A trial begins today to determine if a Texas school district has violated the CROWN Act when they suspended a black high school student who refused to change his hairstyle.
Darryl George, 18, has been serving a mix between an in-school suspension and/or class at an alternative education campus since August 31st because the district says he is violating the district’s dress code with his hair.
Barbers Hill school officials and George have been at a standoff over his long locs and whether the dress and grooming code is violating the new state law that prohibits discrimination based on hairstyles, the CROWN Act. George wears his hair in a twisted style on the top of his head.
The CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural hair) outlaws employers and schools to discriminate on the basis of “hair texture or protective hairstyles associated with race,” and went into effect on September 1st.
The school stating that his hair violates the hair length requirement for boys and filed a declaratory judgment lawsuit. District’s dress code states, “Boys hair will not extend below the eyebrows, below the ear lobes, or below the top of a t-shirt collar.” Superintendent Greg Poole said, “hair length of male students is only constitutionally protected for Native American students.”
George and his family have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Texas state leaders, including Governor Abbott and school officials.
By - FZ
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