Texas judge OKs hair-based suspension of Black student
The judge said the Houston-area Barbers Hill school district did not violate the state's CROWN Act


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."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
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.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports
-
Grijalva wins Democratic special primary for Arizona
Speed Read She will go up against Republican nominee Daniel Butierez to fill the US House seat her father held until his death earlier this year
-
US inflation jumps as Trump tariffs 'bite'
Speed Read Consumer prices are climbing and the inflation rate rose to its highest level in four months
-
Can Texas redistricting save the US House for the GOP?
Today's Big Question Trump pushes a 'ruthless' new plan, but it could backfire
-
SCOTUS greenlights mass DOE firings
Speed Read The Supreme Court will allow the Trump administration to further shrink the Education Department
-
Cuomo announces third-party run for NYC mayor
Speed Read He will go up against progressive Democratic powerhouse Zohran Mamdani and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams