A Black high school student’s lawsuit alleging racial and gender discrimination by school officials for not changing his hairstyle has seen most claims dismissed by a federal judge in Houston. The Barbers Hill school district, near Houston, considers its policy on male hair length a way to instill discipline and respect for authority. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown questioned whether the rule causes more harm than good in his ruling.
The student, George, 18, faced punishment for his hairstyle violating the dress code, leading to missed classes and in-school suspension. The district argued that George’s tied and twisted locs exceeded allowed length, although other students with locs complied with the policy. The lawsuit claimed that enforcement targeted Black students but failed to show a consistent pattern of race-based enforcement.
Allegations included violation of the CROWN Act, a law against race-based hair discrimination, and infringement of First Amendment rights. However, the judge found insufficient evidence that hair length constituted protected expressive conduct or breached due process rights. The only claim remaining is sex discrimination due to unclear policies allowing long hair for girls but not boys.
A previous state ruling favored the school district, determining no violation of the CROWN Act. The judge referenced a 1970 case in El Paso where a school district’s rule on male hair length was deemed disruptive. Barbers Hill’s hair policy faces ongoing legal challenges, including a 2020 lawsuit by two other students. One student returned to school under a temporary injunction, citing potential violations of free speech and racial discrimination rights.
