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A Black student in Wilson County Schools was told her grey headband with pink flowers violated the dress code. When questioned, the principal cited “any other head covering,” but couldn’t explain how it differed from the hair ties, barrettes, headbands and bobby pins worn by countless other students (and teachers) throughout the district with no consequence.
When I asked if the headband impacted her learning, administrators acknowledged it hadn’t. Her work, participation and engagement were all fine.
Black students receive dress
code violations at significantly higher rates than white peers for wearing identical things, whether it be clothing or hair-management tools. Vague policies create space for subjective interpretation, and subjective interpretation filtered through our biases produces enforcement that falls harder on students of color.
Well-meaning people can enforce discrimination without recognizing it as such. But that doesn’t make it less discriminatory. When Black families speak up about these patterns, the response is predictable: deflection and questions like “Why does it always come back to race?”
Districts nationwide need to ask themselves, “What real educational problem is being solved by scrutinizing Black students’ hair?”
District policies need to be specific enough to eliminate subjective enforcement.
I escalated this incident with Wilson County Director of Schools Travis Mayfield, who had already been made aware of it before I reached out to him. I appreciated his prompt response and the commitments he promised me.
But commitments to discuss the issue with the board and talk to principals are not the same as accountability or implementation. Conversations are easy. Follow-through is hard.
How many more Black students will be pulled aside for dress code violations? How many will internalize the message that their appearance is a problem? How many will wonder if they belong?
I want to challenge Wilson County Schools, and every district in this nation. Audit your dress code policies for racial disparities. Eliminate vague language like "any other head covering."
Replace subjective standards with objective ones. Hold administrators accountable for enforcing rules equally. And do it now, not after the next meeting, not after the board discusses it.
The cost of all of this is falling on Black students. Children. Their sense of belonging, their confidence, their ability to simply exist without being policed.
Address it. Now.
Kate Cortelyou, Hermitage, TN 37076
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Wilson County cited a Black student over a headband. Why? | Letters
