Black student's hair-based suspension did not violate Texas law, judge rules

The school district punished junior Darryl George for refusing to cut his hair

(Image credit: Kirk Sides / Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

published 23 February 2024

What happened?

A Texas judge on Thursday said the Houston-area Barbers Hill school district did not violate the state's CROWN Act when it punished junior Darryl George for refusing to cut his hair. The district said George's hair, worn in locs twisted and tied on the top of his head, would hang below his eyebrows, earlobes or shirt collar if worn down, breaching its grooming policy.

How did we get here?

Texas enacted its version of the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act in September, joining 23 other states. The law prohibits employers and schools from penalizing people due to hair texture or protective hairstyles associated with race, including Afros and locs. Texas District Judge Chap Cain III said the law does not specifically mention hair length.

Who said what?

The ruling "validated our position" that "the CROWN Act does not give students unlimited self-expression," Barbers Hill Superintendent Greg Poole said. Cain's interpretation makes no sense, said George's lawyer Allie Booker. "You can't make braids with a crew cut. You can't loc anything that isn't long."

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What next?

Booker said she will appeal the ruling and seek a federal injunction to return George to class after months of in-school suspension and alternative schooling.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.