district that knows the policy to do this all over again, it feels like déjà vu,” said Texas State House Rep. Ron Reynolds.
“I want to see their policy change and stop being discriminatory against Black kids,” said Darresha George. “I want to see my son out of ISS [in-school suspension]. I don’t want any other child that’s coming behind my son to go through this again,” she added.
