The Lorain Horizon Science Academy in Ohio is facing heat from the natural hair community after a copy of a letter to parents that included a ban on afro puffs and ‘small twisted braids’ was posted online.
The letter details changes to the dress code for the upcoming school year and includes the line:
Afro-puffs and small twisted braids, with our without rubberbands, are NOT permitted.
It’s unclear what the administration means by small twisted braids, but if they are referring to box braids they are banning a protective style that black girls have worn for generations. Afro-puffs are essentially the black version of the ponytail (when pulled back our hair puffs out instead of laying down), and yet the rules do not have a ban on ponytails for students of other ethnicities.
It’s unspecified whether this ban applies to both male and female students, or male students alone.
The dress code restrictions highlight an age-old struggle that naturals face from both within and outside of the black community. Our hair is viewed as radical, funky or unruly in its natural state, and restrictions are sometimes placed on us in academic and professional settings that do not extend to our non-black counterparts.
So far the school hasn’t issued a response or explanation of this dress code item.
What do you think ladies? Is this a fair restriction to include in the dress code? Why or why not?
A copy of the letter is below.
***UPDATE: Just received word that the school has lifted the ban. Here is the letter they issued today:
437 Responses
supposedly the ban was never supposed to be for girls, but to prevent young males from having the longer hair styles described (though that could be just some quick ass-covering). Even so, even given that it is an institution trying to maintain a certain college-bound atmosphere, that seems unnecessarily gender-limiting and unfair. I’m glad they are responding at least somewhat gracefully to the pressure and public outcry.
I’m glad folks put pressure on these idiots and got them to back down. Got to tell you, I am white (oh hell, let’s just call it what it is…I’m pasty), and I love black women’s hair. People should be able to wear their hair or their clothes any damned way they please. I’ve been fighting against dress codes since 1967. WHY is this still even a thing? You wear your hair any damned way you please, and if they don’t like it, to hell with them. (But if you need help, I’ll hold ’em while you slap ’em upside the head.)
Draft copy my ass! I worked in a School District for many years and trust and BELIEVE this was NOT a DRAFT copy as they assuage! Whatever is sent out is a FINAL COPY unless otherwise noted! Nice try though……..
I hope lawsuits were filed because this is blatant discrimination on a race of people. Plus, I hope every black parent sent their children to school the next day rocking puffs and braids…it’s our hairstyle!!…What was the follow up? Does anyone know?
My only question is why did this article or letter take so long to be outed to the national public it’s only October 2015 and this letter was written June of 2013. I use to sport my Locks for personal reasons I decided to cut it. That is totally ridiculous that someone would even write such a letter to the parents. Since this took place two years ago what follow up has been done to see if this new ordinance was being enforced or whether it was repealed. Anyone!.
They so jealous n envious of us itz sickening but yet they try n copy us evry chance they git our style our skin color or style of dance they’re true hypocrites all across the board they wanna control us so bad as they did our grandparents n great grandparents they wanna take our voice away at any cost….petty on all levels
This is the time. To say no
this might actually be the dumbest thing i have ever read….who the hell is the school to dictate how one can or can not wear their hair?
Exactly but they let these lil white kids com to school wit purple n green n blue colored hair but thats acceptable
This shouldn’t be an argument. It’s an assault on black children, and the black community. It’s exactly why we had the ‘Black Panthers nearly 50 years ago’!!
I would still remove my child from the school.
RAmember, (spelled correctly, if you know your Afrikan History), it’s not the WHAT (what the hair looks like), rather it’s the WHY (Why did God assign this special hair to these particular people) that gets others in a tizzy! Speaking of Science and research, If African (Includes African-American) people understood the REASON God gave us this hair; and there is a specific reason, not just for show, not just because it looks different; there is a FUNCTIONAL scientific reason we have this type of hair! If you don’t know, research it! READ, READ, READ until you know. Once you know, you will not destroy it with heat and poisonous chemicals! Once you know, you will understand why certain people keep trying to ban it! It is a gift, more valuable than gold!
Some African culture believe that our hair works as an “antenna” to connect to our ancestors. Hair also showed status. The more elaborate the hair the higher in social status.
That “repeal the ban” letter doesn’t actually repeal the ban. It just engages in a classic “I’m so sorry that you took offense to this totally normal thing we did, why are you yelling at us so unreasonably?!?” defense without making any statement that shows they understand what happened at all.
This is what happens when you have no poc decision-makers on your staff. I can’t imagine that someone with kinky hair would’ve signed off on this. But this specific issue aside– no fake glasses? no multicolored wrist bans? no long hair for boys? Lawd, let these kids breath!
Our hair grows up and out because it is our crown.
As for the school lying that this was a draft copy, it is only stated as such because without any backlash it would have remained that way. Whites are always going to find fault in our existence and everything about us. Always fight for your right to be you.
What knocks me out is that this school has the word “science” in its name. Science studies (among other things) Biology & Chemistry. These two branches of science would tell you that natural hair is not a style. It comes from genetics. Quite frankly, if a “science academy” is that stupid, maybe our kids shouldn’t attend that school.
Honestly, I’m not sure anybody’s kids should attend that school. Not having any black kids around just means that the ones aren’t black will be more susceptable to picking up on other people’s bullshit ideas about black people.
The two cities I’ve lived in the most are Omaha and Colorado Springs. While Omaha didn’t have official “Jim Crow” laws, conspiracies by realators kept all the African Americans in the North End of town and all the immigrants in the South East. Colorado Springs, on the otherhand, due to expanding mostly with military, has everyone living pretty much mixed up where everyone else is.
It’s been my observation that when people live together, less of this bullshit, including the institutionalized aspect of racism, is less intense. In Colorado Springs, I heard less casual racial jokes, I saw more black coworkers get into positions of respect and authority, I saw more mixed groups of friends together. It’s not that there was NO racism.. sadly, that will never be completely gone… but it wasn’t as harsh and it wasn’t as inhibiting.
Oh.. and in 23 years in Colorado I saw fewer people think it’s okay to just go up and start fondling a strangers hair as a “Compliment” than I see in one year in Omaha. 0.o
Back here in Omaha, there’s more racial humor. I see a lot more racial inequality in work positions. People use slurs more freely when “Those people” aren’t around… etc etc
Unfamiliarity breeds fear. Fear breeds hate.
I don’t blame you if you want to pull your kids from a school that did this shit, even after their bullshit apology. I just don’t think other kids should be subjected to that bullshit without actually having black friends to show them how wrong it is.
Draft version? They didn’t send home draft version. They sent the FINAL version. Nice try.
This is discrimination! Who do we call to raise hell on this.
Call the administration from 2013, when this happened.
I don’t know much about different races and the struggles each individual goes through in order to be presentable in public. Maybe the real problem is too much use of products in order to get an end result? What would happen if schools required everyone, staff, teachers and students to show up without makeup or products in their hair?
Our hair is naturally puffy. So, without products we can’t achieve the flat, straight hair they want. The school is asking children of color to put products and do unnatural things to their hair to be perceived as “normal” or professional
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The parents of this girl are complete and utter idiots for styling her hair to resemble Minnie mouse. Who in the right mind would do this to a child? A ditzy person no doubt.
And this in not a natural hairstyle, Jujudollie, It’s a “style hairstyle” not a “natural” hairstyle. So get your facts right before you start squeezing designer words through that tiny provincial brain of yours.
Just like this girls, you too have no class or culture, All you do is try to sound intelligent by repeating what similars screamed out before you. The race card is getting really old now. The school rules are laid out, And it’s not to pick on a person or their race, cause that would be illegal.
Are you an idiot or are you just not familiar with other races?if you saw a white girl with 2 ponytails would you say its not natural?That girl NATURALLY has an afro and has her hair in two ponytails.her hair is not styled that way,it is naturally big!Would you rather the child come to school with just an afro??I’m sorry that the only way her hair will lay down like a white girl’s hair is with chemicals/heat which IS NOT natural.Keep your mouth closed if you have nothing educated to say.
All this comment did was make me laugh . It’s funny how people can be do ignorant. Honestly it is a natural hairstyle and if you don’t know anything about natural hair I suggest you not say anything. What was she supposed to do straighten her hair all the time for the school. That would totally destroy her BEAUTIFUL hair.
Melissa please don’t talk about anything you know nothing about.
Get off this page you racist, oppressive piece of crap. No one needs you here, idiot.
*face-palms* This IS a natural hairstyle for black girls. I’ve grown up around black girls on my block, so I’ve personally seen for myself how their hair just grows outwards and up instead of growing flat. The afro is what you get if their hair is left untreated and not doused in chemicals.
And shut your mouth about that little girl! All little black girls are instantly ten times cuter with afro puffs, in my opinion.
The same parent that would send their kid to school with pigtails you idiot
Black girls have been wearing this hairstyle since I was little. I am 47 now. And It is a natural hairstyle. When our hair is chemical- free, it puffs out like that! WE as AFRICAN_AMERICANS GOT OUR FACTS STRAIGHT. If you have a problem with it, Go TALK TO GOD ABOUT IT! HE CREATED our HAIR! CREATED BY THE KING HIMSELF! ROYAL HAIR!
Well let’s be perfectly honest here. The hairstyle is over the top and the school is right to make the recommendation the did. And racism has nothing to do with it, The rule applies to all students who sport unacceptable hairstyles. A school is a place to learn, not a fashion show.
And for the record Jujudollie, Stop bringing the race card into this, As i’ve already stated race has got nothing to do with it. It’s the ditzy mother who allows this girl to attend school like this.
Alright.Pig tails not allowed.1 big ponytail will also get titled as inappropriate so not allowed.A bun will probably be poofy without heat so im guessing not allowed.Braids not allowed.SMALL braids with or without rubberbands are not allowed even though theres no way on earth this is distracting.What would you suggest as an hairstyle for girls with her hair type?please enlighten me.
I’m guessing your not black or you would understand. That’s how some black peoples natural hair grows, my hair included. It grows out instead of down, or it grows kinky and coily and all over the place. We cant tell our hair to lie straight like other peoples hair. If I were to put my hair in a ponytail it would be puffy. I don’t have to tease it or use hair spray, that’s just how it is NATURALLY. Braids are a protective style that is a part of my culture. Black people use braids to protect our hair because it is delicate and would break quickly and often otherwise. This is a tradition that has been going on for thousands of years. To ban braids and “afro puffs” is racist because that is banning something targeting only one race of people. Black people. Colored people have different hair than other races and I don’t like that you are saying something that grows NATURALLY on me is “unacceptable”.
Shut your punk ass, racist ass up. Not even sure why you are on this page, you bigoted piece of shit. I would NEVER want my hair to be straight, stringly and doggish like that mop you call hair on your head. There is a reason your ugly ass hair grows straight down toward hell while ours grow up toward the heavens. We are kings and queens you fucking Neanderthal. You have NO right to tell me that the hair that NATURALLY grows from my head is unacceptable. By who’s standards? Euro-centric standards? Fuck your standards! We don’t need you on here white-splaining anything to us. Go pitch that bullshit somewhere else.
I know I’m 2 years late Brian but if you were standing in front me right now I would punch you in the face for this racist ignorant post!
Why is there a war against natural black hair? This is shameless, blatant, obscene racial predjudice and discrimination.
Natural black hair = black power. Keep fighting. The racists will never win this war.
weird how in Africa if we saw that little girl with the lovely afro puffs, everyone would go “wow, she has lovely hair”.
in my country, a lot of the public schools ban relaxers and hair extensions on girls up to the age of 14, which is why a lot of girls here rock afro puffs and natural hair braids/twists here.
I think its sad for anything natural to be deemed “unacceptable” or “inappropriate”
I am so on the progress we are making so far. There are white people out there that secretly see how beautiful black hair is and just want us to continue to wear wigs and weaves to look like them. Why would you tell someone that they cannot wear their hair they way God has made it for them? this baffles me. Our hair, is a political statement…wow
Also ban white girls and others with long straight hair from wearing “pony tails”, “pig tails”, “buns”, “Shirley Temple curls”. But you all know this a social mind control issue. The outward expression is evidence that the ego/mind hasn’t been fully captured, channeled or trained according to the likes of some.
Uniformity and conformity can backfire. The emphasis of school should not be the indoctrination of what to think, but and especially with black students, how to use the mind to think, to reason (oh, that’s new). Parents should resist living out their creativity through their children’s appearance knowing full well the kind of institution they are sending their children. Teachers should get off the compliance review board. Individuality is not a mistermeanor worthy of a conviction or indicator of inability to be taught.
Now, require simple hair styles, peroid. Then take a thin elastic head band, attach scarf or fabric to it similar to a stove-pipe hat or a triangle. The fabric can be stiff or floppy but not long enough to be a social issue. Sort of like African headwraps but you know how active children are. Don’t forget we are talking about young children being schooled and not older children who have grown into a fuller understanding of themselves. Rights of passage is a good thing. Micro-managing however is the prep for slavery.
Even if this was only meant for male students, it still just shows the level of ignorance that still exists about this sort of thing. Evidently, certain people still think you can just “undo” an afro or braids and the hair will hang flat like white hair types, which is not the case. (I suspect straight black weaves with a texture pretty similar to natural hair have something to do with this misconception, I’ve known a couple teachers who just assume that such styles are natural.)
We need to be educating people about these things, people need to learn that all hair types are beautiful and it should never be unacceptable to control your hair. Most schools don’t care that I alter my hair with hot metal and dyes and harsh chemicals, so it’s just crazy to think that not far away, schools are trying to regulate and discourage things like black girls wearing their hair in pigtails. That’s a prime example of ingrained inequality and racial bias in our society.
I had to sit back and think about this and this is my conclusion. Threat! In my head being black equals being a threat. Not conforming to America’s cultural standard is threatening. I believe that more and more black women are becoming more open to being natural and are encouraging their children. I also believe people are beginning to take notice and again it’s threatening and incomprehensible that more and more blacks are becoming comfortable in their own hair
Well it looks like to me if they didn’t want blacks to wear they hair a certain way then they should have segregated the school instead of trying to make blacks look white so they can fit in the white society.they already hate the way we look,dress,now our hair,might as well just go back to hating us all the way and segregate everything else instead of say ignorant shit a then want to apologize about…!!!It looks like to me they want an race war!!!
Jeyonaka, these people at the school are so ignorant that I’m embarrassed. Even as a white boy I know the rule is crazy, my sister is half black and I do her hair in styles like this all the time, they’re cute and practical and pretty much the only styles she can wear… This is shameful, I totally wish I could yell at whatever idiot decided to make this rule.
What does this school think the little girls’ hair should look like instead? Are kindergartners now expected to wear straight weaves? It’s ridiculous.
Seriously. I wish this blogger would either update the info on this post or delete it entirely. The rule was aimed towards the male student body. It WAS NOT meant to target little girls, any girls. Apparently they are having a problem with a couple of young African American MALE students. The school board is trying to get the student body to hold a certain standard; trying to get the students to emulate a college preparatory school. YES they should then also state that all MALE students, not just African American students should have their hair a certain length. It sounds to me like the two kids involved in this policy are causing problems and disrupting the entire educational process. Look up the Horizon Academy (whatever the school’s full name is) follow the link and listen to the interview of one of the school board members. He is African American and has four sons in the school. I think his name is James Knight. I may be wrong about his exact name since it’s been awhile since I researched this topic. The blogger is just looking for a way to incite a riot. Please, let’s all be informed and do some research before attacking each other upon racial grounds.
men or female it is still sexist and racial because if you said that the letter is meant for young black male students. So even if the interviewer was black so what he still is targeting a certain race and an a certain sex. It still is wrong either way you put it. And in college you have no rules on how to wear your hair. They are very wrong for writing this letter and they know what they doing. Those administrators are not dumb they don’t like the black community to wear there hair natural. And two kids doesn’t mess up a policy. Please they are being racial where u admitted it or not.
Well going unasked is “what is well groomed for a young black boy?” I have attended and taught at several elite prep schools and the college bound boy’s looks and hair have run the gamut. Have you ever seen the students at Harvard or Howard or Williams? How about we try to raise the kids’ SAT scores and leave their hair alone?
Let the congregation say, “Amen!” Teach our children to out-think The Man, not out-preppie him.
Please do some research into this topic. The school board has African American members that support the rule. They helped to draft the school dress policy. Google the school and the topic of hair. It will show you why they tried to establish the hair rule in the first place. It’s been repealed. There is no issue here. The blogger is just trying to get people pissed off and fighting each other…via misinformation, omission of the facts, trusting that the reader doesn’t bother to investigate the facts before responding…And I think we all know it’s working
The rule right above that one has an addendum to show that it only applies to boys, while the puffs and braids one does not…so if indeed it only applies to boys, why doesn’t it?
Even if they are black it wouldn’t matter. I would see them as sellouts to their own community. Self hatred a byproduct of racism is just as wrong and the worst kind of display. So motherophone, with due respect, the interpretation of the article I read felt like a stab through my heart and your explanation of the events was the knife twisting.
This is what you call blatant racial harrassment. Poor kid.
When did hair style become a part of education,hair has nothing to do with a child getting a education, grades matter not styles. Wow what is the problem say it’s not racist well you fool me ,racism has went no where. seeing whites has adapted to our hair style, so it should have been made clear . Our style is unique,as well as our children.who why and how did this even be put into as you say a draft I don’t get it.
Instead of trying to call anyone names, I have a question. If the comment was meant for boys only why was it not put in the paper at the end of the bullet. If you look at the bullet right before it it clearly states boys only so if this is the case why not do it for the next bullet as well.
My opinion is clear, it was originally meant for all students but because people complained the school tried to save face by stating it was a mistake.
This is my opinion and you do not like what I had to say then that is your personal choice. Just like you are entitled to that I am entitled to have mine. I respect yours and I ask for the same in return. Over all the ban was lifted and the people involved in this were heard. If everyone involved is happy then the only thing we need to work on as a community is ridding as best and peacefully as we can stop the stigma that natural, curly hair is unruly, unkempt, and unprofessional. It is the natural hair of African American people. We must love all things as we love ourselves. Have a great day!
I cant believe this. Why in the world would a school board make such a decision. They DID NOT have to do this. They already took away the students rights to wear regular clothes. Now, they are taking away their right to wear their hair the way they want??!!I mean really. It shouldn’t be the school’s decision on how the child wears their hair, it should be the parents or child’s decision on how they want to wear THEIR HAIR!!!! Point Blank.
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. (Albert Einstein)
If what you want in your dress code is for all boys to have short hair, then say, “all male students should keep their hair short.” How short-sighted and insensitive can you get? It sounds like they’re private school, so i guess they can stipulate a dress code, but good luck enforcing that in this day and age. Many ethnicities have a tradition of longer hair for males. They shouldn’t have a problem with it as long as the boys are clean and well-groomed.
Hair styles like “afro puffs” and mini twist or any hair style a parent decides to give their child they have a right to do so. The hair was not colored blue or done in a dramatic style so it should not be frowned upon. I am not calling you racist but it sure does look that way. In some cultures like islander cultures, it isto part of thier culture for men to have long dreads. Black hair is already hard to manage do you really think we want to make it harder. That rule shouldn’t have even been considered, let alone passed.
Oh, Puleazzzzz…that so was NOT a draft! It was the final copy and the school was definitely talking about African American students. What a joke!
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3498502
For those of you calling me racist for asking questions as to “why the ban was proposed and by whom”, please follow this link to The Huffington Post’s website. It appears that the ban on puffs wasn’t even applicable to girls! It was directed towards the male student body because and I quote: “It had nothing to do with African American young ladies. It was rally moreso directed towards African American young men here at this school. There were a couple of young gentlemen here at the middle school and part of the policy here is to have shirts tucked in…We wanted to maintain a certain type of college prep culture here and we just wanted the young men to be well groomed, but the school made a mistake…” James Knight, Advisory Board Member, Lorain Horizon Science Academy
The interview continues beyond that. You can see the rest for yourselves.
As I stated earlier, my questions were honest inquiries as to “why, to whom did it pertain and who came up with the policy in the first place?”
Too bad so many people are so quick to judge and condemn without having (obviously) ANY hard facts!!!
Drama, drama, drama!
It is very likely the school is operating off a pretext to ban a hairstyle typically worn by blacks and justifying its’ decision by “want[ing] the young men to be well groomed.” There is a fine distinction between banning a particular hairstyle and demanding, pursuant to school policy, that a particular hairstyle be well-groomed.
Well… if this was directed to the male students, why not make it general instead of racist. They could have said all male students must be well groomed and maintain a regular hair cut no longer than 2 inches in length. No need to mention puffs and braids…. ridiculous
So why did they not break it down to male and female dress code requirements. I went to a school that did not want males with long crazy hair they specifically said males. It was worded better than I am saying it but you get me. This school put out a statement which an educated person should have noticed needed certain specifications to be less offensive.
Nearly all HSA schools use similar policies. HSA Cleveland has been for years. It’s not an issue…at all.
Do Black people seriously think that only they have Highly textured hair??? Then they haven’t met a Jew who would be socially considered white. I am a hair dresser doing all hair types for almost 15 years. I have white, black, Asian, Indian, and you name it coming to see me. They all have different textures. I have done many Black women with fine soft hair. Quit feeding this. Go to the school without an attitude and educate them on your hair types and why you do the braids, why do the pony tails, why you choose to keep it natural or why you chose to straighten it with chemicals. Many different people have many different hair types and challenges with our texture..you don’t have to be black to have highly textured hair. If you take the high ground and stop getting so enraged about “racism” and educate the people who obviously don’t understand. Racism occurs on every side. Get over it, be part of the change and not part of the problem. It can only grow if you feed it. P.S. she is white. I don’t think her ponytail would lay flat.
[img]https://bglh-marketplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/natural-curly-hairstyle.jpg[/img]
Awesome picture! I love your response.
If a black girl Xith an Afro can’t put her hair in ponytails or out because its puffy and can’t be braided because they disagree with them what’s left?not everyone wants to put chemicals in their hair especially not their children’s.and im not going to run heat over a childs hear constantly as shes having a tantrum.you want to shave her hair?please get real.my childs braids have. Never hindered someones ability to receive an education.and what other races wear small tight braids most of time??
And if anyone really reads my responses that would see that I did not say it is fair to single out anyone based upon race. I don’t think it is. What is did say and will continus to assert is that if any student creates a distraction in any way, it should be addressed in the best interest of the LEARNING environment!!!
why should HAIR cause a distraction, though? are the other kids going to be in awe of the kid with the big afro and not pay attention in class? come on.
its amazing that so many of Gods children behave this way, maybe if we open our eyes, ears and HEARTS, the world could be a better place for all of us no matter what race you are. so next time you want to comment please really think about how you might hurt or offend someone else. Isn’t there more important things to fix in this world ????child molestation ,rape, murder ,hunger, domestic violence, child sex slavery and the list goes on . God help us ALL………
First off, my ex- boyfriend of THREE years was black, so don’t play the race card on me! He and I are still friends…it just didn’t work out. In addition to that, my grandmother was half-Cherokee raised in Alabama LONG before civil rights came around. Because she was a so-called “half-breed” she was legally denied ANY kind of education. When she married, she HID her heritage to protect HER children from the same discrimination! My comments were not meant to be hurtful. The classroom should be about gaining an education that moves one FORWARD in life. If the students are inhibiting the educational process due to fashion considerations, then it should be addressed. And anyone who knows anything about kids is that they are easily distracted by everything around them. My friend Louise’s girls loved having extension with plastic beads that clicked and clacked with every move they made. They loved it! They would shake their heads back at forth just to hear them click …all the time! My friend Nilka has the absolute most beautiful Afro you can imagine. When she came into work with perfect ringlets, the whole office went crazy over it. We all wanted to know how she did it, how long did it take, did she have help, how long would it stay like that before it fell about, etc, etc, etc…Being that she is my friend, I felt funny about it, but still asked her if I could play with them because I was in awe of her curls. Now, apply that intrigue to a school room full of little kids or teenagers and just imagine the chaos the teachers have to deal with. That is my point. And seriously, you don’t think that kids get inspiration from the music industry on every aspect of fashion? Low cut shirts, high cut skirts, pants falling off of their hips, piercings, hot pink hair, black/ goth lipstick/makeup…yeah I think all of that SHOULD be addressed, not just puffs and cornrows. What is appropriate and acceptable in music videos, movies, etc…is not appropriate in any school setting Our society in general has lost control of our CHILDREN. Why do you think we’re getting our asses kicked by China and India? They have a no-nonsense approach to education: you get one chance to get it right. If you’re not going to take your education seriously, fine, get out of the way and make room for someone who will…and P.S. here’s your shovel to start your life-long career as a ditch digger. …this is the comment my friend, an Indian Cardiologist, made when commenting on the difference between the American educational system versus the Indian educational ststem I am not in favor of oppressing or embarrassing or marginalizing anyone, especially not children, but there is a time and place for everything. While in school, students of ALL colors should be focused on what the teacher has to say and not the hairstyle of their peers. The questions that I raised were honest, neutral party inquires. Since no one here has stated they are directly involved in this issue, my questions were meant for people to investigate further into the REASONING for the dress code. What is the racial profile of the school administration and teachers involved? Has anyone asked if the teachers of color were involved in this proposal? From the headline/link there is no information. The blogger herself does not mention this. Everyone is assuming that it is the majority white administration forcing this onto the black community. But what is the truth? Does anyone care to know? Has anyone bothered to ask? There are schools in the US that have dress codes that allow only certain colors because of gang affiliations…no red and no blue…to protect kids from being singled out as gang members. Like it or not GANGS are everywhere and how you dress, how you wear your hair, words you say, physicals gestures, etc…tie you into it whether you’re part if it or not. As for being removed from reality, you know as well as I do that some kids pick their hair out as big as they can. Imagine if you were at a movie and someone with a hat sat directly in front of you and blocked your view. Would your experience of the movie be the same as someone seated away from them be the same as yours? No! You would miss out on a lot of the action and the plot line would be lost . In addition, You would be agitated, irritated, distracted and you would either move, say something or leave. Kids in classrooms do not have any of these options…. That is why I made that comment. Imagine trying to keep up with an algebra teacher who writes an equation so fast you can barely keep up. Now imagine only getting to see part of the equation. Who do you think will get the better grade? The student who has an unobstructed view, that’s who! As for pointingyour finger in my face about trying to understand someone else’s view…how about you taking your own advice? My comments were made with a completely innocuous intent. Nobody wants an open/frank dialogue these days. It’s all about one side putting down the other. If you’re not black, don’t comment because anything you say WILL be twisted into some racially charged bastardization of a simple question or honest opinion. …Seriously.
Okay, first off, I’m white, mother of a five year old girl with waist long hair. My first impression of the pic shown was that she’s adorable, but how could any student seated behind her see around her hair…at all? Is that fair to any child in the room? How much does that affect the decision? How much gang activity is there in the district in reference to the small twisted braids? Does this indicate gang influence or affiliation? As for beads in the hair, do they make lots of noise as they move around? Are the kids doing it on purpose to create distractions in the classroom? Teachers have to deal with SO much these days (mainstreming kids with behavioral issues, violence, disrespect, special needs kids and on and on…) maybe this is just one more distraction from the teaching process, one that can and should be considered for the good of the classroom. As for safety issues, my daughter has already experienced kids grabbing her hair and yanking it while “playing”. These kids think it’s perfectly acceptable to do this BECAUSE it is so long. It’s not right, but it is a reality. I want to cut it, but my daughter loves her long, natural hair and cries when I suggest doing so. Because I am not part of the school’s community, I don’t have any insight to this issue…just limited access to the topic via sensationalist Internet media trying to stir up dama and discord in the white versus black communities.
I have a hard time believing that your response is sincere. Partly I wondered if it were a joke simply to incite a response. If your comments represent your genuine position I am far more concerned. “How could any student seated behind her see around her hair?”??? What you may not realize is that to impose conditions upon anyone that prohibits them from expressing their natural traits is oppressive, at best. Can we then argue that no Black children in an African nation can get a decent education because no one can see over anyone’s head and the class room is filled with distractions? And your comments about braids being associated with gang activity… Ironically braids in a Black girls hair would cause it to lay ‘down’ in many cases. (Which is the direction you seem to prefer). However it appears that this is still not acceptable to you because it may be ‘gang related’. I think these comments suggest the biggest issue. It may be you, unfortunately. It appears you have very limited exposure to black people, community, or culture. That is too bad. When your exposure is so limited and you assert so boldly your thoughts and opinions it reveals how inaccurate your thinking is and how far you are removed from reality. Imagine me saying that a kid in school who naturally had a very high pitched voice should keep quiet and not speak because his voice was a distraction to the classroom. If that were your child and you were informed of this how would you react? Only if you are able to see yourself in someone else’s experiences can you truly gain balanced perspective that leads to healthy productive dialog. King Solomon said, “In all of thy getting, get understanding”. I think a dose of understanding would go along way for you.
First off, my ex- boyfriend of THREE years was black, so don’t play the race card on me! He and I are still friends…it just didn’t work out. In addition to that, my grandmother was half-Cherokee raised in Alabama LONG before civil rights came around. Because she was a so-called “half-breed” she was legally denied ANY kind of education. When she married, she HID her heritage to protect HER children from the same discrimination! My comments were not meant to be hurtful. The classroom should be about gaining an education that moves one FORWARD in life. If the students are inhibiting the educational process due to fashion considerations, then it should be addressed. And anyone who knows anything about kids is that they are easily distracted by everything around them. My friend Louise’s girls loved having extension with plastic beads that clicked and clacked with every move they made. They loved it! They would shake their heads back at forth just to hear them click …all the time! My friend Nilka has the absolute most beautiful Afro you can imagine. When she came into work with perfect ringlets, the whole office went crazy over it. We all wanted to know how she did it, how long did it take, did she have help, how long would it stay like that before it fell about, etc, etc, etc…Being that she is my friend, I felt funny about it, but still asked her if I could play with them because I was in awe of her curls. Now, apply that intrigue to a school room full of little kids or teenagers and just imagine the chaos the teachers have to deal with. That is my point. And seriously, you don’t think that kids get inspiration from the music industry on every aspect of fashion? Low cut shirts, high cut skirts, pants falling off of their hips, piercings, hot pink hair, black/ goth lipstick/makeup…yeah I think all of that SHOULD be addressed, not just puffs and cornrows. What is appropriate and acceptable in music videos, movies, etc…is not appropriate in any school setting Our society in general has lost control of our CHILDREN. Why do you think we’re getting our asses kicked by China and India? They have a no-nonsense approach to education: you get one chance to get it right. If you’re not going to take your education seriously, fine, get out of the way and make room for someone who will…and P.S. here’s your shovel to start your life-long career as a ditch digger. …this is the comment my Indian Cardiologist made when commenting on the difference between the American educational system versus the Indian educational ststem I am not in favor of oppressing or embarrassing or marginalizing anyone, especially not children, but there is a time and place for everything. While in school, students of ALL colors should be focused on what the teacher has to say and not the hairstyle of their peers. The questions that I raised were honest, neutral party inquires. Since no one here has stated they are directly involved in this issue, my questions were meant for people to investigate further into the REASONING for the dress code. What is the racial profile of the school administration and teachers involved? Has anyone asked if the teachers of color were involved in this proposal? From the headline/link there is no information. The blogger herself does not mention this. Everyone is assuming that it is the majority white administration forcing this onto the black community. But what is the truth? Does anyone care to know? Has anyone bothered to ask? There are schools in the US that have dress codes that allow only certain colors because of gang affiliations…no red and no blue…to protect kids from being singled out as gang members. Like it or not GANGS are everywhere and how you dress, how you wear your hair, words you say, physicals gestures, etc…tie you into it whether you’re part if it or not. As for being removed from reality, you know as well as I do that some kids pick their hair out as big as they can. Imagine if you were at a movie and someone with a hat sat directly in front of you and blocked your view. Would your experience of the movie be the same as someone seated away from them be the same as yours? No! You would miss out on a lot of the action and the plot line would be lost . In addition, You would be agitated, irritated, distracted and you would either move, say something or leave. Kids in classrooms do not have any of these options…. That is why I made that comment. Imagine trying to keep up with an algebra teacher who writes an equation so fast you can barely keep up. Now imagine only getting to see part of the equation. Who do you think will get the better grade? The student who has an unobstructed view, that’s who! As for pointingyour finger in my face about trying to understand someone else’s view…how about you taking your own advice? My comments were made with a completely innocuous intent. Nobody wants an open/frank dialogue these days. It’s all about one side putting down the other. If you’re not black, don’t comment because anything you say WILL be twisted into some racially charged bastardization of a simple question or honest opinion. …Seriously.
I see your point but you teach your children to say something to their teacher about any issue they come across in class. If they can’t see raise your hand and say so. I understand that little girls hair is interesting but your school work is more imporatant save that for the playground. Black people are limited to the natural ways we can style our hair and to have us not be able to do this for our little girls is ridiculous. I don’t care what the problem may be but by banning something black people have been doing with their hair since god knows how long is jut not right. Period. Plus if everyone would know a little bit of everyone else’s culture it probably wouldn’t be so distracting because their use to it or have seen and experienced it before. I’m sick of the race thing too but it exist and when we realize its happening we’re going to say something and stand our ground.
Your daughter cries when you want to cut her long natural hair, so what about the little girls who going to cry because they can’t wear their natural hair at all. Same difference only the skin colors are different and the type of “natural” hair are also.
First off, my ex- boyfriend of THREE years was black, so don’t play the race card on me! He and I are still friends…it just didn’t work out. In addition to that, my grandmother was half-Cherokee raised in Alabama LONG before civil rights came around. Because she was a so-called “half-breed” she was legally denied ANY kind of education. When she married, she HID her heritage to protect HER children from the same discrimination! My comments were not meant to be hurtful. The classroom should be about gaining an education that moves one FORWARD in life. If the students are inhibiting the educational process due to fashion considerations, then it should be addressed. And anyone who knows anything about kids is that they are easily distracted by everything around them. My friend Louise’s girls loved having extension with plastic beads that clicked and clacked with every move they made. They loved it! They would shake their heads back at forth just to hear them click …all the time! My friend Nilka has the absolute most beautiful Afro you can imagine. When she came into work with perfect ringlets, the whole office went crazy over it. We all wanted to know how she did it, how long did it take, did she have help, how long would it stay like that before it fell about, etc, etc, etc…Being that she is my friend, I felt funny about it, but still asked her if I could play with them because I was in awe of her curls. Now, apply that intrigue to a school room full of little kids or teenagers and just imagine the chaos the teachers have to deal with. That is my point. And seriously, you don’t think that kids get inspiration from the music industry on every aspect of fashion? Low cut shirts, high cut skirts, pants falling off of their hips, piercings, hot pink hair, black/ goth lipstick/makeup…yeah I think all of that SHOULD be addressed, not just puffs and cornrows. What is appropriate and acceptable in music videos, movies, etc…is not appropriate in any school setting Our society in general has lost control of our CHILDREN. Why do you think we’re getting our asses kicked by China and India? They have a no-nonsense approach to education: you get one chance to get it right. If you’re not going to take your education seriously, fine, get out of the way and make room for someone who will…and P.S. here’s your shovel to start your life-long career as a ditch digger. …this is the comment my friend, an Indian Cardiologist, made when commenting on the difference between the American educational system versus the Indian educational ststem I am not in favor of oppressing or embarrassing or marginalizing anyone, especially not children, but there is a time and place for everything. While in school, students of ALL colors should be focused on what the teacher has to say and not the hairstyle of their peers. The questions that I raised were honest, neutral party inquires. Since no one here has stated they are directly involved in this issue, my questions were meant for people to investigate further into the REASONING for the dress code. What is the racial profile of the school administration and teachers involved? Has anyone asked if the teachers of color were involved in this proposal? From the headline/link there is no information. The blogger herself does not mention this. Everyone is assuming that it is the majority white administration forcing this onto the black community. But what is the truth? Does anyone care to know? Has anyone bothered to ask? There are schools in the US that have dress codes that allow only certain colors because of gang affiliations…no red and no blue…to protect kids from being singled out as gang members. Like it or not GANGS are everywhere and how you dress, how you wear your hair, words you say, physicals gestures, etc…tie you into it whether you’re part if it or not. As for being removed from reality, you know as well as I do that some kids pick their hair out as big as they can. Imagine if you were at a movie and someone with a hat sat directly in front of you and blocked your view. Would your experience of the movie be the same as someone seated away from them be the same as yours? No! You would miss out on a lot of the action and the plot line would be lost . In addition, You would be agitated, irritated, distracted and you would either move, say something or leave. Kids in classrooms do not have any of these options…. That is why I made that comment. Imagine trying to keep up with an algebra teacher who writes an equation so fast you can barely keep up. Now imagine only getting to see part of the equation. Who do you think will get the better grade? The student who has an unobstructed view, that’s who! As for pointingyour finger in my face about trying to understand someone else’s view…how about you taking your own advice? My comments were made with a completely innocuous intent. Nobody wants an open/frank dialogue these days. It’s all about one side putting down the other. If you’re not black, don’t comment because anything you say WILL be twisted into some racially charged bastardization of a simple question or honest opinion. …Seriously.
P.S. the reason I want to cut her hair is because it is a distraction, not only for the other kids who want to touch/pull/yank on it, but for her as well. Everyone focuses way too much on her hair and appearance. She has so much more to offer than her looks. She is smart, funny, creative, arhletic, well-mannered, sweet and polite. A lot of that is pushed aside when all anyone ever comments on is her hair and how adorable she is. She is five and a half years old. She’s been reading for almost two years now and can do first grade work, no problem. She STARTS kindergarten in September. She has no idea how special she is because everyone focuses solely on her looks. Since preschool started last year, she comes home deflated because no one treats her like she’s beautiful there. I am having the hardest time trying to reprogram her perception of herself BECAUSE everyone puts so much importance on her looks. External Beauty is fleeting, it’s what’s on the inside that counts…personality, intellect, hard-work, honesty…is what really matters, not your hairstyle or clothes.
Stop! Troll!
How can they use “Hair must look natural” and “no Afro-Puffs” together?
I’m a white male and partially native american… with that said even I find what this school was trying to pull as rather outrageous and disrespectful to the black community. Why is it afro-puffs aren’t allowed but ponytails are allowed? Why is it small tight braids aren’t allowed but regular braids are? There is no reason for this idiotic crap beyond racism… That and the teachers desperate desire to control everything about our children while turning them into mindless worker drones.
As a white trans* woman, I’m not sure just how valued my input may be. But here goes anyway. There are very few reason that a hairstyle should be banned, the most prevalent being safety. But as other hairstyles were not banned, this is obviously not the case. Those of you who are parents, are lists of appearance regulations like this commonplace? And personally, I don’t like “good hair”. 🙂
I don’t even know where to begin. I grew up in Northern Kentucky as a minority black student. My mom sent me to the salon to get my first relaxer when I was ten years old, partly because she was tired of dealing with my hair and partly because I would fit in better with the all-white-but-me classroom I faced every day. There are so many black women with the same/similar story. My natural hair is a blessing to me each and every day because it shows me the gift I had from God that I tried to hide for 30 years because someone else thought it should be different. I will never go back to that person. So when I think about a letter going out like that, even if it was later retracted, and the many “Paula Deens” out there that we know of who are still trying to relegate us and our uniqueness to a time long gone and that should never have happened, I don’t get angry, I get sad. I know who I am now, but its people with this kind of mindset that hindered me and others for so long. Don’t get me wrong, relaxed or not, I have been proud of myself and my heritage for a very long time. But not when I was in elementary school…being ridiculed and made to feel ashamed of…my blackness…and my hair. No little girl or boy should really have to go through that in the 21st century.
This is disgusting! I am SHOCKED that this is even legal! This has got to stop! Please get this new “racist” dress code thrown out! UNBELIEVABLE!!!
specifically calling them by their popular term “afro” right away makes this a biased race issue. Afro puff simply refers to how coarse& kinkier african am hair appears when in a ponytail. If they said “no ponytails” they know that means white girls couldn’t wear their flat laying hair in school either & god forbid! Bc its NOT abt the white ppls hairstyles. Once again its white america feeling uncomfortable abt our blackness.I can’t control how my cuticles
Lay & shouldn’t have to! Its telling blk girls to get with the program and conform! Its insulting to think I shouldn’t be offended! White ppl don’t adjust how their hair appears naturally& neither should the blk girls. They say that the playing field isequal&yet here is bias rearing its ugly head & naive ppl say prejudice is dead& blks have nothing to complain abt anymore? Really.r my puffs distracting the class? Its simply offensive to those who still look at us and want us to concede everything that reminds them of who&what we r. Bottom line: they want us to be like white girls dipped in chocolate..that way we fit in to their ideals & look more like them.please! Take several seats with that nonsense!
Shame on this school! Racism is at the fore front. Target the white kids who have tats all over their body.I’m sick of looking at that. Target white kids who are the fore front of mass destruction of schools. Shame on this school how backwards you are looking nationally.
Anyone of every race should be able to wear their hair the way they want. This is outrageous. I don’t feel the school is picking on her because she is black. I’m black & I sent my daughter to a catholic school and they have strict rules about dress codes, so I don’t think it’s a race thing. However, it so happened to be a black girl…but shame on the school.
That school had to lift the ban, otherwise they would be restricting you from being black. Black hair puffs up, that’s what it does! And one of the many reasons we braid it, is to stretch it & smooth it out in a healthy way (without heat/chemicals). And furthermore, what are “twisted braids”? And who uses rubberbands (which pulls your hair out) anymore? Come on now.
Did the puffy hair and the braid caused some kind of dangers are concerned that lead it to be incorporated into
the school policy ? Why dose the dress code policy points at a certain ethnic group “African American students” And why why didn`t the school made a sincere apology to the group that they had offended.
People always sayin it’s about race! ya’ll people are just as bad…yall just angry black folk who are ignorant. do da Jewish people still hate germans cuz a what happened in the past? slavery ended….now theres white folk ..black folk…oriental folk who be gettin paid to do poop jobs. ya’ll need to move to africa if yall think youll be happier. that’s why i ashamed of the black community. ya’ll are just angry…angry black folk are just as racist. ..smdh
Why don’t you go to hell lucifer arrogant asshole.
Besides the overall ignorance you’re spewing I think they’re called. “Asians” not Oriental. That’s a rug Dumba**!
You seem ignorant yourself. Do da Jewish people still hate germans cuz a what happened in the past? Some might. Go survey all Jewish people to get an accurate answer. The Holocaust and race based slavery are two different things. Both were extremely brutal and oppressive but they were two different events in history.
“Yall need to move to africa if yall think youll be happier.” What a blanket statement about Africa. Everyone in Africa does not think the same. Once again your ignorance is astounding. If you are ashamed of the black community then I would suggest you stop getting on websites geared toward that black community. All you will do is infuriate yourself because of your ignorance. smdh…. LOL! This is my last response to the ignorance. It takes to much time and energy to even write statements replying to ignorance.
Oh and if you think slavery ended please read the 13th amendment which I doubt you would do. So here it is.
13th amendment: Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Today we would call punishment for crime and conviction the prison system… smdh
LOL…Rona is so not Black…girl/boy go on somewhere with all that…this is NOT a gay/lesbian support site.
NO! The Jewish have no reason to be angry anymore….you’ve been paid your reparations for what was wrongly and inhumanely done to your people. Now, think about the Africans/Blacks who STILL have not been given reparations for what was wrongly and inhumanely done to OUR people; STILL have not been given what was promised in the Constitution; and STILL being targeted negatively for JUST BEING BLACK and having NATURALLY puffy hair! So we have something to be angry about!
When I was younger I went to an all black private school.That adored natural hair on both boys and girls,but now that I’m 17..and attend a public school with all differentethnicities.Walking around with this huge afro pony is such an distraction!!It’s all about your environment and who your around. Obviously people still don’t understand our hair!!
ya’ll people think this is bad? think it’s only happening to us black folk? i’m an african american lesbian, and i can’t even hold hands in public with my indian girlfriend…my gf aint sayin “it’s cuz i’m indian” that’s why i’m so ashamed of the black community…always blaming it on race. how is a child going to see the front of the classroom sitting behind hair a foot tall? it’s not race people, wake up and stop making us black folk look bad!
Don’t turn this into a subject about homosexuality. Of course people are going to look because it is not a common practice for women/girlfriends to be holding hands in public, especially if they are of another race. Your blanket statements about race show me that you are ignorant. You seem like a troll, so go to another website.
Stupid, stupid, stupid. You just made black folk and lesbians look dumb. Wake up, fool…and move over if you can’t see around my big Afro puff.
lawd help that child….she look like mickey mouse. can we get this girl a relaxer? and shame on the mother makin her look like a fool. look like mickey mouse…smdh.
You are just a troll sitting at home making negative comments about hair texture/styles. smdh.
Sounds like the dumbest rule anyone could ever think up. Braids cause no harm, it’s a hair style and an Afro puff is just your natural hair pulled and gathered in an “Afro pony tail.” My high school use to ban guys from wearing their facial hair. My dad said if you shaved to often it irritated your skin, cause bumps and scars. But their parents could sign something that says “No my child does not need to follow that policy and shave.” So as for this Afro puff ordeal I would tell the school that this afro puff ordeal was not going to fly with me.
This sounds like a fishy rule. Afro puffs are adorable, and there’s nothing wrong with braids of any kind. They should ask that kids have hair that is clean, neat, and out of their faces, and that’s ALL.
So, did they ever explain what thinking went into this policy or what purpose was supposedly served by it? Or is it still just CYA, all the way?
Ziek Heil Principal and school district. Until you are 18 the state has you by the rear in school.
I think the braids are very pretty, all you have to do is
look at it, and you can tell they have spent a lot of time, to make it look beautiful, all hair is different, I
see nothing upsetting or wrong, about how anyone wants to
fix their hair, the school was wrong in singling out one
race of people and their hair do’s. A lot of people would give a whole lot, to have beautiful curly hair, and I am one of them!!!
I think the braids are very pretty, all you have to do is
look at it, and you can tell they have spent a lot of time, to make it look beautiful, all hair is different, I
see nothing upsetting or wrong, about how anyone wants to
fix their hair, the school was wrong in singling out one
race of people and their hair do’s. A lot of people would give a whole lot, to have beautiful curly hair, and I am one of them!!!
We need to seriously protest. I am NOT ok with this. How dare anyone ban me from doing MY child’s hair in the way WE do our children’s hair. My little sister is having an inner battle with herself, whether she knows it or not, about her hair being texture and thick. She is one of the few Black American Young Girls in her school in NC and she enjoys wearing her hair blown straight. I think she likes that it helps her blend in and not be picked on because her hair is different. I understand there is work to do about seeing how her hair is complete and fine the way God has designed it. But we don’t make it an issue to the white community about how they’re daughters and sons hair are. Sometimes colored with spray dyes, sometimes highlighted and dyed and all that creativeness. Why is it a problem for our children to wear creative braids? What are we supposed to do? Straighten our children’s hair? At what cost? Why take something else away from us? No. Not acceptable. Hell no. We won’t. They will not try to convince us our hair is a problem. That our braids, our twist, our pony tails, are causing issues. They need to stop it. I am not allowing this. What are we going to do to stop this ridiculousness?
wow…guess I wouldn’t be moving to Ohio.
Who sends dey kid out da house lookin like mickey mouse, this aint no disney world and such. send dat girl back home and put some oil in dose naps!
Hi Troll “Kaysema” – you are REALLY bad at trying to sound “Black”.
And the future of education lies on Charter Schools like these? Save us all.