HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — An 8-year-old Black student is transferring out of a Hendersonville private school after his parents reportedly refused an administrative demand to cut his shoulder-length locs.
The conflict between Marqua Lytle’s parents and Hendersonville Christian Academy highlights a widening debate over how school grooming codes affect Black students.
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“What makes all of this particularly difficult to understand is that my son does not have a history of behavioral or academic problems at Hendersonville Christian Academy,” said Marquavis Lytle, the boy’s father.
Marqua has worn locs since he was a toddler, and the hairstyle never posed an issue at the school until this year. According to Lytle, the school director explained that policies were enforced more strictly for students at the upper elementary level.
“The director went as far as saying that if my other son were still attending the school, he would have had to cut his hair as well,” said Lytle…