Two black Texas teenagers said they were suspended in school because of their dreadlocks. Their parents are filing a lawsuit against the school district and others for what they consider as "discriminatory hair policy." The complaint was raised by Sandy Arnold and Cindy Bradford, mothers of DeAndre Arnold and Kaden Bradford, respectively. They filed the lawsuit against Barbers Hill Independent School District on behalf of their sons.

Also being sued are the superintendent, the deputy superintendent, and the trustees of the school. Also identified as defendants, were the principal and the assistant principals at the said school. Incidentally, the school district recently released a statement saying, the high school allows dreadlocks. However, it said, it is not allowing any action circumventing or violating the "the provision regarding the length of hair."

Also according to the statement which the school released, the American Constitution gives the school board the right, to enforce local community expectations, and the constant scholastic and extra-curricular achievements of Barbers Hill ISD, are a direct outcome "of our communities' high expectations."

Race and Gender Discrimination

The complaint, filed in the US District Court in Houston on Friday, "alleges race and gender discrimination." More so, the suit alleges that the "hair policy infringed" upon 18-year-old DeAndre and his 16-year-old cousin, Kaden's constitutional rights. When he was suspended in January, DeAndre was a senior student at the said school which is located in Mont Belvieu in southeast Texas. 

Also according to the Arnolds, the school told DeAndre, he would not be permitted to walk during the graduation ceremony unless he had his dreadlocks cut in order to meet the dress code of the school district. The teenager's story drew attention and overflowing support from the public which includes that from the popular host, Ellen DeGeneres's who, according to reports, even "surprised him on her show with a $20,000-scholarship."

Additionally, retired NBA star, Dwyane Wade and his wife, actress, Gabrielle Union, who p produced the award-winning short film, "Hair Love" invited DeAndre and his mom to the Oscars in February. They were seen attending the prestigious event.

Discrimination among Latinos

An article came out in 2017, presenting young American Latinos being reported with most discrimination. The said resource indicated that even though the US has seen a dramatic rise in Latin American and Mexican immigrants, specifically since 1970, a recent study by researchers from Penn State, is one of the few where alleged discrimination is assessed in the said populace.

Based on the findings in the said study, undocumented Latin American immigrants "are not the most likely population to report an experience of discrimination." Sociology and demography professors, Nancy Landale and Ralph Salvador Oropesa found that young Latino males who were born in the US reported experiencing the most discrimination both interpersonally and institutionally.

The results, Landale emphasized, "help us understand" the growing experience of the Latino population within the US, not to mention, "what it means to be an American." In addition, according to Landale, the results also "address what it means to feel excluded in the society," not to mention, to feel that essential opportunities are obstructed because of ethnicity or race.

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