When I was in secondary school, a teacher told me to remove my head covering. I did.

Three years later, my little brother was asked to take off his durag in PE class. He did.

But why should anyone have to choose between being disciplined and protecting their hair?

For too long, students with Afro hair have been discriminated against for wearing protective styles like durags, bonnets, and headwraps. These aren’t "fashion statements"—they’re essential for keeping Afro-textured hair healthy and tied to cultural pride and identity.

The Impact of Hair Discrimination

When schools don’t allow protective hair coverings, it sends a harmful message: that certain hairstyles, especially Afro hair, are “inappropriate” or “unprofessional.” Students are often singled out, punished, or embarrassed just for taking care of their natural hair.

This problem isn’t just about a dress code—it's about fairness. For example, Black girls in Washington, D.C., are 20.8 times more likely to be suspended than white girls for dress code violations. School policies around appearance often unfairly target Black students, making them feel less welcome in their own schools.

It’s time for schools to change these outdated policies and create environments that are more inclusive for all students.

What We're Asking For

This petition calls on schools to:

• Allow students to wear durags, bonnets, silk scarves, and other head coverings as part of the dress code.
• Stop punishing students for wearing protective hairstyles that are necessary for Afro hair care.
• Revise dress code policies to reflect the cultural and practical importance of Afro hair and protective coverings.

How Can We Make This Happen?

By signing this petition, you’re joining the fight to create fairer school policies. We want schools to review their current rules and make changes that respect the diversity of their student body.

If you want to see this change in your school, present this petition to your administration. Ask them to listen to your concerns and work with the student body to create a policy that reflects respect for cultural diversity and self-expression.

Let’s Work Together for Change

No student should ever feel ashamed of their hair or their culture. By standing up together, we can make schools more accepting, inclusive, and fair for everyone.

Please sign this petition and share it to help stop hair discrimination in schools. Together, we can make sure that no student is ever punished for expressing who they are!