A Texas judge has determined that a school district did not engage in discrimination against a black high school student in the case of his suspension over his dreadlocks.
Last August, Barbers Hill Independent School District suspended 18-year-old Darryl George, citing a violation of the dress code due to his hairstyle. The judge concluded that the Houston-area school did not violate state law prohibiting race-based bias regarding hair.
The family’s attorney stated their intention to file an appeal.
In the meantime, the student will continue to serve his suspension and be excluded from the regular classrooms at the school. Chambers County Judge Chap Cain III delivered a verdict in favor of the school district after approximately three hours of testimony on Thursday. Following the decision, Mr. George expressed his “anger, sadness, disappointment” outside the court.
The school district cited its dress code, which stipulates that hair should not extend “below the top of a T-shirt collar, below the eyebrows, or below the earlobes when let down.”
However, Mr. George stood firm in his decision not to cut his braided dreadlocks, emphasizing their cultural significance in the black community. Texas passed the Crown Act last year, a state law aimed at preventing race-based discrimination related to individuals’ hairstyles.
Darresha George, the student’s mother, filed a complaint on behalf of her son, alleging that the school district violated the newly enacted law. In response, the school district initiated its lawsuit in September, seeking a resolution from the court. The ruling on Thursday concluded this legal dispute.
Despite the Crown Act’s existence, Barbers Hill High School’s superintendent, Dr. Greg Poole, maintained the school’s stance, stating that the law did not specifically address hair length.
Throughout Mr. George’s current academic year at Barbers Hill High School, he has faced numerous disciplinary actions for his decision not to cut his hair. The penalties included removal from class, placement on in-school suspension, and participation in an off-campus program.
In describing the off-campus program, his mother stated that he had to sit on a stool in a cubicle for eight hours daily, causing discomfort and back pain. This situation has been ongoing since August.
It’s worth noting that Barbers Hill Independent School District (ISD) has previously gained attention for dress code disputes involving its black students.
