Texas Trial to Determine School's Punishment of Black Student Over Hair Violates CROWN Act

A trial is underway to determine if a Black high school student in Texas can be punished for refusing to change his hairstyle, which he and his family argue is protected by the CROWN Act, a new state law prohibiting race-based hair discrimination. The student's long hair, worn in tied and twisted locs, violates the school district's dress code policy, leading to months of punishment. The district claims the policy does not violate the CROWN Act, while the student's attorney argues that the law protects hair length as many of the hairstyles it covers require long hair. The student's family has also filed complaints and a federal civil rights lawsuit, alleging failure to enforce the CROWN Act.