There have been a number of reports in the news lately of school or school sports “policy” concerning Black people’s hair. There were girls crying because school officials wouldn’t allow her dreadlocks. Recently, there was the young man who wouldn’t be allowed to wrestle in his school match unless he cut off his hair. Now, there’s a young boy, only 5-yeas-old, who’s being singled out for his seemingly common haircut.
The boy, Josiah Sharpe’s mother Danica is upset that Summerhill Primary Academy in Tipton, deemed her five-year-old son’s hairstyle as an “extreme” haircut that goes against the school’s hair policy.
But looking at the handsome young man’s hair, there is little to find anything wrong with it that you don’t see walking down the street.
Furthermore, the mother explains that Josiah has the back and sides of his hair shaved in a ‘skin fade style’, which his mother, Danica, said helps hide his traction alopecia.
Traction alopecia is a form of alopecia, or gradual hair loss, caused primarily by pulling force being applied to the hair. This commonly results from the sufferer frequently wearing their hair in a particularly tight ponytail, pigtails, or braids. It can also occur when tight headwear is used in the same way every day.
Repeated strain on the hair follicles can pull out strands of hair and even damage the follicles. This causes redness, itching, and even pus-producing ulcers or infections.
“I spoke to the teacher about it, I’m a hairdresser,” she said. “I offered to give a presentation so they can understand, it’s not being rebellious, extreme or fashion, it’s literally how black boys with Afro hair have wore their hair for centuries to look neat. The Head said the policy is not changing and so far has refused to meet with me.”
Kerry Rochester, the school’s headteacher said students are prohibited from wearing “hairstyles that will detract from learning.”
The policy states the hair should be a “satisfactory” length. Until the boy’s hair is cut, he has lost his playtime.
Danica calls the school’s policy “harsh” and e policy was “culturally biased” and she said the school is “dictating a hairstyle that’s not suitable”.
“The hair policy lacks cultural awareness as a grade two haircut is not fair for Josiah’s type of hair and others from different racial backgrounds,” said Danica who is a hair stylist.
“When he first started there, I did try a grade two haircut but within three days, it had started to grow out and it looked a total mess.
“In the Afro-Caribbean community, if a boy’s hair is not long and plaited, or put in dreadlocks, we are expected to cut the hair very short for a smart tidy appearance. It’s not a fashion statement, in our culture hair at a grade two or three is regarded outgrown and untidy for a curly/coiled hair type,” she says to Birmingham Live.
“If you put a Caucasian grade two haircut and an Afro-Caribbean grade two haircut side by side, you will get two very different appearance which will become even more evident as it grows.”
“He’s been having this haircut since he was one. The only time the school had said anything about it previously was when he was in reception and he had a patch on the back of his head…I’ve explained it all to Josiah but he’s confused about why he’s being singled out.”
“I’ve told him he can grow his hair out and put it in plaits but…
…he wants to keep it how it is.”
Rochester disagreed that the policy was racist saying it was “inclusive for all children” and it does not “discriminates against an individual child or racial background.”
She continued: The policy states ‘shaved heads or hairstyles that are deemed by the school to be extreme, are not acceptable’ and ‘hair should be no shorter than ‘number two’ length.
“Unfortunately, Josiah’s hair has been styled in line with what we understand to be the ‘skin fade’ style. His hair is tapered around the back and sides to what is known as ‘zero fade’ or ‘bald fade’.
“Therefore, the manner in which Josiah’s hair is styled falls below the grade two length as set out in our policy.”
“The school has tried to work with the family to fully explain the school rules to date and why the style is deemed to be extreme. The family has had, in accordance with the school’s complaints policy, opportunities to state their concerns, both in writing and via a meeting,” she said.
“Responses have been provided to the family at each stage of the complaints process, and it’s unfortunate the family have taken this approach before the internal processes have been exhausted.
Rochester doesn’t believe in the boy’s condition.
Signs of traction alopecia include:
– a receding hairline typically around the forehead, temples, or nape
– small pimples appear on the scalp or at the base of braids
– redness, itching, and ulcers on the scalp
– the hair parting widens
– patches of thin or broken hair in places where the hair has been under strain
– patches of shiny, scarred skin in more advanced cases
This form of hair loss is different from others, such as alopecia areata, alopecia universalis, and male or female pattern baldness, which are caused by genetic or immune factors.
“The school has no record of any medical conditions the child suffers from, on medical forms provided by the parents, however as with other children in our school, when presented with medical information we are more than happy to work with parents to discuss amendments to policy, if this is deemed necessary and appropriate.
“We take our school policies and rules extremely seriously and impress the importance of both within our school community.
“Unfortunately, if the family continue to ignore the school rules then appropriate sanctions have to be made.
“Failure to implement the rules would be deemed unfair by the vast majority of parents and children who adhere to the school policy.”