Locked Out and Locked Up: Darryl George's Ongoing Battle Against Hair Discrimination
George's second suspension from Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, Texas, caused quite a stir. This time around, it wasn't due to a disobedient attitude or poor behavior, but rather his natural hair. The 18-year-old was penalized for an allegedly non-compliant hairstyle, unleashing a heated debate over discrimination and a young man's right to natural hair expression.
On a Tuesday morning, Darryl George briefly attended class but was called out of the classroom and later suspended. According to a school notification, Georgia's hair length didn't adhere to their dress code, which his family perceived as discriminatory[1][4].
Despite their protestations, George was suspended for 13 days. Ellen Booker, his family's attorney, maintained their stance in modifying or challenging the suspension[1].
Though the controversy began three months prior, it was all about the length of George's locs. The rules in the Barbers Hill school district dictate that boys cannot let their hair extend past their collars, eyebrow lines, or ear lobes when they're down.
As recently as October 2023, Barbers Hill ISD spokesperson, David Bloom, clarified that George was relegated to the Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) for thirty days[1].
The George family vehemently challenged the school's claims, asserting that he had simply braided his hair to adhere to the dress code[1]. They argued that the district's code breached the Texas Crown Act, a law that prohibits discrimination based on hairstyles linked with race[1][5].
George and his family took their grievances to court, filing a federal lawsuit against Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the district's school officials[1]. They claimed that the authorities failed to enforce the Texas Crown Act[1].
David Bloom confirmed to CNN that repeat violations of the school dress code would trigger consecutive disciplinary actions[1]. Responding to the situation, Bloom said, "As far as the impact on his diploma, no. If he had chosen not to cut his hair, he could have completed the ISS dress code course."
George's mother, Daresha, felt the suspensions and disciplinary measures were damaging his education. "It's infuriating and overwhelming. We're just trying to hold on and navigate this," she said. "We won't back down."[1]
Texas Representative Ron Reynolds, a Democrat who co-authored the CROWN Act, criticized the school's decision. He labeled it a hateful action that perpetuated racial discrimination. Reynolds also pledged to propose amendments to the bill to extend its protection to hair length issues.[1]
The debate around Darryl George's case is certainly not an isolated incident. Across the nation, schools are reevaluating their dress code policies, moving away from boys-only hair restrictions. The Barbers Hill ISD is one of the last districts to uphold such discriminatory practices [1].
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Suspension and Discrimination: Darryl George's ongoing suspension and the ensuing dispute involving the Barbers Hill ISD in Texas marked a significant moment. From 2023, the high school student faced several disruptions to his education due to dress code infractions, with the district citing non-compliance with hair length requirements.
Legal Action and CROWN Act: The case attracted national attention, with organizations such as ACLU of Louisiana, ACLU of Texas, ACLU of Mississippi, and IDRA supporting George’s lawsuit before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The 2019 CROWN Act protection was invoked, arguing the district violated the Equal Protection Clause as unconstitutional sex discrimination.
Historical Context and Impact: In a separate friend-of-the-court brief submitted in state court, civil rights organizations claimed that Barbers Hill ISD bound students with the Texas CROWN Act by enforcing discriminatory policies. The broader consequences of such practices were highlighted, with younger generations of color subjected to higher education disruption, negative experiences, and potential inclination towards lawsuits and incarceration.
