The family of a Black high school student in Texas on Saturday filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the state’s governor and attorney general over his ongoing suspension by his school district for his hairstyle.

Darryl George, 17, a junior at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, has been serving an in-school suspension since Aug. 31 at the Houston-area school. School officials say his dreadlocks fall below his eyebrows and ear lobes and violate the district’s dress code.

George’s mother, Darresha George, and the family’s attorney deny the teenager’s hairstyle violates the dress code, saying his hair is neatly tied in twisted dreadlocks on top of his head.

  • GillyGumbo@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Isn’t the rule about hair not going past eyebrows or ear lobes? Every picture I’ve seen of this dude meets that requirement. I really don’t understand the reasoning behind the violation?

    • Mirshe@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      The school’s reasoning is “well if he ever took them down he’d be in violation, so he’s in violation regardless”.

    • ruckblack
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      1 year ago

      Yeah I think the reasoning is that they’re not allowed to have hair that, if let down, would be lower than their eyebrows/earlobes. You’re not allowed to have long hair and put it up. Very stupid.

        • NuPNuA@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          So can schools in the UK and Japan from what I understand. It’s not uncommon. At the end of the day, school is there to prepare you for work and if an employer has a dress code in the contract you sign shouting “racist” at them isn’t going to help.

          • FluffyPotato@lemm.ee
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            1 year ago

            Yea, both the UK and Japan are pretty fucked, I would not take policy from there. I have yet know of a job with a dress code other than fast food places or cooking also if your contract tried to define hair length or style anywhere it would most likely be void anyways.

            • 🐍🩶🐢@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              Meh. A lot of offices require “business casual”, but that is getting relaxed all over too due to the break from workwear during the pandemic. It is common sense at this point. I am glad I haven’t had to stress over corporate dress code for a few years now. I felt like I was in highschool agonizing if someone would freak out over a sleeveless shirt or if stretchy black jeans would get called out.

              As for uniforms proper, I have seen a tiny bit in the trades, mechanics, etc with jumpsuits or shirts. I just think of it as provided safety gear and clothes that can get dirty without destroying your own.

              After working in an industry for over a decade where I had to wear safety vests, shoes, and hardhats, I got over how I looked. The number of idiots that would complain about having to wear a bright safety vest because they didn’t look fashionable was ridiculous, and that included me right at first. I at least never refused to do something I was being paid and expected to do because I would get my precious work clothes and bright pink safety “vest” dirty.

              ADHD rambling aside, but as long as the clothes are not uncomfortable, sexist, and restrictions are loosened during extreme weather, I will wear whatever within reason. My hair though? Fuck you it is my body and I will do what I want with it, barring having to pull it back at a job site for safety reasons.

              • assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world
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                1 year ago

                The pandemic has permanently changed my perception of dress codes. All of us worked perfectly fine in hoodies and shorts. Because of not needing to dedicate time in the morning to my appearance, I can sleep in a bit and be better rested too. I’m happier and more effective.

                So naturally the old executive guard disagrees at large corporations, but we’ll see if that lasts.

          • BakedGoods
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            1 year ago

            Both are socially fairly underdeveloped countries. For example Sweden and Germany have no such rules.