By Elaine Musiwa, Allure
Need proof that we still have a long way to go when it comes to accepting black hair as it grows naturally? Look to Nicole Orr, a student at Montverde Academy in Lake County, Florida, who was recently told get her hair done.
Administrators told the 16-year-old, who wears her enviable kinks and coils with pride, that her natural hair violated the school’s dress code. “People say they love my hair because it’s so diverse, curly, and Afro-centric,” Nicole told Fox 35, confused by the school’s request.
“She literally felt, ‘Wow, what's wrong with my hair? The Caucasian girls are able to wear their natural hair straight. Why can't I wear my natural hair the way that it grows?’” her mom, Secily Wilson explained.
[post_ads]Orr’s parents had a meeting with the school's headmaster, Dr. Kasey Kesserling, to discuss the issue. The school pointed Orr’s parents to a line in their handbook that reads, “Hair must be neat and clean and of a style commensurate with the spirit and intent of school dress.” Eric Orr, Nicole’s dad, explained that the student handbook also referred to "dread-like" hair as being a violation of the school code, which in itself is problematic.
Besides the fact that Orr's styled kinks and coils could hardly be called "dread-like," the notion that locs can't be neat or clean is part of a long tradition of negative attitudes towards black hair. This, compounded with the fact that Orr's hair looks "neat and clean" in its natural state, is an indicator that centuries-old biases (conscious or unconscious) against black hair continue to this day.
“My understanding in talking with the dean of students, I think it was more in line with that neat and organized look that we're going for,” said Kesselring. To which we ask, what about natural, styled black hair isn't "neat" and "organized?"
[post_ads_2]
After speaking to Nicole’s parents, Kesserling realized that the discriminatory line involving "dread-like" hair needed to be removed from the student handbook. As he told Allure, the rule contained "the appearance, if not the reality of bias, and that's not representative of who we are as an institution. When I met with the parents on Monday morning, it was an amicable conversation, and we readily agreed it was something that needed to be updated and changed, and it was not reflective of the ideals and personality of the school as we are today."
Nicole's mother took to Twitter to say that the school, despite the initial misstep, was very responsive and cooperative when they were challenged on the issue. "I want to be clear, Montverde Academy was very gracious, very kind, and very open about changing its policy," she said. "The media had no bearing on the school changing its policy and hearing our voice, addressing our concerns, and changing it immediately."
Wilson went on to emphasize that although the situation was problematic, the school in general isn't specifically making rules to hurt black children. "The school is not racist, the school is not targeting African-American kids, but that policy was outdated and needed to be changed, let's be clear on that."
This situation is just another reminder on why cultural sensitivity and education on black hair is so vital. It also shows that openness and understanding when it comes to the lives of marginalized people is essential to moving forward, and creating an environment that lives up to the inclusivity we aspire to.
[post_ads_2]
"As an international school, we have kids here from 77 different countries which represent a lot of different cultures. I sometimes think it's easy to be a bit remiss at recognizing the sensitivity of those issues," Kesserling said. "Certainly, as an employer, we have to continue our practice of unconscious bias training where folks understand that what may not resonate with them, may resonate differently with someone else. That's what makes a community like this one that needs to be constantly learning ourselves."
As for Nicole, her mother says she is "happy that she was able to bring about change."
More on natural hair:
[post_ads_2]
After speaking to Nicole’s parents, Kesserling realized that the discriminatory line involving "dread-like" hair needed to be removed from the student handbook. As he told Allure, the rule contained "the appearance, if not the reality of bias, and that's not representative of who we are as an institution. When I met with the parents on Monday morning, it was an amicable conversation, and we readily agreed it was something that needed to be updated and changed, and it was not reflective of the ideals and personality of the school as we are today."
Nicole's mother took to Twitter to say that the school, despite the initial misstep, was very responsive and cooperative when they were challenged on the issue. "I want to be clear, Montverde Academy was very gracious, very kind, and very open about changing its policy," she said. "The media had no bearing on the school changing its policy and hearing our voice, addressing our concerns, and changing it immediately."
Wilson went on to emphasize that although the situation was problematic, the school in general isn't specifically making rules to hurt black children. "The school is not racist, the school is not targeting African-American kids, but that policy was outdated and needed to be changed, let's be clear on that."
This situation is just another reminder on why cultural sensitivity and education on black hair is so vital. It also shows that openness and understanding when it comes to the lives of marginalized people is essential to moving forward, and creating an environment that lives up to the inclusivity we aspire to.
[post_ads_2]
"As an international school, we have kids here from 77 different countries which represent a lot of different cultures. I sometimes think it's easy to be a bit remiss at recognizing the sensitivity of those issues," Kesserling said. "Certainly, as an employer, we have to continue our practice of unconscious bias training where folks understand that what may not resonate with them, may resonate differently with someone else. That's what makes a community like this one that needs to be constantly learning ourselves."
As for Nicole, her mother says she is "happy that she was able to bring about change."
More on natural hair:
