Why Was An African American Student Expelled From Her School?

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

African American student Faith Fennedy was expelled from her Catholic school because of the style of her hair? The 11-year-old girl left her class crying after school principals told her that her hairstyle - short braids - violated her school code. A video of the girl crying heartbrokenly while packing her belongings and leaving school has gone viral on social media and has caused outrage.

"They told him not to come back," Faith's family lawyer, Inem O'Boyle, told the New York Times about school authorities. O'Boyle said that at the beginning of the school year, on August 9, the administrators of the school told Faith that her hairstyle was not suitable, so the family paid a considerable sum to a stylist to have it changed.

Upon returning to school Monday with her braids, she was told that her hairstyle was still not acceptable. The Facebook video was posted by Steven Fennidy, who identified himself as his brother, described the incident, recounting that his sister had worn hairstyles similar to that same school the past two years without retaliation.

“This summer the school has sneakily added to its policy that extensions, clip ins and weaves are prohibited… extensions make it easier to maintain your hair. They allow my sister to swim in pools without having to straighten her hair every night,”wrote Steven. "How do you create a policy without having a discussion about it? It is because they do not care and it is one more barrier for black people to attend. This decision will affect more black than white children. This is all very sad."

Faith's mother, Montrelle Fennidy, told NOLA.com that Faith will no longer study at school and the family is looking for another college for her.