Deandre Arnold, a native of Mont Belvieu, Texas, was suspended because of his loss. He was told that he couldn’t walk for his graduation unless he cuts his hair.
He’ll have to cut his loss to a shorter length or he will not be able to graduate with his class at Barber Hill High School in three months, according to KHOU11.
School reps are saying its a long-standing policy that has nothing to do with race or ethnicity while others are looking at it as a strong case of racial discrimination.
“The dress code is designed by white people for white people and is damaging to Black bodies,” Black Lives Matter activist Ashton Woods said.
“This is a Black and white issue, Deandre (and) his family should not have to go through this. But I expect it from a board that has zero diversity,” stated Gary Monroe, with the United Urban Alumni Association.
The board insists that the issue is not a racial one but one stemming from a rule instituted decades ago.
“There is no dress code policy that prohibits any cornrow or any other method of wearing of the hair, our policy limits the length. It’s been that way for 30 years,” iterated Superintendent Greg Poole.
“We’re here for Deandre, but it’s about more than that, this is about all the other Deandres that could come through Barbers Hill,” Sandy Arnold, Deandre’s mother said.
Deandre’s family and supporters vow to fight this decision and take more drastic steps if need be.
“They have 48 hours to come up with a resolution or we’re taking this to federal court,” Monroe stated.
Even though laws passed in California and New York which outlaw discrimination due to natural hairstyles, many institutions are clearly failing to keep up with the times. Some individuals are downright disrespectful with their reactions to said hairstyles.
