Texas mom slams & accuses elementary school of racism for asking her to cut 6-year-old son's locs

Incidents of racism have been reported in hundreds of schools in the United States, and one particular mom was just not having it after her six-year-old son was asked to cut off his dreadlocks due to an "elementary school rule".

A Texas mom took to the internet to speak out for her 6-year-old son Jonathan, who was ordered to cut out his hair which he wears in dreadlocks after he returned to school from the recent Christmas and New Year holidays. On January 8, the little boy excitedly went to school at the Spring Valley Elementary School in Hewitt, Texas, only to be ordered to cut his hair.

The first-grader handed his mom a flyer which said the Midway Independent School District's dress code policies, with a particular section on hairstyles highlighted. According to the flyer, "hair must not be lower than the bottom of the ears or collar in the back." The boy's teacher then wrote a handwritten note that says "please cut by Jan. 8th."

Tiffany Brown, the boy's mother, said that the hair policy is "racist and gendered". She said she brings her children to school for good education, but she won't conform to racist policies.

"I will not cut his hair. He does not want it cut, so why should I cut it? How does his hair affect his ability to learn?"

In an interview, she had with Yahoo! Lifestyle, she said that she never received prior warnings about his hair, but suddenly, they were being asked to cut it. She also said that she did not want to cut her son's hair because dreadlocks are an important part of her community, and it would be another means for students of color to be shown that they are not allowed to do things that are ultimately normal.

“Children of color have been targeted for many years, because of what others see as the norms in our society. Because of these norms that are blinding people in our society, some people have stated that dreadlocks are a fashion statement and my child should conform and express himself when he’s older. Dreadlocks are part of my African culture, not a fashion statement."

Racism in school chooses no age, be it an elementary school, middle school, or even high school. In Rochester, New York, an African American valedictorian, the first ever in that school, was banned from speaking at his graduation. Jaisaan Lovett was not given the opportunity to conduct a valedictorian speech, something that other valedictorians are given the privilege of doing.

As he worked in the mayor's office, Lovett was given a platform to say his valedictorian speech, which he says is not just for himself, but all those who struggle against racism and oppression, even at such a young age.

Incidents like these teach young people and their parents alike to speak up about their problems, especially since they aren't isolated cases and happen to thousands of people around the world. Raising their voices about the oppression they experience isn't just about them, but is for those who are not able to speak for themselves, and those who are afraid to do so.

Now, with more and more people having the courage to speak out about these issues, we are one step closer to equality for all.