Teen with dreadlocks suspended because his hair is against dress code, TX school says

A family in Texas has had it after their teen son was suspended because the school said his dreadlocks were too long.

It may jeopardize his ability to walk during his high school graduation ceremony.

Deandre Arnold, 18, told KRIV he started growing out his dreadlocks in seventh grade. Now Deandre is a senior at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu and the school district says his hair is in violation of the dress code, despite Deandre consistently wearing it tied up.

“They said Deandre’s hair can’t touch the collar, ears or in the face,” his mother told the outlet. “It never really did, he’s always had it up.”

The family said they had several meetings with school officials before the district drew a line in the sand just before winter break, telling Deandre his hair had to be in dress code when he came back to school or he would face suspension, KRIV reported.

Deandre was ultimately sent to in-school suspension and told he wouldn’t be allowed to walk during his graduation ceremony until his hair fit the dress code, KPRC reported.

But his family says his hair is part of his family heritage.

“Hair is a part of his heritage, culture, his dad is a Trinidadian,” Deandre’s mom told KRIV. “How can I put him in a barber chair and say OK Deandre in order to graduate, let me cut your hair.”

After several attempts to talk with officials, Deandre and his family were able to address the school board on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but they weren’t alone, KHOU reported. A number of supporters and activists — including Ashton Woods of Black Lives Matter — stood with the Arnold family as they petitioned the board.

“The dress code is designed by white people for white people and is damaging to black bodies,” Woods said, according to KHOU.

Gary Monroe with the United Urban Alumni Association told board members they were violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act as it applies to religious beliefs, KPRC reported.

Others asked for the dress code to be changed altogether, according to the outlet.

“Let’s stop with the dress code. This not about dress code, this is about policing black boys,” one supporter said, KPRC reported.

Ultimately, the board refused. Superintendent Greg Poole told the family the district’s issue isn’t with Deandre’s dreadlocks, but the length of his hair, KHOU reported.

“There is no dress code policy that prohibits any cornrow or any other method of wearing of the hair,” Poole said, according to the outlet. “Our policy limits the length. It’s been that way for 30 years.”

The board then opted not to list the topic on upcoming agendas, KPRC reported.

But Deandre’s supporters say they’re not done fighting.

“They have 48 hours to come up with a resolution or we’re taking this to federal court,” Monroe told KHOU.

On Wednesday, Houston Texans wide receiver Deandre Hopkins tweeted his support for the teen, telling him to “never cut” his dreadlocks.

Deandre’s father says all the teen wants to do is finish up high school.

“I won’t stand for anybody bullying my child,” David Arnold told KPRC. “He has rights. All he wants to do is graduate.”

This story was originally published January 21, 2020 at 9:35 AM with the headline "Teen with dreadlocks suspended because his hair is against dress code, TX school says."