School systems need to cut out this kind of racist nonsense!
A black teenager in Texas claims he was suspended from his high school and told he wouldn’t be able to walk in his graduation ceremony unless he chopped off his dreadlocks.
DeAndre Arnold (above) told CBS This Morning that his hair had always adhered to the policy at Barbers Hill High School, where he’s currently a senior, until recently when he refused to cut it and received an in-school suspension.
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The teen told local news station KPRC that his father is from Trinidad and that many men in his culture grow dreadlocks, sharing:
“I really like that part of Trinidadian culture; I really embrace that.”
Apparently, the school district changed the dress code policy after Christmas break and three months before graduation — and DeAndre found his hairstyle was suddenly in violation. He noted:
“They say that even (when) my hair is up if it were to be down it would be not in compliance with the dress code. However, I don’t take it down in the school.”
Sandy Arnold, the teen’s mother, told CBS This Morning she believes the lack of diversity in the school district to blame for the board’s seemingly racist new policy. She explained:
“There is no people of color on the school board. I get it that they don’t understand his hair.”
Sandy even attempted to reach out to board members and the superintendent in hopes of coming to an understanding, but said she hasn’t heard back.
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Now, DeAndre is not allowed back in school until his dreadlocks are cut — and Sandy is understandably livid. She told the local news outlet:
“He is an A and B student, he has dual credit classes. He is not a problem.”
Because DeAndre’s dreadlocks are part of their “beliefs,” according to Sandy, the mother vowed the family wouldn’t be cutting them off. She added:
“Are you going to cut his hair? Absolutely not, this is a part of who he is. So absolutely not going to cut his hair.”
Barbers Hill School District released a written statement obtained by KPRC, stating:
“We do have a community-supported hair length policy & have had for decades. Barbers Hill is a state leader with high expectations in all areas!”
Um… what does hair length have to do with academic performance?!
Is this some b.s. or what, Perezcious readers??
Watch the news clip (below) for more.
[Image via CBS This Morning]
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