We often see African American students dress coded and forced to take off their durags and bonnets. School faculty compares them to hats, but these serve a real purpose: to protect the students’ hair.

Niles High School is already known for showing a lack of discipline when it comes to racially charged bullying, so it’s even more disappointing to watch as the school rules are openly targeting POC students.

The worst part is probably that they try to claim it’s “gang affiliated”, which is the most outrageous stereotype. Even if a durag was just a fashion statement, generalizing it as “gang affiliated” is racist; it’s cultural.

Niles students and faculty should change the dress code rules to allow durags, bonnets, and other protective head coverings for African American students, and a conscious effort should be made to educate themselves on why this is such and important issue.