Vicksburg, Miss., high school student Patrick Richardson (pictured above) will be banned from attending any of his school's homecoming festivities unless he chops off his dreadlocks.
High school officials did not mince words when they told the young man that keeping his dreads would result in his being unable to escort his best friend and junior class maid Sa'shia Jones to homecoming. According to Richardson, the principal told him to cut his dreads after he had just paid for a tux fitting to attend the event that was only a week away:
"When I decided to grow my hair, that's what I wanted to do. I thought my hair was acceptable, but my principal told me that homecoming was of a higher standard and that dreads are not acceptable."
Richardson has been growing his dreads since last October, and now they're about eight inches long. He had actually planned on braiding his hair and pulling it back for Friday's long-anticipated affair.
Tammi Mason (pictured above), the 16-year-old's mother, is highly disturbed that her son's decision to express himself culturally is being totally disregarded. She is also angry that the money he paid for the tux fitting will not be refunded. Mason told WLBT News:
"It's actually a form of discrimination to me, because if that's the case then everybody who's fat shouldn't be able to be in it on the court. They could say anything. Actually they could say you have to be a size 10 to be one of the maids," said Mason.
Another parent of a child who attends the high school, Lynda Jackson, is also upset that her son De-Marcus is also banned from escorting a sophomore maid because he, too, sports dreads.
Vicksburg School Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Swinford upholds the high school's decision to ban dreadlocks from Friday's homecoming ceremonies, although she admits that there is no written policy regarding dreads. Still she says that there is a practice that does not allow the hairstyle on the homecoming court.
School officials are now looking into drafting a written policy that would uphold the dreadlocks ban at homecoming.
Meanwhile, ticked off moms Mason and Jackson may be seeking legal counsel, although it is too late to at this stage to help their sons gain entry into this year's homecoming.
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It's not racism, it's a violation of civil right common sense. The young mans "dreads" look respectful and appropriate. The issue appears made up by a control freak with Big Fish in a little pond syndrome. I've seen derogatory, inciteful things that have not even been close to questionable and should have been banned. This issue owns alot of questions to include what's in the Kool-aid the schools administration drinks in the faculty break room.
I'm in agreement with this. I think kids should look like SQUARES in school. When they graduate from school they can begin to express themselves. My son grew up in private school and they would not let the boys wear mustaches when puberty began. When my son started attending public high school I tried to keep his mustache removed. With no avail from my father and he I had to give in. I tried to remember to "pick" my fights and this was not worth fighting over. When he goes to the barbershop I make sure he has the barber to groom it for him so that he will know the proper way it's suppose to look.
I, personally, am not a fan of dreadlocks, but a person's decision to wear them is theirs. The video states that there is no written policy, but it is "implied", well if you want someone to follow policy...you may want to write it in the handbook.
I do hope this young man and his mother (along w/ others) file a class action discrimination lawsuit against the school board.
I agree with you. It's racist! They can attend school but not school functions? I bet they let them attend school with their dreads because the school gets $x amount of dollars per student in attendence. That is the way public school works in the United States. Acceptable hair for school should equal acceptable hair for school activities. This was just a lawsuit waiting to happen, his parents should sue.
@AmericanWoman: I agree with some of what you are saying. " Acceptable hair for school should equal acceptable hair for school activities." I could not agree more with that statement!! There should be NO different standard for a dance or event!! But the parts that I differ on is this. 1)it's not racist because the same thing happened to me and others I knew when we were in High School because of having Long Hair. I was told was not allowed to attend a dance and then they tried to get on me about having it period in school after I complained about the dance rule(no I did not go to dance cause I was not cutting it). I am white and it's no different. I have always gotten crap about having long hair, school then when i got out it was jobs, the cops etc. It's just when it happens to white's no one hears about it cause no one really gives a crap!! So just sharing w/you on that point!! The other thing you mentioned was a law suit? Now if it's a suit to change the rules I am all down for it!! But most peepz are going to sue not for that but to get $$$$! That I think is way wrong, because the first peepz that will hurt are the teachers and the students!! I work in insurance,peepz think that lawsuit money comes out of thin air some times(not saying you do), but the do not realize that after a suit part of the money does come from the schools budget as well as their insurance co. Then when their policy comes up for renewal their rates are going to go up, and if they go to another co. they will charge for that lawsuit claim also. So then the school has to pay for higher insurance rates which again, comes out of the school budget!! So you see it does not hurt the big honchos who make the big money at the schools, BUT IT DOES HURT EVERY TEACHER AND STUDENT!! Just some other points of view that some peepz may not think about! Peace!!!
As a current rocker of Fabulous Locks reading this article is appalling. How dare they? What happened to freedom of speech. I bet the principal and superintendent are racist and culturally insensitive pricks.
I am home schooled. I am glad because I have dreadlocks since I was five years old. I'd hate to have to be taught by petty people who cannot think past a hairdo. The family involved should let their attorney explain it to them and the school.
Self expression is a freedom all young people should enjoy. Culturally, dreadlocks are the crown of self pride. What are they trying to teach in that school he attends?
To The Truth, you are correct! Perhaps the more appropriate term is "civil rights violation." Nevertheless, my American experience cautions me not to rule out racial bias. It's like an undertow round here.
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Comments: (41)
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By: dvine on 9/23/2010 12:53PM
this is ridiculous.. y are thy dictating what these kids hair should look like on Homecoming..
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By: The Truth on 9/23/2010 1:46PM
It's not racism, it's a violation of civil right common sense. The young mans "dreads" look respectful and appropriate. The issue appears made up by a control freak with Big Fish in a little pond syndrome. I've seen derogatory, inciteful things that have not even been close to questionable and should have been banned. This issue owns alot of questions to include what's in the Kool-aid the schools administration drinks in the faculty break room.
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By: ARNEADER on 9/23/2010 8:40PM
I'm in agreement with this. I think kids should look like SQUARES in school. When they graduate from school they can begin to express themselves. My son grew up in private school and they would not let the boys wear mustaches when puberty began. When my son started attending public high school I tried to keep his mustache removed. With no avail from my father and he I had to give in. I tried to remember to "pick" my fights and this was not worth fighting over. When he goes to the barbershop I make sure he has the barber to groom it for him so that he will know the proper way it's suppose to look.
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By: Justifyed on 9/25/2010 3:25AM
I, personally, am not a fan of dreadlocks, but a person's decision to wear them is theirs. The video states that there is no written policy, but it is "implied", well if you want someone to follow policy...you may want to write it in the handbook.
I do hope this young man and his mother (along w/ others) file a class action discrimination lawsuit against the school board.
Report This
By: AmericanWoman on 9/23/2010 1:09PM
I agree with you. It's racist! They can attend school but not school functions? I bet they let them attend school with their dreads because the school gets $x amount of dollars per student in attendence. That is the way public school works in the United States. Acceptable hair for school should equal acceptable hair for school activities. This was just a lawsuit waiting to happen, his parents should sue.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: jeromequigley on 9/23/2010 3:41PM
@AmericanWoman: I agree with some of what you are saying. " Acceptable hair for school should equal acceptable hair for school activities." I could not agree more with that statement!! There should be NO different standard for a dance or event!! But the parts that I differ on is this. 1)it's not racist because the same thing happened to me and others I knew when we were in High School because of having Long Hair. I was told was not allowed to attend a dance and then they tried to get on me about having it period in school after I complained about the dance rule(no I did not go to dance cause I was not cutting it). I am white and it's no different. I have always gotten crap about having long hair, school then when i got out it was jobs, the cops etc. It's just when it happens to white's no one hears about it cause no one really gives a crap!! So just sharing w/you on that point!! The other thing you mentioned was a law suit? Now if it's a suit to change the rules I am all down for it!! But most peepz are going to sue not for that but to get $$$$! That I think is way wrong, because the first peepz that will hurt are the teachers and the students!! I work in insurance,peepz think that lawsuit money comes out of thin air some times(not saying you do), but the do not realize that after a suit part of the money does come from the schools budget as well as their insurance co. Then when their policy comes up for renewal their rates are going to go up, and if they go to another co. they will charge for that lawsuit claim also. So then the school has to pay for higher insurance rates which again, comes out of the school budget!! So you see it does not hurt the big honchos who make the big money at the schools, BUT IT DOES HURT EVERY TEACHER AND STUDENT!! Just some other points of view that some peepz may not think about! Peace!!!
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By: *CHI-CHI* on 9/23/2010 1:18PM
As a current rocker of Fabulous Locks reading this article is appalling. How dare they? What happened to freedom of speech. I bet the principal and superintendent are racist and culturally insensitive pricks.
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By: Homeschooled on 9/23/2010 1:28PM
I am home schooled. I am glad because I have dreadlocks since I was five years old. I'd hate to have to be taught by petty people who cannot think past a hairdo. The family involved should let their attorney explain it to them and the school.
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By: Sisterlocks on 9/23/2010 1:55PM
Self expression is a freedom all young people should enjoy. Culturally, dreadlocks are the crown of self pride. What are they trying to teach in that school he attends?
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By: AmericanWoman on 9/23/2010 2:20PM
To The Truth, you are correct! Perhaps the more appropriate term is "civil rights violation." Nevertheless, my American experience cautions me not to rule out racial bias. It's like an undertow round here.
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