Why Discriminate Against African-American Hairstyles?

The other day I was casually scrolling through Facebook when I saw an article about a high school, in the state of Kentucky, that discriminated against hair styles that are predominantly worn by African-American students.  Sigh......here we go with this issue again.

The Traditional school, as it is called in the school's title, explicitly stated that no "cornrolls", dreadlocks, large afros or braids would be allowed........apparently those types of hairstyles caused a distraction from learning.

Really? A distraction?  Who's distracted? Have complaints been made about a student's hairstyle?

I was really disappointed after reading the article.  What that school policy said to me was that any hairstyle worn by an African American is unacceptable, causes distractions and is not welcome in that Kentucky school. 

Isn't that sad?  Of all the so called "distractions" that take place on school campuses, on a daily basis, a person's hair is a major distraction.  That Kentucky school board is full of it and the board members who voted on this new school policy should be removed from their positions.  What are student's hairstyles distracting anyone from?  All the mandatory testing that goes on in our public schools? 

There are so many issues going on within our public schools such as:

• Students who can't read are being passed to the next grade and are often allowed to graduate.  
• Teachers salaries are being determined based off of the test scores of their students.
• Students aren't allowed to eat because they owe the school money or because they lost a textbook.
• Bullying 
• Inappropriate student/teacher relationships

Instead of trying to control how students look, try worrying about why he/she is getting ready to graduate when they can't even read.  Worry about why certain students don't have access to the internet, in order to complete homework assignments, when they leave school for the day.

There are so many other distractions that go on within our public schools, why are you focusing on hair?

Have You Thought About What You're Willing To Sacrifice To Chase Your Dreams? - Cierra Griffin

I spent about 1 to 2 hours in my office, trying to help a young man realize the necessity in chasing his dreams.

A lot of the students I assist on a daily basis are afraid to chase their dreams because of the environment they come from.  What do I mean when I say "Because of the environment they come from"? 

For example, he comes from a family that believes in working hard, on one man's job and then retiring from that job, but his interests are no where close to what his family wants him to do.  His family thinks he should go earn a degree so that he can be successful. 

Raise your hand if you believe that having a degree doesn't guarantee success.  A degree will get your resume reviewed.  A degree with some experience will get you an interview.  The technique you use to sell yourself will possibly get you the job. 

But what if you don't want a degree?  What if you don't want to work a regular 9 to 5?  What if you're a man, who wants to become a Fashion Stylist, but everyone looks at you and thinks that you should be playing football or basketball?

Ultimately, I told the young father (yes, he has a child) that he has to figure out what he's willing to sacrifice: Is he going to sacrifice his dreams and settle?  OR  Is he going to sacrifice his current, comfort situation?

He left my office thinking.  I could see the wheels spinning in his brain.

Knowledge Is Better Shared

The Civil Rights movement of the 1960s was very successful in that people of color were finally able to exercise their rights, as citizens of America, and have federal law backing us.  This movement opened so many doors, for all American citizens, moving forward, and I appreciate every drop of blood, sweat and every tear that was shed during that time.  Because of the selfless human beings who marched for me to have the rights I have today, I can be great and enjoy the fruits of their labor and suffering.  However, somewhere along the way I think the ball was dropped as far as continuing to educate the next generation on the importance of the movement and staying involved.

I believe that education is the key to any and everything that humans do.  For example, if you've never purchased a home before, you're more than likely going to educate yourself on how the process works so that you have a better understanding of what you're getting yourself into.  Likewise, people of color, especially those of us who have African ancestors, should be knowledgeable about the struggle of the movement so that we could understand how to successfully get past things that are currently happening in America.  I believe that those who fought for my civil rights did a courageous thing, but I don't feel that the later generations have been educated enough about what happened back in the 40s, 50s, and 60s.

What I think has happened is that now there are millions of people of color, who have "made it" and now they do not want to risk their positions, their money, their accomplishments, to walk this road that has come into view yet again.  It's as if people have said, "I've got mine, now you get yours."  The knowledge and understanding activists had then, has not been transferred to us now.  Don't get me wrong, we have activists here and there, but I believe that there are so many who are missing the message.  I believe there are so many people who are uneducated about what's going on in the world and I think it's because the first generation did not properly, successfully educate the next generation.

The Cops Think I'm JUST ANOTHER N*GGER - Regardless of my educational background........

This post isn't necessarily about education, but I hope to tie it in.

In the past 2 or 3 days, a person of color, a black person was killed by a police officer.  One of the gentlemen was killed while restrained by officers, for apparently selling compact discs at a gas station.  The second gentleman was killed as he reached for his wallet to get his driver's license, which the offer had told him to do.  There are many things that can be said about a man selling cds, at a gas station, but nothing can explain why a trained officer killed him.  The second man, what can be said about his situation?  He was a law abiding citizen, he was obeying the officer's order to retrieve his license.  He didn't have a criminal record.  He was complying to the orders of the cop.  He was a hard worker.  Yet, he was still murdered, in cold blood, in front of his fiancee and a 4 year old child.  Again, I say, damned if we do, and damned if we don't.

I recently posted my first live feed on Facebook and I was doing it because I was in another city, on vacation, taking an early morning stroll and I didn't want to come in contact with a trigger happy police.  In my video I discussed the fact that I'm highly educated, because of my bachelor's and master's degrees, but regardless of the degrees I earned, when a cop sees me, all he sees is the color of my skin and that's enough to make him kill me or rape me or both.

I listed to Ms. Castile's interview on CNN and she discussed how she taught her children to respond to the police; she taught them well, but well wasn't enough to keep her son alive when he encountered a trigger happy cop.  So what do we tell our youth?!  I work with children of color every day, I constantly push education on them, but what's the point when I know that they're not safe outside of the classroom? 

As a group of people, people of color, especially people who look like me, we can never catch a break; NO matter what we do.  You can have money, but if the cops don't know who you are, to them you are just another n*gger.  You can be a professor at Harvard or Yale, but to the cops you are just another n*gger.  You can be a hard working, public school cafeteria supervisor, with a concealed carry permit, but to the cops, you are just another N*GGER! 

Our justice system needs an overhaul, the cops need better training and cops who break the law need to be punished accordingly........because I'm tired of being JUST ANOTHER N*GGER.

Students: Worry about YOUR education, not your friends, they have parents for that.

I had one situation where I was signing students up for their fall classes and two of those students were best friends, who wanted to sign up for the same classes, so that they could kick it together, you know.  Well, one of the students did not test well, so this student could only take two classes, while the best friend had the option of taking a variety of classes.  Now, in my mind, I'm thinking that the friend who could take whatever, would do just that, but in an effort to make the other friend happy, this student limited the amount classes they would take in order to be with the best friend.  As an educator, I was completely shocked and I did everything possible to try and get this student to reconsider, but nothing worked and they still have the same schedules.

I wanted the student to understand that sometimes you can't help another person get on your level, but that doesn't mean you have to get on their level, let them worry about their academics and you worry about yours. I asked the student this question, "If you were accepted into Yale and your friend was accepted to the local community college, would you stay behind to make that friend feel better about their academic situation or would you go on and handle your business?"  The student's eyes grew wide and I could tell they understood where I was coming from. 

Students, just because your friend can't take AP Chemistry with you doesn't mean that you shouldn't take it. It doesn't make you less of a friend because you're on another academic level than your friend is and if they truly are your friend, they wouldn't care that you're in honors and they're not. 

Too Much Parent Pressure

This weekend I read an article about a young lady who was a high achiever at her boarding school in California.  After graduating high school she enrolled at Columbia University and she became overwhelmed with the expectations of others thrust upon her, so after a couple semesters at school, she decided to quit and start all over again.  The young lady stated that she was no longer inspired, therefore she took matters into her own hands and decided to live the life she wanted.

I'm sure you've heard of the phrase "Peer Pressure", where people your age pressure you to do things that you normally wouldn't do; it's not always dangerous, but it's almost never a good idea.  Pressure to do things that we normally wouldn't do doesn't always come from our peers, for students who are considered high achievers, their pressure comes from their parents.  Additionally, there are some students who fall into the average category, but their parents seem to think that the student can do more, therefore they push those students to the limit, not realizing the negative effect it's having on the student.

I often deal with parents who put extreme pressure on their high school students, not really focused on what the student wants or what the student thinks they can do, instead, it's almost like the parent is trying live through the student.  As I interact with these types of parents my focus instantly goes to the student who is visibly and sometimes audibly upset that their parents are making them do extra work on top of the work they already have to do at the high school.  On the one hand, I understand that the parents want their child to be successful, I applaud the efforts that these parents are making by being involved in the child's academics.  On the other hand, parents have to listen to that child, especially if the student is saying that they can't live up to your expectations. 

There is a balance that needs to be paid close attention to. If you push a student too hard while they are still in high school, once they graduate they may fall off the grid and live a life that is carefree.  However, if you don't push a student enough, they may feel like being mediocre is OK, when really mediocrity can only get them so far in life.  It all goes back to paying attention to the student.  If a student has performed as an average student, doing just enough to get by, push them a little, but don't make them feel overwhelmed.  Also, if you've allowed the student to perform at the average level in the beginning, don't expect much change from them in the end, unless the student is ready for change.

Parents, if you're going to push a student to perform at the highest level, make sure you start them early (i.e. elementary school); waiting until they reach high school to push them is setting yourself up for some resistance.  Be sure to pay attention to what they're good at; if the student can excel in one area, push that area and introduce areas that need improvement along the way.

The key thing to remember here is that too much pressure from parents can cause students to explode once they break free from your grip.

Teachers: You Are the ADULT

This is a public service announcement: Teachers STOP trying to pacify a student's every need.
I REPEAT: Teachers STOP IT.

Parents are doing it enough these days, giving their children everything they want and when the child can't have their way, they throw a tantrum.

Note to parents and teachers: Ms. Griffin will not tolerate that behavior.

Don't be afraid of students, their children, although the food today makes them grow at extremely alarming rates, they are still children and I will treat them as such.

What ever happened to students being told what to do and they did it?

I had a teacher named Ms. Lois Jones, when I came to class, that room belonged to her, not me or my classmates or my mama - it belonged to Ms. Jones.  That's it, that's all. 

Now-a-days, students run the show, at school and at home (say what?!), yes, it's either the student's way or the highway. 

I was brought up in the old school, which means I like things done the old way.  Students will RESPECK me, in fact I demand it.  If I say no, after I've explained the situation, that's the end of the conversation - NEXT!  If I say no and the student decides to go find somebody else to help their cause, they wasted their time and that person's time.  A lot of new school teachers don't think this way and for the ones who do THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.

Students need to understand how the "real world" works and the only place in the real world where you can have things your way is McDonald's *insert side eye*.  I wish I might have tried to go over my military supervisor's head after he told me no, I would have found myself in the office of the commander watching him type my Letter of Counseling (LOC) (it's not good).

Students have this sense of entitlement, they have to have things their way, but if we allow them to keep this way of thinking they're going to go out into the world and get slapped in the face with some reality.