Is a hairstyle a good reason to exclude a young person from an important day in their life? This school seems to think that the answer is yes.

Like most high school kids, Kienjanae “KJ” Hooper has had to put up with a lot in 2020.

Of course, everyone has a stressful time in their final year of high school. But most of us did not have to deal with a deadly pandemic that has massively restricted and reshaped society as we know it.

Despite the unique challenges of this year, KJ studied hard and excelled in her exams.

In fact, she has earned straight A’s all year. She has a bright future ahead of her. Thanks to the Ronald McDonald House, she has been given a college scholarship. She hopes to become a nurse.

Luckily, in spite of the pandemic, Gladewater High School in Texas, KJ’s school, was able to organize a socially distanced graduation ceremony.

After so many months cooped up at home, KJ was looking forward to seeing all of her friends and classmates at the graduation ceremony, even if she would have to stay six feet away from them. She realized that it would probably be the last time that she saw some of the people she had known for so many years. Then the school principal told her something shocking.

Just four days before the graduation ceremony, the school principal, Cathy Bedair, called up KJ’s home with some devastating news. KJ, who had worked so hard, would not be allowed to attend the graduation ceremony.

KJ and her mother were confused. At first, they thought that the event had been canceled due to coronavirus. But that wasn’t the case.

Instead, the principal explained that KJ was the only student in the school that couldn’t attend due to her braided hair.

Not only was the news shocking, but it was terribly timed. KJ had had braided hair throughout her time at the school. Only now, just four days away from the ceremony, was the school principal bringing up an issue with it.

KJ’s mom, Kieana, was so disgusted that she decided to contact a lawyer.

The lawyer was similarly shocked and tried to get the school to see sense. Then the principal started to change her tune.

The school’s attorney said that the principal had made a different request all along.

Instead of complaining about the braids, the attorney claimed that the principal had refused to allow KJ to graduate because her hair was dyed a non-natural color.

Firstly, KJ and her mom were adamant that the principal had not said this. Secondly, the mother and daughter still could not understand why hair color was important. KJ was a star student. And they were denying her entry to their graduation ceremony over braids/hair color?

After all of this stress, the school made a pathetic attempt at compromise.

The principal then said that KJ could graduate, as long as she covered her hair with a cap. KJ and her mother refused this offer. Her hair was nothing to be ashamed of. Why should KJ cover up because of some rule that had been made up just days before graduation?

When graduation day came around, KJ arrived at the school. Her hair was still braided and was still dyed. And it was on full display.

No one stopped her from graduating. And despite her hair, the world did not end.

It’s crazy to think that the principal would act like this to any student, let alone a straight-A student. Surely, four days before a graduation ceremony in the middle of a pandemic, the principal had more important things to be worrying about than KJ’s hair?

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: Today, Kieana Hooper