Less than one month after went into effect, the same school district that largely prompted the law鈥檚 creation is delivering its first major test.
Darryl George, a junior at Barbers Hill High School in Chambers County, has garnered national media attention after he served more than two weeks of in-school suspension for his dreadlocks, which school officials said violate the district鈥檚 dress code.
The dress code sets guidelines for how long male students鈥� hair can be, while the CROWN Act outlaws discrimination of hair texture or styles commonly associated with race. George鈥檚 suspension has sparked questions about the legality of punishing students for the length of their hair and the extent of the CROWN Act鈥檚 protections.
What does the CROWN Act say 鈥� and not say?
Texas鈥� CROWN Act 鈥� an acronym for 鈥淐reating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair鈥� 鈥� outlaws discrimination on the basis of 鈥渉air texture or protective hairstyles associated with race.鈥� Texas was the 22nd state to implement a version of the law, which went into effect Sept. 1.
The law states that 鈥減rotective hairstyle鈥� includes braids, locks and twists. It does not, however, mention anything about hair length.
The act, authored by state Rep. , D-Garland, was largely spurred by Black student experiences with hair discrimination.
De鈥橝ndre Arnold, a Barbers Hill High School student, drew national attention and the support of activists across the country in 2020 after district administrators suspended him for the length of his dreadlocks. De鈥橝ndre was told he needed to cut his hair to comply with the district鈥檚 policy, and his family filed a discrimination lawsuit against the district before he switched schools.
What does Barbers Hill鈥檚 dress code say?
The states male students鈥� hair cannot, at any time, extend below the eyebrows, earlobes, or the top of a T-shirt collar. Male students鈥� hair also may not 鈥渂e gathered or worn in a style鈥� that would allow hair to fall to these lengths 鈥渨hen let down.鈥�
The policy makes no mention of protective hairstyles or those associated with race.
The Houston Landing reviewed dress code policies for dozens of Greater Houston school districts and found one other district, Devers ISD, that had a policy regulating hair length.
Darryl wears his dreadlocks in a twisted style at the top of his head. District officials said they cannot provide information about discipline issued to a student, including whether school leaders disciplined Darryl because his hair fell past his T-shirt, eyes or earlobes when let down.
Conflicting arguments on CROWN Act protections
In short, the standoff comes down to whether Darryl鈥檚 dreadlocks are a protected hairstyle, and if so, whether Barbers Hill Independent School District officials can regulate the length of a protected hairstyle.
The law states that 鈥減rotective hairstyle鈥� includes braids, locks and twists. It does not, however, mention anything about hair length.
The act, authored by state Rep. , D-Garland, was largely spurred by Black student experiences with hair discrimination.
De鈥橝ndre Arnold, a Barbers Hill High School student, drew national attention and the support of activists across the country in 2020 after district administrators suspended him for the length of his dreadlocks. De鈥橝ndre was told he needed to cut his hair to comply with the district鈥檚 policy, and his family filed a discrimination lawsuit against the district before he switched schools.
What does Barbers Hill鈥檚 dress code say?
The states male students鈥� hair cannot, at any time, extend below the eyebrows, earlobes, or the top of a T-shirt collar. Male students鈥� hair also may not 鈥渂e gathered or worn in a style鈥� that would allow hair to fall to these lengths 鈥渨hen let down.鈥�
The policy makes no mention of protective hairstyles or those associated with race.
The Houston Landing reviewed dress code policies for dozens of Greater Houston school districts and found one other district, Devers ISD, that had a policy regulating hair length.
Darryl wears his dreadlocks in a twisted style at the top of his head. District officials said they cannot provide information about discipline issued to a student, including whether school leaders disciplined Darryl because his hair fell past his T-shirt, eyes or earlobes when let down.
Conflicting arguments on CROWN Act protections
In short, the standoff comes down to whether Darryl鈥檚 dreadlocks are a protected hairstyle, and if so, whether Barbers Hill Independent School District officials can regulate the length of a protected hairstyle.
Allie Booker, a lawyer representing Darryl, argues that Barbers Hill鈥檚 dress code violates the CROWN Act and fails to recognize his hair as a protective style. The district maintains that its rules do not violate the CROWN Act, a Barbers Hill spokesperson said.
In an interview last week with the Dallas-area television station WFAA, Bowers said the law is 鈥渟trongly about protective hairstyles,鈥� but it is 鈥渘ot about length and it鈥檚 not about color of hair.鈥�
However, Bowers on social media last week. Multiple efforts to reach Bowers were not successful Monday.
What happens next?
George received another in-school suspension Monday after returning to school with his hair unchanged, , signaling the district鈥檚 firmness on its hair policy.
But Darryl and his family are also holding firm. He plans to keep his dreadlocks at their current length and will not cut his hair to be in compliance, Booker said. Darryl鈥檚 hair has his family member鈥檚 dreadlocks intertwined with his own and has personal and cultural significance, his attorney said.
鈥淭he locs pay homage to those who have come before us, and they remind us of who we are and from whence we have come,鈥� Booker said. 鈥淚t is a part of our culture and our heritage. We are people who have been beaten, enslaved and downtrodden.鈥�
Darryl鈥檚 family will pursue a lawsuit and a potential injunction to push back against the district鈥檚 policy, Booker said.
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