It's the small things

[xp_spectrum]

I know it's not a big deal in the scale of things, with an orange psycho running for President and the only viable option a white lady who thinks all black youths are criminals, not to mention the airplay the FoH are getting lately... but I saw this piece in the NY Times today, and I just can't deal. It's just so fucking racist, and odds are your average Kentucky family wouldn't even realise what the issue is.

From the "personal grooming" standards:

Hair styles that are extreme, distracting, or attention getting will not be permitted. No dreadlocks, cornrows, twists, mohawks, and no jewelry will be worn in hair... No male may dye, tint, or highlight his hair in any way... [No] afros more than two inches in length.

The only hair styles that AREN'T banned are your basic white styles. Black folks, as well as anyone else with non-white hair either has to buzz it down or pay for straightening. More financial burden on families that statistically get fucked over most of the time any way.

Anywhere REASONABLE, this would be against anti-discrimination law. Not in the good old U.S. of A.

Comments

[xp-echo.livejournal.com]

In before someone tries to defend that as 'good policy'

[xp-darcy.livejournal.com]

I can understand parts of it? No jewelry/ornaments other than regular hair baubles in case some asshole student decides to cut it out or yank it until they pull a chunk of someone's hair out. No "unnatural" colors because of some nebulous "you won't be able to wear it once you're working a REAL JOB, probably" bullshit. I can maybe see limiting hair height, if only because it can be really hard to see around someone with hair that's taller than their head? The no dye restrictions for males only is... really arbitrary and weird. And no locks/rows/twists is just stupid.

[xp-echo.livejournal.com]

How about people just stop trying to control kids via arbitrary 'rules' and start teaching them things like ethics and real stuff.

How we dress and our hair matters in non-white cultures. They need to step off.

[xp-darcy.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's totally stupid and not something I'm a fan of, although I forgot to explicitly mention that. But I can understand those three sections in current climate while still thinking they're ridiculous and that people should be educated to not judge what's visible/act like assholes because someone does something different than them/etc.

[xp-echo.livejournal.com]

See, I know you aren't some dumbass adult who never thinks, so I'm not gonna get up in your face.

I will explain why this sort of stuff and why what you're saying, while sounding all reasonable, makes me want to punch stuff.

I'm probably gonna be insulting a little, but well, I'm me.

You talk about 'the current climate' and about 'understanding' like people behaving like this is a reasoned and rational response. It's not.

I get that you understand that it's stupid but you saying that doesn't mean anything while you're also saying that you understand why they did this.

What they're doing isn't to be understood, it's to be condemned without quarter.

What was that old white guy saying? If you give up freedom due to fear you deserve what you get? Something like that.

It doesn't stop with this stuff. And people go on about how it's all understandable because they're afraid, and hey, it's only hair and clothes and while that's stupid, they're not locking anyone up for being purple, right?

That's where it starts. That's where it always starts and soon enough you have people taking away kids from parents so they can be 'taught' to be normal and it never ends. It never does.

But hey, it's 'understandable' in the 'current climate'.

[xp-darcy.livejournal.com]

You're right, that was dumb of me. Always feel free to bop me on the nose if I fuck shit up, and I'll think about it and get back to you with my thoughts, k?

[xp-echo.livejournal.com]

It's okay, like I said - I know you weren't coming from a stupid place.

I'll try not to be an asshat about it. If you get me on a bad day, I might be obnoxious about it. Just let me know I'm being one.

[xp-darcy.livejournal.com]

Eh, sometimes I need a firm verbal smack to the face, but I'll let you know if you really cross a line with me.

[x-wildchild.livejournal.com]

Man and that didn't even cover the "what if your kid's natural hair color is actually teal" thing with mutants.

[xp_spectrum]

Yeah, obviously black people are scary enough without factoring mutancy into the whole mix. My bet is that if you're an obvious mutant, you don't go to that school. Or possibly any Kentucky school.