- Judge orders trial to determine if a Black Texas student can be penalized for his dreadlocks, in violation of the state’s CROWN Act against hair discrimination.
- Trial scheduled for February 22 to decide if Barbers Hill Independent School District (BHISD) violated the CROWN Act by academically punishing Darryl George over his hair.
- George, 18, banned from regular classes at Barbers Hill High School due to length of his dreadlocks, which the school claims violates their dress code.
Additional Coverage:
A judge has ordered a trial to determine if a Black Texas high school student can continue to be penalized by his school district for the length of his dreadlocks, which would violate the state’s CROWN Act, a law that protects against hair discrimination.
The trial is scheduled to take place on February 22 and will determine if the Barbers Hill Independent School District (BHISD) violated the Texas CROWN Act by punishing Darryl George academically due to his hair.
Darryl George, 18, has been banned from attending regular classes at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu by BHISD. Instead, he has been assigned to in-school suspension and an off-site disciplinary program since August 31, 2023, according to his mother.
The school claims that the length of Darryl George’s dreadlocks violates their dress and grooming code. His dreadlocks are braided and wrapped up on top of his head.
The Texas CROWN Act, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” was passed with bipartisan support in the state’s legislature and signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott last May.
The superintendent of Barbers Hill ISD, Greg Poole, expressed his belief that being American requires conformity for the benefit of unity. He stated this through a full-page, paid ad in the Houston Chronicle.
Poole argued that the school’s dress code does not violate the CROWN Act enacted by Texas. He affirmed that the law was intended to allow braids, locs, or twists, but it was not meant to permit unlimited student expression.
A local activist close to the family, Candice Matthews, criticized Poole for his position, stating that he should not have oversight over children’s education.
The school district filed a lawsuit in September to seek clarification on the terms of the CROWN Act and whether hair length is a factor in the law.
According to the CROWN Act, any student dress or grooming policy adopted by a school district, including for extracurricular activities, cannot discriminate against a hair texture or protective hairstyle associated with race. Protective hairstyles include braids, locks, and twists.
Darryl George’s family filed a federal lawsuit in September against Governor Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, accusing them of failing to enforce the CROWN Act. They claim that Darryl has experienced improper discipline and the violation of his constitutional and state rights.
Governor Abbott and Attorney General Paxton did not respond to ABC News’ request for comment regarding the lawsuit.
Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman, who introduced a federal version of the CROWN Act to Congress, stated that Black people cannot control how their hair grows and emphasized the impact of hair discrimination on both their psychological well-being and economic opportunities.