”Being American Requires Conformity”
Texas has a problem with Black hair styles.
Texas student Daryl George has been suspended several times by the Barbers Hill School District.
He is not a disciplinary problem.
He’s been suspended because he wears his hair in locs (dreadlocks).
A law was passed in Texas called the CROWN (Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act to protect Students of Color from disciplinary action from wearing their hair in locs or other natural hair styles.
The School District maintains that the CROWN Act does not speak to the length of young Mr. George’s hair.
The most interesting part of this saga came when the school district took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle.
Written by school superintendent Greg Poole, the ad framed the issue in an interesting context.
Justifying the suspensions, the ad stated:
“Being an American requires conformity with the positive benefit of unity.”
The incongruity of this statement is staggering.
In every segment of American society, the country’s uniqueness is heralded.
Popular words used by Americans to describe themselves include “maverick,” “exceptional,” and “one-of-a kind.”
The “uniqueness” and “exceptional” nature of our country is used to justify a lack of gun control and hatred toward organizations like the United Nations.
We revel in standing out.
The ugly truth is that certain segments of our country revel in being non-conformist when it suits their purposes.
But when other segments attempt to live their lives by wearing their hair in certain styles, conformity is suddenly important.
When certain segments play certain music, wear certain clothes, and have certain names, they are derided for being provocative and unusual.
Who gets to decide the definitions of conformity and nonconformity?
The majority.
In this Texas school district, the majority has decided that the cherished America value of nonconformity is not applicable to “some people.”
Some people must conform because conformity brings unity.
Unified with whom, for what purpose, and at what cost?
Once we wear our hair to conform, what else must we do?
There are some of us who wear our hair, dress, and listen to music to be more “acceptable” to White society.
That’s the problem with the Barbers Hill School District.
That’s the problem with some segments of White America.
It’s not about hair.
It’s not about clothes.
It’s not about music or names.
It’s about prejudice.
It’s about intolerance.
It’s about American hypocrisy.