TEXAS CROWN ACT FOR WHITE STUDENTS ONLY: BLACK HAIR STILL BANNED
In a recent turn of events, it seems that the Texas Crown Act, a law designed to prevent racial discrimination based on hairstyles, may only apply to white students. That's right, folks, it looks like black students are still screwed when it comes to school dress codes.
Take the case of Darryl George, a high school student at Barbers Hill High School in Texas. Darryl has been serving in-school suspension for wearing twisted dreadlocks to class, which apparently violates the school district's dress code. However, his family and attorney argue that the hairstyle does not violate the dress code and that the school district is violating the CROWN Act.
For those of you who don't know, the CROWN Act prohibits race-based hair discrimination and bars employers and schools from penalizing people because of hair texture or protective hairstyles, including Afros, braids, dreadlocks, twists, or Bantu knots. It sounds like a great law, right? Well, not if you're a black student in Texas.
Darryl's family has filed a formal complaint with the Texas Education Agency, alleging that he was being harassed and mistreated by school district officials over his hair, and that his suspension violated the CROWN Act. The school district has also filed a lawsuit in state district court asking a judge to clarify whether its dress code restrictions limiting student hair length for boys violate the CROWN Act.
But here's where things get really interesting. According to Darryl's family, the school district is enforcing hair length requirements for male students, despite allowing boys to wear braids, locks, or twists. So, let me get this straight. Black students can wear protective hairstyles, but only if their hair is short enough? That's like saying you can eat cake, but only if it's sugar-free and made with cauliflower instead of flour.
Darryl has been placed in in-school suspension multiple times and claims he is being forced to sit in a cold room all day with no teachers explaining his lessons. And if that's not bad enough, he's also being fed bologna sandwiches instead of the school lunch options available to other students. I mean, come on, school district officials. Is this really necessary? Are you really so threatened by a student's hair that you have to subject him to inhumane conditions?
It's clear that something needs to change. The CROWN Act was supposed to protect black students from discrimination based on their hairstyles, but it seems like the law is only being applied to white students. This is unacceptable. We need to stand up for Darryl and other black students who are being unfairly targeted by school dress codes.
In fact, I have a proposal. Let's create a new law called the "Hair Equality Act" that explicitly prohibits schools from discriminating against any student based on their hair length or style. And let's make sure that this law is enforced equally for all students, regardless of their race.
Because at the end of the day, it doesn't matter if you're black or white or any other race. We all have the right to express ourselves through our appearance, including our hair. So let's fight for Hair Equality and put an end to discriminatory school dress codes once and for all.
Barbers Hill HS student claims he’s repeatedly subjected to inhumane conditions because of his hair https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2023/09/21/family-of-barbers-hill-isd-student-suspended-for-his-hairstyle-asks-for-clarification-of-the-crown-act/
Barbers Hill ISD asking court to clarify CROWN Act, after suspending student Darryl George for 2nd time for the length of his hair - ABC13 Houston https://abc13.com/barbers-hill-isd-student-darryl-george-suspended-for-dreadlocks-crown-act-hair-discrimination-texas-law/13806662/
Texas student punished for hairstyle | khou.com https://www.khou.com/article/news/education/barbers-hill-high-school-crown-act/285-6b50c90d-d6db-4c05-9b75-c1565a177b4c
Debate over a Black student's suspension over his hairstyle in Texas ramps up with probe and lawsuit | AP News https://apnews.com/article/hairstyles-racial-discrimination-crown-act-6312d39fe23de0b20dca60b9b3c72d8c
THE DEFT DIVE
FROM BARD AI
The Crown Act is a law that prohibits discrimination based on a person's natural hair or protective hairstyle. Protective hairstyles are hairstyles that are worn to protect the natural hair from damage. This can include braids, twists, locs, and afros.
The Crown Act was first passed in California in 2019, and it has since been passed in over a dozen other states. The law is designed to protect people from being discriminated against in employment, housing, and public accommodations because of their hair.
Black hair has a long and rich history. It has been used to express identity, culture, and spirituality. However, Black hair has also been a source of discrimination. Black people have been told that their hair is unprofessional, unsightly, and even dirty. This discrimination has had a negative impact on the self-esteem and mental health of Black people.
The Crown Act is an important step towards ending discrimination against Black hair. It sends the message that Black hair is beautiful and professional. It also allows Black people to wear their hair in a way that is authentic to themselves.
The Crown Act has been supported by a number of organizations and individuals, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Black Lives Matter movement, and celebrities such as Beyoncé and Lupita Nyong'o.
The Crown Act is a victory for Black people and for all people who believe in equality. It is a reminder that everyone should be able to express themselves freely, without fear of discrimination.
**What can you do to support the Crown Act?**
There are a number of things you can do to support the Crown Act:
- * Contact your elected officials and let them know that you support the passage of the Crown Act in your state.
- * Educate yourself and others about the Crown Act and the importance of protecting Black hair.
- * Support Black-owned businesses that sell hair products and services.
- * Challenge stereotypes about Black hair.
- * Wear your own hair with pride!
The Crown Act is an important step towards ending discrimination against Black hair. By working together, we can create a more inclusive and equitable society.
FROM BING AI
Black hair and the CROWN Act.
- - The CROWN Act is a law that forbids discrimination based on hair texture and hair styles, especially those that are associated with Black people, such as locs, braids, twists, Bantu knots, afros and natural hair. CROWN stands for: “Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.”⁵
- - The CROWN Act was first passed in California in 2019, and since then, it has been adopted by 20 states in the U.S. It has also been introduced at the federal level, and passed by the House of Representatives in March 2022. However, it still needs to be approved by the Senate and signed by the President to become a national law.⁵⁶⁷
- - The CROWN Act is an extension of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited discrimination against afros, but not other natural hairstyles. The CROWN Act aims to address the gap in legal protection and recognize that hair discrimination is a form of racial discrimination.⁹
- - Black hair is diverse, with a range of textures and thicknesses. It often has a curly or spiral shape, which makes it more prone to dryness and breakage. Black hair also has a thinner cuticle layer and fewer hair follicles than other hair types, which can affect its appearance and health.[^10^] ¹¹
- - To care for Black hair, dermatologists recommend washing it once a week or every other week with a gentle, moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. They also suggest using a hot oil treatment twice a month, using a heat protecting product before styling, using caution with relaxers and other chemical treatments, using ceramic combs or irons to press hair, and making sure braids, cornrows or weaves are not too tight.¹¹¹²¹³
- - Black hair care products and tips may vary depending on the individual's hair type, texture, length, and style preferences. Some natural ingredients that can benefit Black hair include coconut oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, argan oil, shea butter, aloe vera, honey, apple cider vinegar, and tea tree oil.[^10^] ¹²¹⁴
Bing, 9/21/2023
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- (9) Black Hair Care: Tips and Best Practices - Greatist. https://greatist.com/live/black-hair-care.
- (10) House passes Crown Act banning discrimination against Black hairstyles. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/house-passes-crown-act-banning-discrimination-black-hairstyles-rcna20617.
- (11) How Hair Discrimination Affects Black Women at Work. https://hbr.org/2023/05/how-hair-discrimination-affects-black-women-at-work.
- (12) The CROWN Act & transforming the rules of professionalism around Black hair. https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en-us/posts/legal/crown-act-legal-professionalism/.
- (13) US House passes CROWN Act that would ban race-based hair ... - CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/18/politics/house-vote-crown-act/index.html.
- (14) How the CROWN Act Impacts You - NaturallyCurly.com. https://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/news-culture/how-the-crown-act-impacts-you.
- (1) The CROWN Act - Dove. https://www.dove.com/us/en/stories/campaigns/the-crown-act.html.
- (2) What’s Coming Up in CROWN Act Legislation, and How to Prepare. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/whats-coming-up-in-crown-act-legislation-and-how-to-prepare.
- (3) Th CROWN Act: Here Are All The States That Have Passed The Bill - NewsOne. https://newsone.com/4383979/the-crown-act-states/.
- (4) Here's Every State That Has Passed the Crown Act | Glamour. https://www.glamour.com/story/the-crown-act-banning-hair-discrimination.
- (5) Growing List of States Enacting the CROWN Act in 2023. https://clearlawinstitute.com/blog/2023/02/09/house-of-representatives-passes-bill-prohibiting-discrimination-based-on-natural-hair/.
