Image Credit: Jamaica Gilmer

A group of black female students at the School for Creative Studies in Durham, North Carolina, say that they were threatened with suspension for wearing headwraps in school in honor of Black History Month.

The girls were given the option of either removing the headwraps altogether or wearing them in a manner that would show their hair. If they did not comply, they were told that they would be in violation of the school’s dress code, and would face suspension.

While the teens complied to avoid punishment, with the support of their parents, they gathered in the school parking lot on Monday afternoon to protest the dress code. The girls wore the headwraps during the protest, alongside other supporters.

“Our girls should be able to express themselves culturally, regardless of whether it’s Black History Month or not. They should be able to wear their head wraps,” said Dosali Reed-Bandele, the mother of a Junior at the high school. “It happened to me in high school but I had to stand firm to my principal and say, this is a part of my culture.”

Durham County School Superintendent, Dr. Bert L’Homme, responded to the controversy, in a statement:

“I have heard the concerns of parents and community members who feel our policy prohibiting hats and head wear is too strict or that it infringes on student’s cultural expression.

I understand their concerns and assure them that I will share their thoughts with the committee that is currently reviewing and suggesting revisions to our Code of Student Conduct.”

On Thursday, parents will attend a committee meeting that will review the dress code and code of conduct. The committee is made up of school leaders and parents.