Steven Evergreen Fennidy/FacebookA New Orleans Catholic school has entered a heated race debate after a video was posted on social media showing a schoolgirl walking out in tears, because her hair broke their recently changed rules.
Sixth-grader, Faith Fennidy, was told her hair violated school policy and led to thousands of angry and puzzled comments online.
Christ the King Middle School, Louisiana, has been accused of racism by many, including social activist Shaun King and rapper T.I. on Instagram
Faith’s brother, Steven, posted the video on Facebook, showing her looking dejected as she exited the school.
Steven’s post was captioned:
I hate that I have to post this. But this just isn’t right. This is an issue we tried to resolve with the school, but they won’t compromise at all.
My sister Faith and many little black girls wear extensions. She’s been attending this school for two years and wearing extensions.
Over the summer the school has sneakily added in a policy, that no extensions, clip-ins or weaves are allowed. Faith got a notice on the first day of class and it’s ridiculous that these schools that we are PAYING for, will go in and make policies without consulting or trying to figure out how this will affect your life or your child’s life.
Extensions make the hair easier to maintain. It allows my sister to have access to the swimming pool without having to get her hair Re-done every night.
How do you make a policy without even having a discussion. It’s because you don’t care and it’s just one more barrier to entry for black people. This decision is going to affect black children more than white children. Please share this video.
I hate that I have to post this. But this just isn’t right. This is an issue we tried to resolve with the school, but they won’t compromise at all. My sister Faith and many little black girls wear extensions. She’s been attending this school for two years and wearing extensions. Over the summer the school has sneakily added in a policy, that no extensions, clip-ins or weaves are allowed. Faith got a notice on the first day of class and it’s ridiculous that these schools that we are PAYING for, will go in and make policies without consulting or trying to figure out how this will affect your life or your child’s life. Extensions make the hair easier to maintain. It allows my sister to have access to the swimming pool without having to get her hair Re-done every night. How do you make a policy without even having a discussion. It’s because you don’t care and it’s just one more barrier to entry for black people. This decision is going to affect black children more than white children. Please share this video. All the principal could say was, “They’re swinging it and things like that…” My entire middle and high school career I was in private school I sat behind a million white girls who would play in their hair. Re-do their pony tails a million times a day. Nothing was ever said. She kept saying the issue is it’s not their natural hair. It’s a style that we are not allowing. It’s not uniform. WOW. This is Christ The King Middle School in Gretna, Louisiana. This has all just been very upsetting.
Posted by Steven Evergreen Fennidy on Monday, 20 August 2018
The New York Post reports the family told WWL-TV they are considering a discrimination lawsuit.
Archdiocese of New Orleans Schools, Superintendent Dr. RaeNell Houston, said in a statement to media:
This policy was communicated to all parents during the summer and again before the first day of school.
Furthermore, the school leadership worked with families as needed to ensure compliance.
T.I. captioned his response to the school’s ‘deplorable’ behaviour with some advice:
Please Just know the world is full of ignorant,hateful, insecure, inferior, demonic assh*les. They want nothing more than to block your blessings by creating doubt in your minds, fueled by the false illusion of you not being good enough. [sic]
But DONT BELIEVE THAT BULLSH*T!!!! YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH-nah BETTER THAN ANYBODY WHO TRIES TO MAKE YOU FEEL OTHERWISE. F*CK EM F*CK EM F*CK EM ALL!!! and tell em TIP said that… not TI!!!! Parents Please let me know if there’s ANY WAY POSSIBLE for me to be helpful. [sic]
One adult can be heard saying she ‘doesn’t want this to happen’ in the background of the video while another man can be hear saying, ‘Yes you do’.
We just hope Faith can return to school and continue her education as quickly and seamlessly as possible with whatever hairstyle is best for her.
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Tim Horner is a sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated with a BA Journalism from University College Falmouth before most his colleagues were born. A previous editor of adult mags, he now enjoys bringing the tone down in the viral news sector.