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[Zoe]

The school does not accept dreadlocks or afros. Logically, what options does this leave black girls with? That's a serious question.

From above:

 

[Dali]

The school does not accept dreadlocks or afros. Logically, what options does this leave black women with? That's a serious question.

Some of the girls in the images in one of the above posts have pigtails and one has braids with trinkets in her hair. It seems so arbitrary after seeing the girls dreads. Her hair doesn't look much different than it being braided. Her hair is short and the lockes are so small they look like braids.

Edit:looks like Zoe beat me to it

 

[Opiate]

A ban on Afros strikes me as far more outrageous than a ban on Dreadlocks.

Dreadlocks are effectively an active choice; it is a consciously chosen style. But afros are how hair naturally grows for many black women. They have to make a conscious choice to style it in a different way. It isn't a consequence of a lack of cleanliness, or anything.

It's nearly explicitly calling the natural growth of a black girl's hair bad or wrong.

 

[Infinite]

The school does not accept dreadlocks or afros. Logically, what options does this leave black girls with? That's a serious question.

Braids if it isn't also deemed as faddish (which looks similar like locs anyway) and short hair cuts. That's just for natural styles though

 

[Megidolaon]

If the braids were let go what would her options be then? Have it shaved off or be forced to perm her hair just to meet the schools regulations?

I'm sorry.

 

[ackbar]

I have no problem with what the school did. It's in the rules. Dad is at fault here.

 

[Infinite]

I have no problem with what the school did. It's in the rules. Dad is at fault here.

Please read the OP

 

[Enzom21]

So you expect everyone should be completely culturally tolerant and understanding from the moment of birth? :/

To me, your attitude is far worse and intolerant than somebody who has absolutely nothing against a race but found themselves doing something that contributes towards systematic discrimination. You are actually making a conscious and informed decision to be intolerant and to be openly hostile towards people instead of approaching the situation more sensibly.

Note that I said it was excusable from a moral judgement standpoint. As in, I don't think its something we should call somebody a 'bad person' for, which is exactly what it typically means when you label somebody a racist. I never said the actions are completely excusable as in we shouldn't do anything about it and just move on.

The ones I feel that really deserve to be labeled as 'bad people' are the ones that directly feel that other races(or nationalities or sex or whatever) are lesser people. People that don't feel this way are generally going to be far more open and suggestible to people trying to enlighten them on the subject. Its not simple and its not something we're born with. I have learned a lot over the years and I still learn more to this day. Its an ongoing process and one that is certainly not helped in any way whatsoever by being hostile about it and shouting 'racist' at people.

In this day and age when we have so much information at our fingertips, ignorance of a subject is no longer a valid excuse for being culturally intolerant.

I don't expect people to know everything about any particular culture, but I do expect people to put forth a modicum of effort to learn about a subject before making ignorant statements like some have done in this thread.

Edit: These two are perfect examples of what I am talking about. Instead taking time to read the thread they come in here and make stupid ass statements.

So it is in the policy no dreds and they put her hair in dreds anyway? They are surprised she got in trouble?

If you don't like the policy don't go to that charter school.

I have no problem with what the school did. It's in the rules. Dad is at fault here.

 

[Derwind]

Please read the OP

I'm positively frustrated with the collective ignorance of so many on GAF. Its like nothings changed from where this thread was last night. =(

 

[ridethepiggy]

I have no problem with what the school did. It's in the rules. Dad is at fault here.

Educate yourself on the difference between black hair and white hair and how difficult it is for black women to get their hair straight. Then come back and say what you did.

 

[Pumpkin King]

Huh, I live in Tulsa and this is the first I've heard of this. Pretty stupid really. The girl has a hairstyle. Her hair affects no one, so let her wear it as she chooses.

 

[abuC]

Amazingly, white children can have dreads and afros too. But make it about race, that's cool.

LMAO!

 

[Sixfortyfive]

I have no problem with what the school did. It's in the rules. Dad is at fault here.

Some rules need to be challenged.

This should go without saying, honestly.

 

[BumblebeeCody]

"hairstyles such as dreadlocks, afros, mohawks, and other faddish styles are

 

[GungHo]

hmmm...

http://www.dbcschool.org/index.php?page=ourstaff


basically shaved heads for boys and anything but dreads and afros for girls judging the pics they have over their website.

Gwynn Grindstaff. That's a real name.

 

[Byakuya769]

I have no problem with what the school did. It's in the rules. Dad is at fault here.

It's a trap.

Spoiler

For you.

 

[Carl]

Boo hoo? Surely it's how she does in school that matters, not what her hair looks like.

 

[GravityMan]

As long as there's no racial discrimination, I believe charter schools are allowed to have whatever dress code they want, even if it's stupid in the eyes of me and you.

That said, this school's dress code on hairstyles is silly. The people who drafted it were ignorant and likely didn't do their research. I'm surprised that many of those administrators are black themselves. They're probably old-school and feel that "dreadlocks" = "thug", "gangsta" or "hoodrat". That girl's hair is fine. It is harder for a black girl or woman to wear their hair straight. And LMAO at calling dreads a "fad".

I predict that this charter school will alter their dress code policy very soon, because they'll want to put a lid on the negative PR.

P.S. "Grindstaff" is an awesome last name.

 

[ridethepiggy]

Boo hoo? Surely it's how she does in school that matters, not what her hair looks like.

Dude, at least read the rest of the thread before making the comment. Ugh.

 

[Byakuya769]

Dude, at least read the rest of the thread before making the comment. Ugh.

Reread his/her post. They likely agrees with you.

 

[FStop7]

"Rules are rules" isn't an appropriate answer to rules that are clearly complete bullshit that target black kids in particular. Her hair was perfectly fine and she looked adorable.

I agree, but you know how this thread will go...

 

[aristotle]

As long as there's no racial discrimination, I believe charter schools are allowed to have whatever dress code they want, even if it's stupid in the eyes of me and you.

That said, this school's dress code on hairstyles is silly. The people who drafted it were ignorant and likely didn't do their research. I'm surprised that many of those administrators are black themselves. They're probably old-school and feel that "dreadlocks" = "thug", "gangsta" or "hoodrat". That girl's hair is fine. It is harder for a black girl or woman to wear their hair straight. And LMAO at calling dreads a "fad".

I predict that this charter school will alter their dress code policy very soon, because they'll want to put a lid on the negative PR.

P.S. "Grindstaff" is an awesome last name.

I don't believe it's outright discrimination, but there is a severe underbelly to their policy. I honestly don't care if they're black. They're keeping to old norms and basically saying that natural = bad. I can't actually understand that.

It even seems that some people with black hair don't even know how truly vile and dangerous that shit is they put into their hair to straighten it. It literally will burn your scalp and your hair off. Think about it. They're putting chemicals in their hair that burns off skin and hair if done incorrectly (or even correctly) some times. This shit will kill animals.

They're literally telling a child that safe and protective care of their hair is worse than putting crap in that will scar them for life and possibly lead to other illnesses down the road.

I really do suggest that everyone watch Good Hair. It's eye-opening. I wouldn't let that shit near anyone I even remotely care for and these people are educators who are doing the exact opposite of what they should be doing, which is educating and protecting these kids.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m-4qxz08So

 

[KidGalactus]

Tulsa: not a great record on black people stuff.

 

[Count Dookkake]

It's always so amusing to see Tulsans pretend they don't have race problems.

 

[dionysus]

It would be like mandating that all brunettes must bleach their hair blonde, except even worse because the chemicals are harsher.

As a parent I wouldn't allow that stuff near any young kid.

 

[someday]

I don't believe it's outright discrimination, but there is a severe underbelly to their policy. I honestly don't care if they're black. They're keeping to old norms and basically saying that natural = bad. I can't actually understand that.

It even seems that some people with black hair don't even know how truly vile and dangerous that shit is they put into their hair to straighten it. It literally will burn your scalp and your hair off. Think about it. They're putting chemicals in their hair that burns off skin and hair if done incorrectly (or even correctly) some times. This shit will kill animals.

They're literally telling a child that safe and protective care of their hair is worse than putting crap in that will scar them for life and possibly lead to other illnesses down the road.

I really do suggest that everyone watch Good Hair. It's eye-opening. I wouldn't let that shit near anyone I even remotely care for and these people are educators who are doing the exact opposite of what they should be doing, which is educating and protecting these kids.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m-4qxz08So

Hah, we know. I started getting my hair straightened chemically at around 13 or 14. Before that I got it done with a straightening comb. Both methods can burn the shit out of your head and are incredibly time-consuming. Now, most chemicals used are better, but they can still leave you with scars and scabs days later. It is a pain in the ass to keep doing this, but I'm in my 40's and have been doing it all my life. The fact that more young girls are growing up and not having to try to make their hair look like caucasian hair and are comfortable with it is wonderful. This school's rules are backwards and harmful to young black women especially. According to the rules, the young girl wearing her hair in a short afro would have been disallowed. That is exactly how most of our hair grows. How can anyone in this thread try to say it isn't racist? Intentional or not, it's still racist and a part of the ongoing bullshit that tells little black girls that they'll never be as pretty or as all-American as the little blond white girl.

 

[Pumpkin King]

Tulsa: not a great record on black people stuff.

It's always so amusing to see Tulsans pretend they don't have race problems.

No, Tulsa does not have a good track record of race relations. Pretty sad.

 

[Tragicomedy]

The military has the same hair cut policy. Are they racist? No. Theres a large population of blacks in the military.

The military does NOT have the same hair cut policy. Nope. No. No.

I won't say I've seen a lot of women wearing loose dreadlocks, but I have seen them braided down and pulled back. The standards differ a bit between services and there's clearly some latitude about what constitutes a "faddish" hairstyle, but as long as the hair is the appropriate length and not dyed unnaturally things tend to be left alone.

I HAVE seen a girl disciplined for having her hair tapered down too low on the back and sides. That was an interesting conversation. She didn't look unprofessional to me, but the regs are what they are.

 

[Tragicomedy]

Lastly, the movie Good Hair should be mandatory viewing for some people on this thread.

That movie was so damn good and super informative. It's a sad reflection of our society and the pressures it places on people to conform. No surprise there's an entire industry capitalizing on it.

 

[Feep]

Well, I did read up on the issue a bit, and I guess I was a bit off.

Still, the dad didn't like the school's policy, he moved the girl out, she's fine. Still think it's mildly overblown.

 

[Byakuya769]

Well, I did read up on the issue a bit, and I guess I was a bit off.

Still, the dad didn't like the school's policy, he moved the girl out, she's fine. Still think it's mildly overblown.

People still have to conform to a racist policy and it is a wide phenomenon. How is it overblown?

 

[iamshadowlark]

Lol they really said no Afro's? The no dreads thing is already stupid enough but no afro? What on earth is faddish about dreadlocks?

 

[Seanspeed]

In this day and age when we have so much information at our fingertips, ignorance of a subject is no longer a valid excuse for being culturally intolerant.

I don't expect people to know everything about any particular culture, but I do expect people to put forth a modicum of effort to learn about a subject before making ignorant statements like some have done in this thread.

Edit: These two are perfect examples of what I am talking about. Instead taking time to read the thread they come in here and make stupid ass statements.

So you're claiming that these two people are racists and are bad people?

 

[Infinite]

Well, I did read up on the issue a bit, and I guess I was a bit off.

Still, the dad didn't like the school's policy, he moved the girl out, she's fine. Still think it's mildly overblown.

It's really not. This so called rule upholds whiteness which hates black hair skin etc. it's fostering self hate. Please watch the Chris rock movie to see what black women go through with their hair and the political and societal implications and stigmas attached to natural black hair.

 

[ackbar]

Some rules need to be challenged.

This should go without saying, honestly.

I agree. In stead of calling it "faddism" they should call it for hygiene. I would still not want kids in my school with dreads. Correct me if I am wrong, and I could very well be, but I grew up with the understanding that dreads are prone to lice. Lice is always an issue in schools.

 

[Enzom21]

So you're claiming that these two people are racists and are bad people?

Do you have terrible reading comprehension? Where did I claim anything like that?

 

[Byakuya769]

I agree. In stead of calling it "faddism" they should call it for hygiene. I would still not want kids in my school with dreads. Correct me if I am wrong, and I could very well be, but I grew up with the understanding that dreads are prone to lice. Lice is always an issue in schools.

Bye.

 

[Hale-XF11]

Can't stand people who push conformity on others rather than celebrate their individuality.

 

[Angry Grimace]

A ban on Afros strikes me as far more outrageous than a ban on Dreadlocks.

Dreadlocks are effectively an active choice; it is a consciously chosen style. But afros are how hair naturally grows for many black women. They have to make a conscious choice to style it in a different way. It isn't a consequence of a lack of cleanliness, or anything.

It's nearly explicitly calling the natural growth of a black girl's hair bad or wrong.

Its generally unconstitutional to ban traditional racial hairstyles because its de facto race discrimination.

 

[Infinite]

I agree. In stead of calling it "faddism" they should call it for hygiene. I would still not want kids in my school with dreads. Correct me if I am wrong, and I could very well be, but I grew up with the understanding that dreads are prone to lice. Lice is always an issue in schools.

omg stop please.

See what I mean about the word dreads and it's apparent negative connotations?

 

[MorisUkunRasik]

I agree. In stead of calling it "faddism" they should call it for hygiene. I would still not want kids in my school with dreads. Correct me if I am wrong, and I could very well be, but I grew up with the understanding that dreads are prone to lice. Lice is always an issue in schools.

The straighter your hair, the more susceptible you are to lice. Could be wrong but pretty sure lice actually do better in regularly washed hair, there's a reason you need special shampoo to kill them.

 

[Daingurse]

Edit: Forget it.

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

The worst thing about this is that the administrators of the school, who are themselves black, are agreeing with the greater societal position that hairstyles like Afros and dreadlocks are in some way inferior, and that a hairstyle is a valid measure of a person's worth or intelligence. It's true that these prejudices exist, but educators should be breaking them down, not adhering to them.

 

[ymmv]

The school does not accept dreadlocks or afros. Logically, what options does this leave black girls with? That's a serious question.

African women don't have hair that naturally turns into dreadlocks or an afro. In the case of dreadlocks it's obvious, but an afro has to be groomed and cultivated. I bet it's not a ban on black children with curly hair, but on hair styles like this:

 

[Seanspeed]

Do you have terrible reading comprehension? Where did I claim anything like that?

You didn't. But if you're not, then I'm not sure why you're arguing against what I said.

EDIT: I spend a ton of time on the internet and still make bad assumptions and learn new things all the time. My point was that we should educate these people and not be hostile and call them racists, cuz that's unfair and intolerant in its own sense.

 

[ymmv]

The worst thing about this is that the administrators of the school, who are themselves black, are agreeing with the greater societal position that hairstyles like Afros and dreadlocks are in some way inferior, and that a hairstyle is a valid measure of a person's worth or intelligence. It's true that these prejudices exist, but educators should be breaking them down, not adhering to them.

Nonsense. It's just a dress code banning silly hair styles. (And yes, dreadlocks, giant afros, mohawks and the like are exactly that.). If the parents don't agree with those rules and they think their kid's hair is more important than good education, they're free to pick a different school.

 

[FStop7]

The worst thing about this is that the administrators of the school, who are themselves black, are agreeing with the greater societal position that hairstyles like Afros and dreadlocks are in some way inferior, and that a hairstyle is a valid measure of a person's worth or intelligence. It's true that these prejudices exist, but educators should be breaking them down, not adhering to them.

Sounds familiar.

At trial in Brown's consolidated case Briggs v. Elliott, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) presented dramatic testimony by Professor Kenneth Clark of the City College of New York.Professor Clark performed innovative psychological tests utilizing dolls to identify harms inflicted on the plaintiff children due to segregation. Professor Clark described the tests and his conclusion in response to questioning by Robert Carter of the NAACP:

A. I made these tests on Thursday and Friday of this past week at your request, and I presented it to children in the Scott's Branch Elementary school, concentrating particularly on the elementary group. I used these methods which I told you about--the Negro and White dolls--which were identical in every respect save skin color. And, I presented them with a sheet of paper on which there were these drawings of dolls, and I asked them to show me the doll--May I read from these notes? JUDGE WARING: You may refresh your recollection. THE WITNESS: Thank you. I presented these dolls to them and I asked them the following questions in the following order: "Show me the doll that you like best or that you'd like to play with," "Show me the doll that is the 'nice' doll," "Show me the doll that looks 'bad'," and then the following questions also: "Give me the doll that looks like a white child," "Give me the doll that looks like a colored child," "Give me the doll that looks like a Negro child," and "Give me the doll that looks like you." By Mr. Carter: Q. "Like you?" A. "Like you." That was the final question, and you can see why. I wanted to get the child's free expression of his opinions and feelings before I had him identified with one of these two dolls. I found that of the children between the ages of six and nine whom I tested, which were a total of sixteen in number, that ten of those children chose the white doll as their preference; the doll which they liked best. Ten of them also considered the white doll a "Nice" doll. And, I think you have to keep in mind that these two dolls are absolutely identical in every respect except skin color. Eleven of these sixteen children chose the brown doll as the doll which looked "bad." This is consistent with previous results which we have obtained testing over three hundred children, and we interpret it to mean that the Negro child accepts as early as six, seven or eight the negative stereotypes about his own group. . . . Q. Well, as a result of your tests, what conclusions have you reached, Mr. Clark, with respect to the infant plaintiffs involved in this case? A. The conclusion which I was forced to reach was that these children in Clarendon County, like other human beings who are subjected to an obviously inferior status in the society in which they live, have been definitely harmed in the development of their personalities; that the signs of instability in their personalities are clear, and I think that every psychologist would accept and interpret these signs as such. Q. Is that the type of injury which in your opinion would be enduring or lasting? A. I think it is the kind of injury which would be as enduring or lasting as the situation endured, changing only in its form and in the way it manifests itself. MR. CARTER: Thank you. Your witness.

 

[Byakuya769]

African women don't have hair that naturally turns into dreadlocks or an afro. In the case of dreadlocks it's obvious, but an afro has to be groomed and cultivated. I bet it's not a ban on black children with curly hair, but on hair styles like this:

What does natural black women hair turn into when it grows?

Nonsense. It's just a dress code banning silly hair styles. (And yes, dreadlocks, giant afros, mohawks and the like are exactly that.). If the parents don't agree with those rules and they think their kid's hair is more important than good education, they're free to pick a different school.

Never mind.

 

[Infinite]

African women don't have hair that naturally turns into dreadlocks or an afro. In the case of dreadlocks it's obvious, but an afro has to be groomed and cultivated. I bet it's not a ban on black children with curly hair, but on hair styles like this:

Nonsense. It's just a dress code banning silly hair styles. (And yes, dreadlocks, giant afros, mohawks and the like are exactly that.). If the parents don't agree with those rules and they think their kid's hair is more important than good education, they're free to pick a different school.

Please know what you're talking about before typing embarrassingly ignorant responses. Thanks

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

Nonsense. It's just a dress code banning silly hair styles. (And yes, dreadlocks, giant afros, mohawks and the like are exactly that.). If the parents don't agree with those rules and they think their kid's hair is more important than good education, they're free to pick a different school.

Try reading the OP.

And if you think dreadlocks, Afros, and Mohawks are "silly hairstyles," you may want to leave now.