In a predominantly white high school thirty miles east of Houston, Texas, Deandre Arnold recently found out he won’t be able to walk at graduation with the rest of his class unless he cuts his locs. Deandre is a senior at Barbers Hill High School and has been in compliance with his school’s dress code policy. That is—up until an adjustment in December 2019 that prohibits all male students from letting their hair extend below the eyebrows, ear lobes, or the top of a T-shirt collar when let down.
“They say that even though my hair is up and I follow all of the regulations, that if it was down, it would be out of dress code,” Deandre told KPRC, an NBC Affiliate.
While the school’s district believes the change is a community supported policy that has been intact for decades, the change to the rule allowed the school to enforce a discriminatory policy that prevents Deandre from finishing his last semester of high school, because of his hair.
Yes, Hair Discrimination is a real thing and it has oppressed Black communities for centuries.
What is Hair Discrimination?
Hair discrimination is a form of oppression based on the presentation of one’s hair. It allows for people in authority to encourage Black and brown people to conform their hair to fit Euro-centric standards of beauty. In other words, if a Black person isn’t cutting, perming, or straightening their hair to resemble a white person’s hairstyle, they could be labeled as unprofessional.
Hair discrimination is a form of oppression based on the presentation of one’s hair. It allows for people in authority to encourage Black and brown people to conform their hair to fit Euro-centric standards of beauty. Share on XThe new policy that has led to the suspension of Deandre Arnold is an extension of race discrimination that is being used to disqualify people from advancing in their career or getting accepted into school, and to belittle Black people.
In cases of discrimination based on hair presentation, people are usually given an ultimatum: cut your hair or become subject to oppressive consequences. While we are now seeing more cases like Deandre Arnold’s suspension from school in the news, the disrespect Black people are subjected to because of their hair is nothing new. Dating back to 1786, Black women in New Orleans were forced to cover their hair in public to symbolize that they were a part of a slave class. Fast forward to today: Black people are asked to cut or straighten their hair to fit into white corporate culture.
How Can We Fight Hair Discrimination?
Black natural hair has had so many negative connotations that many people let go of hairstyles that make them feel whole, just so they can fit in.
Choosing to cut, perm, straighten, or add a relaxer to your hair because you like it is one thing; however, being forced or asked to change the way your hair grows naturally is an aggressive expectation—an expectation that has influenced policies that set the professional standards and codes of conducts organizations abide by, all across America. That was, until a California Senator had enough.
Choosing to cut, perm, straighten, or add a relaxer to your hair because you like it is one thing; however, being forced or asked to change the way your hair grows naturally is an aggressive expectation Share on XOn June 27th, 2019, the state of California passed the C.R.O.W.N. Act, a hair discrimination bill written by Senator Holly J. Mitchell, a Black woman with locs. The C.R.O.W.N. Act stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.” This bill ensures protection against discrimination based on hairstyles by extending statutory protection to hair texture and styles in the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and state Education Codes.
The C.R.O.W.N. Act stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.” This bill ensures protection against discrimination based on hairstyles by extending statutory protection to hair texture and styles. Share on XSince it was introduced, over twenty other states have adopted the bill, and Senator Cory Booker used his platform to introduce a federal version. If it is passed, companies will no longer be able reject a qualified applicant just because they don’t understand or approve of how Black people’s hair grows naturally. This bill will also make it so schools cannot make rules that prevent students from graduating because of a dress code policy on hair. Passing this bill will give Black and Brown people the freedom to choose a hairstyle that fits them without being reprimanded for it.
So, now that we understand that hair discrimination is a real thing, here’s what you can do today to make a difference in your community: You can start learning more about hair and the cultural significance of Black natural hair. You can begin reading The Inclusion Solution’s advice on how to ensure your organization is inclusive. Last but not least, you can do your part by signing a petition to End Hair Discrimination in the Workplace and Schools.
