Darryl George, an 18-year-old Black high school student in Texas, faced severe punishment during his junior year at Barbers Hill school district over his hairstyle. After being placed on in-school suspension for most of the year, he decided to leave the district rather than endure another year of punishment. However, George wishes to return for his senior year and has asked a federal judge for a temporary restraining order that would allow him to attend school while his federal lawsuit against the district proceeds. While most of the claims in his lawsuit were dismissed, one claim of gender discrimination was allowed to stand, questioning the district’s hair length rule.
Despite George’s withdrawal from the district, his attorneys argue that he still has standing to seek past damages. The school district’s dress code policies are designed to promote grooming and hygiene, discipline, preventing disruption, safety hazards, and respect for authority among students. George’s attorney, Allie Booker, explained that George was forced to enroll in a different high school in a different district after Barbers Hill officials placed him on in-school suspension at the beginning of the school year, causing him significant emotional distress. George’s departure from the district was described as a matter of survival, but he and his family wish for him to return, as his mother chose the area due to the district’s reputation for quality schools.
Throughout his junior year, George was kept out of his regular classes due to his hairstyle, which officials argued violated the school’s dress code. His hair, styled in tied and twisted locs on top of his head, was deemed too long as it would fall below his shirt collar, eyebrows, or earlobes if let down. While the district said other students with locs complied with the length policy, George’s punishment led to significant time spent in suspension or at an off-site disciplinary program. His federal lawsuit cited the CROWN Act, a state law prohibiting race-based discrimination of hair, which had taken effect in September 2023. The CROWN Act aims to prevent penalizing individuals for their hair texture or protective hairstyles such as Afros, braids, locs, twists, or Bantu knots.
In response to George’s request for a restraining order, the school district’s attorneys argued that the judge does not have jurisdiction as George is no longer a student in the district. Despite this, George’s attorneys maintained that his withdrawal from the district does not diminish his right to seek damages and challenge the district’s policies. A court hearing was scheduled for October 3 in Galveston to address George’s request. The district’s defense of its dress code policies emphasizes the importance of teaching grooming and hygiene, discipline, respect for authority, and preventing disruption or safety hazards among students. While the legal proceedings continue, George’s attorney expressed his desire to return to Barbers Hill High School, reiterating that his removal from the school was not a matter of choice but of survival due to the emotional distress caused by the disciplinary actions.
The outcome of George’s legal battle against the Barbers Hill school district remains uncertain as his request for a restraining order and the lawsuit progress. The case has raised questions about the district’s enforcement of its dress code policies, particularly regarding hairstyles and grooming standards. George’s experience has shed light on the importance of protecting individuals against race-based discrimination, including discrimination based on hairstyle. As the legal proceedings unfold, George and his attorneys continue to advocate for his right to return to his original high school, highlighting the impact of the district’s actions on his academic and emotional well-being. The case underscores broader issues of equality, representation, and diversity in educational institutions, prompting discussions about the intersection of race, gender, and personal expression within school environments.
