South Dakota High School To Black Student: Cut Your Dreadlocks Or Leave Our School Murjani Rawls -
Black Americans have long been subjected to hair discrimination, whether it be in corporate or school settings. For 14-year-old freshman Braxton Schafer, he has had his dreadlocks in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades while O’Gorman High School in South Dakota’s hair policy was in place. Schafer and his family stated there was never an issue until now. As the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports, the school has said Schafer will have to cut his hair in adhere to the policy or leave the school.
O’Gorman’s dress code states boys’ hair length must be above the collar. However, Braxton’s father, Derrick Schafer, said, “We don’t necessarily agree with the rule.” “We think it’s culturally biased.”
Braxton’s mother, Toni, stated to the Argus Leader that the assistant principal approached her at the school and told her he felt Braxton’s hair was too long. When Toni discussed the matter with high school principal Joan Mahoney, she was told that “the length of Braxton’s hair is the issue, not Braxton’s culture as a Black student with locs.”
READ MORE: South Dakota High School To Black Student: Cut Your Dreadlocks Or Leave Our School https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/south-da...
O’Gorman’s dress code states boys’ hair length must be above the collar. However, Braxton’s father, Derrick Schafer, said, “We don’t necessarily agree with the rule.” “We think it’s culturally biased.”
Braxton’s mother, Toni, stated to the Argus Leader that the assistant principal approached her at the school and told her he felt Braxton’s hair was too long. When Toni discussed the matter with high school principal Joan Mahoney, she was told that “the length of Braxton’s hair is the issue, not Braxton’s culture as a Black student with locs.”
READ MORE: South Dakota High School To Black Student: Cut Your Dreadlocks Or Leave Our School https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/south-da...
“It was always cultural,” Derrick said. “We were concerned with the timing of them bringing this up because the school year had already started. When this was being discussed with us, it seemed like there were a lot of other opportunities to have that discussion.”