Kanaan VyShonne Barton says he’s following all other school rules but shouldn’t have to cut his hair: ‘My locs represent strength’

Kanaan VyShonne Barton says he’s following all other school rules but shouldn’t have to cut his hair: ‘My locs represent strength’

A Black student at a Mormon university in Hawaii said he has been told by staff to cut his shoulder-length hair because it does not adhere to school policies, he said.

Kanaan VyShonne Barton, a student at Brigham Young University-Hawaii, told the Salt Lake Tribune he has been engaged in a battle with the school since September over the length of his hair, which he has refused to cut.

The university requires students to follow an “honor code”, which states hair should be “neatly trimmed”, although the code has no official guidance on length.

  • HikingVet
    491·
    9 months ago

    What is with conservative groups and their weird fixation with hair length? It’s not like its a historically set thing for men or women.

    • snooggums@midwest.socialEnglish
      35·
      9 months ago

      The best part is the Mormon depiction of Jesus has long flowing locks that go at least past his collar and a beard. The church promotes being clean shaven and a stereotypical military cut for boys.

      • randompasta@lemmy.today
        9·
        9 months ago

        Brigham Young had a long beard. Brigham Young would not be able to attend Brigham Young University because of the honor code about being clean shaven.

    • satanmat@lemmy.world
      27·
      9 months ago

      Conformity and control.

      We’re all alike so I must be correct because everyone around me looks and believes like I do

      • girlfreddy
        71·
        9 months ago

        Exactly. Just more cogs for the machinations of religion and capitalism.

    • Lath@kbin.earth
      9·
      9 months ago

      The tale of Samson. It’s always the tale of Samson.

      Why, why why? Delilah!

      • girlfreddy
        6·
        9 months ago

        I started school in the mid 60’s and we never had rules for hair.

        We did have idiotic rules that boys got to do shop and girls had to do “home ec”, short for learning how to cook, clean and mend for your future husband.

        • AmidFuror@fedia.io
          3·
          9 months ago

          For boys, we had marching, bayonet drills, grenade throwing, trench digging, map reading, gas defense, camouflage, trap setting, ambush techniques, war games, firing guns, and blowing stuff up.

          For girls: dressing wounds, making beds, and learning how to get pregnant.

      • Ech@lemm.eeEnglish
        32·
        9 months ago

        It was normal to sell Africans like cattle when some people were younger. What’s your point?

          • Ech@lemm.eeEnglish
            41·
            9 months ago

            Didn’t say they were. But you can see how “normal” at one point in time can be revealed to be unacceptable later on, yes? And how that’s not a defense of anything worthwhile?

            Also, it’s not just a “haircut”. It’s cultural and racial oppression.