Texas Kid Suspended Over Braided Hair, Mother Prepares For Legal Battle

A Texas woman claims her 11-year-old son is being disciplined at school because of his braided hair. The mother, Hope Cozart, is now gearing up for a court battle after her child was isolated in middle school.

According to TMZ, since their father is Black, the child Maddox Cozart and his sisters were willing to learn more about their African heritage. Therefore, their mother encouraged them to "explore their culture."

As a result, Cozart says her son asked to have a braid in his hair similar to his father. Earlier this month, when he wore it to school she claimed Maddox got in-school suspension.

The 11-year-old has been suspended for the second time, a law firm working with the Cozart family claimed her was first suspended “based on his hairstyle” on April 5. Since then the boy has been suspended daily at school for the same reason.

“This behavior has prevented Maddox from receiving the same education as other students at Raymond Maze Middle School,” the firm claimed.

As per reports, Maddox Cozart’s braided hair violates the Student Handbook, which states that it cannot be worn in ponytails, top knots, buns, or similar styles.

Meanwhile, the kid’s mother called it an “outdated policy” that needed change. “Children should be able to express themselves and hair does not affect your education,” she said.

Now, if Maddox does not return to class immediately, his mother intends to take legal action.

Similar incidents

This case isn’t one of a kind as there have been similar cases previously in the state. In January 2020, Kaden Bradford, a sophomore from Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu in Southeast Texas, was at-home suspension for his dreadlocks.

The school called it a violation of dress code and announced that either he cut off his hair or be suspended indefinitely.

According to Today, the 16-year-old chose the latter option. Additionally, his cousin DeAndre Arnold, who goes to the same high school, was suspended for the same reason, earlier that month.

Same year, an openly gay teenager was given in-school suspension for wearing nail polish.

Trevor Wilkinson received the suspension after he came back to school from Thanksgiving break with his nails painted. Reportedly, wearing nail polish violates his school's dress code.

The 17-year-old called out his high-school for being “homophobic and sexist” on Twitter.

"Imagine your school not allowing boys to paint their nails and giving boys iss for it," he said in the tweet.

"And the whole administration being okay with it, homophobic and sexist? welcome to west Texas," the teenager added.

imagine your school not allowing boys to paint their nails and giving boys iss for it. and the whole administration being okay with it, homophobic and sexist? welcome to west texas🤠

— trevvvv;) (@trevvowilkinson) November 30, 2020