Florida High School Student Refused to Cut His Locs Before Graduation, Walks The Stage
A Texas teen almost choose between his hair and wearing a cap and gown walked across the stage last weekend. Latrenda Rush said she was “taken back” when Jacob’s application to walk in the school’s graduation ceremony was rejected in March. The mother blasted the school online and launched an online petition calling for the school to change the policy.
Jacob who’s a straight-A student received an associate’s degree in biology one week before his high school graduation. The scholar mother homeschooled him for several years, but the teen chose to complete Abeka’s virtual program because it offered students the option to march across the stage. Jacob told Atlanta Black Star that he wanted to celebrate “how much work he put into” achieving his goals.
“It was a lot of sacrifice for him for the whole family. Homeschooling is not a walk in the park,” Latrenda Rush told the news station, who had a long career as teacher. “So, to remove our mindset and public schools to homeschooling and choose this particular program and do the work that was required, I think that that’s his reward — being able to march.”
The family’s attorney, Sue-Ann Robinson, said the school’s policy was a “blatant example of hair discrimination” against students with textured hair Abeka’s previous policy required male students to have tapered hair that didn’t come over the ears, eyebrows, or collar. The policy also barred braids, locs, buns and ponytails. Robinson sent a letter to the school demanding policy be changed.
“There are systems still in place that discriminate against African-Americans every day and attempt to strip away at our right to exist,” Robinson told Atlanta Black Star. “The Crown Act and standing up for an amazing student like Jacob is how we fight back.”
“I am glad Jacob will be able to show up as his whole self for this milestone, and it is my honor to attend and celebrate this achievement with him and his family.”
Jacob is now planning on working as a registered dental assistant for the summer before starting college classes in the fall. Jacob plans to become an anesthesiologist, but hasn’t decided which school he will attend.
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