Another black student has been humiliated by a school faculty because of his hair. It was the first day of his school, and his grandmother was called into the principal’s office. She was told that her grandson’s hair violated the school dress code. Identified as a 4-year-old Michael Trimble, the black kid was shamed for his hairstyle, and the school superintendent asked him to either cut his hair or wear a dress. This shocking incident of racial discrimination at school gained international headlines and even an online petition voicing against the injustice faced by the 4-year-old Michael. University of Tennessee Offers 4-Year Scholarship to Bullied Boy Who Designed Viral UT School T-shirt. 

The administrators from the Tatum Primary School enforce a dress code where male students cannot have hair longer than their T-shirt collar. The rules prohibit them from wearing ponytails, ducktails, rat-tails male bun or puffballs. Describing her meeting with the school principal, Michael’s grandmother, Randi Woodley was told WTHR, “[The superintendent] told me that I could either cut it, braid it and pin it up, or put my grandson in a dress and send him to school. And when prompted, my grandson must say he’s a girl.” The principal even suggested Michael’s grandmother change his gender identity, noting that the federal law guards them.

Concerned parents are calling out the school for an alleged lack of protection to the students of colour. Some even started an online petition in support of Michael, at change.org which at the time of writing this, earned over 8,900 signatures.

Incidents of racial discrimination faced by black kids are making headlines quite often. Mainly citing their hairstyles, many schools in the United States of America and other parts of the country are allegedly mistreating the kids. Taking into account of similar incidents, California and New York City has banned natural hair discrimination in a bid to end racism. The bill protects the people with colour to fight any kind of discrimination they face based on their natural hair.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 18, 2019 02:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).