NAACP asks Philadelphia school to end ban on 'big Afros,' dreadlocks

The NAACP called out the Christian school, saying policies based on a person's hairstyle or texture disproportionately impact Black people.

The NAACP's Legal Defense Fund has asked Cedar Grove Christian Academy in Philadelphia to end its long-standing ban on students wearing big Afros and dreadlocks. 

The NAACP-LDF says that such bans constitute as natural hair discrimination and enforcing the ban would violate state and federal laws. 

According to a copy of the school's student handbook, boys' hair "must be neat, clean, and well groomed in style. Hair should be off the ears, clean around the collar, and may not hang below the eyebrows when in a natural position. No tails, unnatural hair colors, big Afros, dreadlocks, or punk styles. Cornrows are acceptable if kept short with no more than one-inch long braids at the end of the cornrow."

The school says that violations of the school's dress code are met with warnings at first, but subsequent violations could result in disciplinary actions. 

"Penalty may include: loss of informal dress privileges, demerits, or loss of admittance to class," the school's student handbook says.