Dear Ms. Wade, I am deeply hurt and saddened by this news. (If, in fact, it has been reported in error, then I will stand aside.) As a former student, I have worn the maligned "flamboyant" and "distracting" hairstyle many times over the last two decades, while in the "real world." I have since moved on to nappier, kinkier hairstyling. My choice of hairstyle has never inhibited me from achieving opportunities that I desire or restricted my life in any way. As I’ve journeyed through life, I have found that the majority of the times, the people who are most offended and distracted by nappy/kinky/curly hairstyles, are people of colour themselves. We must guard against that inner demon, seeded by colonialism and watered by racism. As black girls and women, our hair IS beautiful, just because it exists. Just because it grows out of our head in a natural, organic way. Sincerely, Marille.
S
shauna
11 years ago
Utter Nonsense- allow our black girls to express themselves and appreciate their race.
J
Jaden Thompson
11 years ago
I believe that there is nothing wrong with young ladies wanting to have their hair natural and wearing twists outs. Hair shouldn't define a child's education its just another factor of their personality. In reference to what my friend said....."remember animal farm?"....this is only to show you how we as black people like to change our race instead of embracing it. This only goes to show that we are the ones who will cause the destruction of our race. We must learn to embrace our African roots instead of trying to get rid if it.
J
Jaden Thompson
11 years ago
I believe that there is nothing wrong with young ladies wanting to have their hair natural and wearing twists outs. Hair shouldn't define a child's education its just another factor of their personality. In reference to what my friend said....."remember animal farm?"....this is only to show you how we as black people like to change our race instead of embracing it. This only goes to show that we are the ones who will cause the destruction of our race. We must learn to embrace our African roots instead of trying to get rid if it.
S
Shari Bynoe-Walcott
11 years ago
never would i have imagined that in 2015 young girls wearing natural hairstyles would be seen an an issue...
M
Melanie Watts
11 years ago
"Don't remove the kinks from your hair. Remove them from your brain"
J
Jared Holder
11 years ago
This exemplifies the negative perception of natural black hair in our predominantly BLACK society at large. Please be the change instead of propagating the problem to the next generation.
S
Simone Nurse
11 years ago
I choose to wear my hair relaxed as it's more convenient for me but I applaud the ladies who go the natural route. Although I believe you should be neat and tidy in uniform, I don't think that these ladies are in breech of this.
K
Kerry Ann Waithe
11 years ago
Decisions like this perpetuate an attitude of self loathing among black females, and threatens to thwart any progress in the fight to see our true selves as collectively beautiful. I hope that we who are at the vanguard of this revolution will not stand aside and allow it to be aborted at this late fetal stage. We come a long way, but we have even further to go.
J
Jason Lewis
11 years ago
This is nonsense !! Aren't there more important issues at the school !
L
Lesley Greig
11 years ago
Featured
When I was at school there, I don't recall students of any race being challenged about untidy natural hair... why this? why now? This is deeply disturbing. It is not what the Kolij legacy is even remotely about. I trust we are not witnessing an attempt to inflict one generation's self image issues on another...
A
Allison Burnham
11 years ago
Featured
Why is it distracting for black girls to wear their hair naturally? Especially in a country that is predominantly black? No.We have to do better than this. Stop making out black girls feel like they have to change themselves in order it fit into society, especially their own society.
C
Charmaine Walters-Burke
11 years ago
While natural hair is not personally for me, I admire those ladies who wear it well. This is utterly ridiculous.
Not only does this ruling unfairly target a certain hairstyle it sends a derogatory message to all students at Harrison College about black hair. It encourages female and male students alike to look down on natural, black styles and stigmatizes female students of African ancestry. I hope this is just the beginning of an ongoing conversation among current and past students about changing norms in image and self esteem.
A
Amber Stone
11 years ago
Utter nonsense! Shame on you!
R
Risée Chaderton
11 years ago
Our hair is beautiful and black girls should be able to wash n' go just like girls with naturally straight hair.
D
Donna Springer
11 years ago
Totally ridiculous.
J
Joyce-Elena Browne
11 years ago
That is clearly unfair.
B
Bernard Williams
11 years ago
That decision is more a step backward than anything. Encouraging individuality, proper expression of oneself and an open-mindedness does not diminish or tarnish the effects of academic performance. It actually enhances it. That's how leaders are created. The challenge lies in actually changing the mindset of the student towards this point.
Dear Ms. Wade, I am deeply hurt and saddened by this news. (If, in fact, it has been reported in error, then I will stand aside.) As a former student, I have worn the maligned "flamboyant" and "distracting" hairstyle many times over the last two decades, while in the "real world." I have since moved on to nappier, kinkier hairstyling. My choice of hairstyle has never inhibited me from achieving opportunities that I desire or restricted my life in any way. As I’ve journeyed through life, I have found that the majority of the times, the people who are most offended and distracted by nappy/kinky/curly hairstyles, are people of colour themselves. We must guard against that inner demon, seeded by colonialism and watered by racism. As black girls and women, our hair IS beautiful, just because it exists. Just because it grows out of our head in a natural, organic way. Sincerely, Marille.
Utter Nonsense- allow our black girls to express themselves and appreciate their race.
I believe that there is nothing wrong with young ladies wanting to have their hair natural and wearing twists outs. Hair shouldn't define a child's education its just another factor of their personality. In reference to what my friend said....."remember animal farm?"....this is only to show you how we as black people like to change our race instead of embracing it. This only goes to show that we are the ones who will cause the destruction of our race. We must learn to embrace our African roots instead of trying to get rid if it.
I believe that there is nothing wrong with young ladies wanting to have their hair natural and wearing twists outs. Hair shouldn't define a child's education its just another factor of their personality. In reference to what my friend said....."remember animal farm?"....this is only to show you how we as black people like to change our race instead of embracing it. This only goes to show that we are the ones who will cause the destruction of our race. We must learn to embrace our African roots instead of trying to get rid if it.
never would i have imagined that in 2015 young girls wearing natural hairstyles would be seen an an issue...
"Don't remove the kinks from your hair. Remove them from your brain"
This exemplifies the negative perception of natural black hair in our predominantly BLACK society at large. Please be the change instead of propagating the problem to the next generation.
I choose to wear my hair relaxed as it's more convenient for me but I applaud the ladies who go the natural route. Although I believe you should be neat and tidy in uniform, I don't think that these ladies are in breech of this.
Decisions like this perpetuate an attitude of self loathing among black females, and threatens to thwart any progress in the fight to see our true selves as collectively beautiful. I hope that we who are at the vanguard of this revolution will not stand aside and allow it to be aborted at this late fetal stage. We come a long way, but we have even further to go.
This is nonsense !! Aren't there more important issues at the school !
When I was at school there, I don't recall students of any race being challenged about untidy natural hair... why this? why now? This is deeply disturbing. It is not what the Kolij legacy is even remotely about. I trust we are not witnessing an attempt to inflict one generation's self image issues on another...
Why is it distracting for black girls to wear their hair naturally? Especially in a country that is predominantly black? No.We have to do better than this. Stop making out black girls feel like they have to change themselves in order it fit into society, especially their own society.
While natural hair is not personally for me, I admire those ladies who wear it well. This is utterly ridiculous.
[email protected]
Not only does this ruling unfairly target a certain hairstyle it sends a derogatory message to all students at Harrison College about black hair. It encourages female and male students alike to look down on natural, black styles and stigmatizes female students of African ancestry. I hope this is just the beginning of an ongoing conversation among current and past students about changing norms in image and self esteem.
Utter nonsense! Shame on you!
Our hair is beautiful and black girls should be able to wash n' go just like girls with naturally straight hair.
Totally ridiculous.
That is clearly unfair.
That decision is more a step backward than anything. Encouraging individuality, proper expression of oneself and an open-mindedness does not diminish or tarnish the effects of academic performance. It actually enhances it. That's how leaders are created. The challenge lies in actually changing the mindset of the student towards this point.