This is ridiculous.
Ohio school Horizon Science Academy is reportedly banning Afro puffs and braids. Ladies, you know when you were growing up, that was the only hairstyle your mother gave you.
The Root reached out to Horizon Science Academy, where a representative said, “We have about 15 different schools in the state of Ohio” and had “no idea” which campus was responsible for the alleged letter. She could not provide the information or an academy spokesperson to provide a comment.
According to Black Girl Long Hair:
The letter details changes to the dress code for the upcoming school year and includes the line:
“Afro-puffs and small twisted braids, with our without rubberbands, are NOT permitted.”
It’s unclear what the administration means by small twisted braids, but if they are referring to box braids they are banning a protective style that black girls have worn for generations. Afro-puffs are essentially the black version of the ponytail (when pulled back our hair puffs out instead of laying down), and yet the rules do not have a ban on ponytails for students of other ethnicities.
It’s unspecified whether this ban applies to both male and female students, or male students alone.
Afros are a part of the African American culture; this school needs to rethink their priorities. And fast.
Source: The Root
