Patrick Richardson and De-Marcus Jackson were going to be escorts in the Homecoming Court at Vicksburg High School next week, but now the school won’t let them do that.
Because of their hair. You see, they’ve got dreadlocks. Gasp.
Apparently there’s no restriction on such hairstyles in the student handbook or dress code, but superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Swinford says that such restrictions are school practice. Not that that makes it right.
It’s not a gang thing. It could be considered a religious or cultural thing though, and aren’t schools supposed to be all about honoring cultural beliefs?
Andrew Belonsky has an interesting appraisal over at Death and Taxes. Does the Vickburg “practice” go back to the days of overt racism?
And really, shouldn’t the school district make sure they’re not breaking any rules themselves before they do something like this?
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