Georgia Elementary School Under Fire For Displaying Poster Dictating Hairstyles For Black Students

Narvie Harris Elementary school in Decatur, Georgia has received backlash after a hairstylist shared photos that the school posted on campus showing “appropriate” and “inappropriate” hairstyles for students.

Hairstylist, Danay Helena, shared a photo of the poster she received from a parent on Facebook. She said her concern was that the school was only addressing black students.

“It feels like it’s discrimination. There are only black kids up there, and those are basic styles in the black community,” Helena said. “It’s something that needs to be talked about. The outrage, I think, is warranted.”

Helena’s post quickly gained traction on social media, with some people called the policies racist while others pointed out that because Narvie Harris is a theme school — similar to a charter school — they have the right to dictate dress code.

According to a statement from DeKalb County School District, the poster was taken down Thursday. “The poster was the result of a miscommunication relating to appearance rules at the school,” it said.

“Once the district was made aware of the poster, it was immediately removed. In addition, a letter was sent to parents clarifying the school’s dress code and appearance policy,” the statement continued.

The school district’s dress code reportedly does not include hairstyles.