Student’s Afro Puffs Draws Unwanted Attention, Criticism from School Principal

_88318515_12631566_10156596855705220_8958788548077021110_nTayjha Deleveaux is a student at the CR Walker Senior High School in the Bahamas. Earlier this month, she went to school with an “Afro puff” that made administrators threaten punishment if she did not “clean” up her “untidy” hairstyle.

According to principal T. Nicola McKay, she was trying to clamp down on students wearing their hair in a way that “looks like it would not have been combed for days.”

The school system responded to the incident in a Facebook post:

“We are fully cognizant of the sensitivity of this matter and are confident that after review with the school administrator, the school board and the individuals involved, the matter will be amicably resolved.”

Many have taken the side of the school and have stated that the school’s dress code prohibits natural hairstyles. Many believe the school system is extremely strict about students appearance. Tayjha’s mother wrote a Facebook post in support of her daughter and to repudiate the school.

Tayjha Deleveaux

Grade 11 Student Council Representative

Key Club Sergeant at Arms

Junior Achievers Assistant VP of Finance (NIB Company)

Teachers Cadets member

7 BJCs

First Class Pass in Pitman bookkeeping and accounts exams.

Recommended to sit her Accounts exam in 11th grade because she is a straight A student!

AND EVERY FIBRE OF MY BEING TELLS ME THAT SHE IS ON THAT PREFECT LIST!

Never received a parent teacher conference until now and for her NATURAL BEAUTIFUL KINKY HAIR that God blessed her with!

I will not be silenced! Someone has to stand up and let these people know that this foolishness has to end!

If no one else has the balls I certainly do!

If they don’t wanna listen to me the WORLD will know one way or the other!

The high school student’s story resonated with others on the Net, and just like that #supportthepuff and #isupportthepuff hashtags were born.

https://twitter.com/HollyMay_20/status/700387624746414080

 

Independent journalism doesn't fund itself.

We hope this story was worth your time. For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed Black-owned and independently run. We didn't get here by waiting on ad budgets that were never built to prioritize us. Our readers did that.

Corporate support for Black media has always been thin. Outlets like ours get roughly 1% of the $170 billion spent on U.S. advertising each year, and that margin is shrinking further as advertisers walk back the DEI-linked commitments they made in 2020. That's the backdrop. It's not why we're asking.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Back to top