Children Tag

Black hairstyles are not criminal

Black children around the country have long been getting suspended from school for wearing braids, dreads, Afros, Afro puffs, or “designer haircuts” which are nothing more than Caesars with a classic side-part.

When students at the C.R. Walker Senior High School in the Bahamas tried to wear their natural hair to school, they were allegedly told that their hair was “untidy” and “unprofessional” and ordered to change their hairstyle before returning to school.

Boys and girls are constantly criticized and told they should keep their hair “neat and tidy.” They wear their hair in locks and braids as protective styling. Natural black hair shouldn’t be viewed negatively. But, sadly it’s a continuous thing.

Kirsten Brooks, who is a parent to a six-year-old Redemptorist Elementary student, says there is nothing wrong with her son’s curly hair as she spoke to WBRZ Channel 2 News in Baton Rouge, LA.

School officials there sent Brooks and other parents in grades K-12 a text message stating, “I understand that the boys want to follow the latest fashion trend, however the ‘Nappy, Uncombed, Picked/Sponged’ look Must Go! It is getting out of hand. If their haircut is higher than 1inch it must be cut.”

“To say that word, nappy, in a text, let me know that she was a person that just didn’t care as far as what she said and I figured if you put it in writing, you’ll say it just as well to the children and that’s not right,” said Mary Brooks.

A lot of times the kids are told to cut or straighten their hair. These are young children who have never been in trouble a day in their lives.

Keisha Rembert said her son Rashaad Hunter is an honor roll student who doesn’t get in trouble. He attends Greenwood Elementary School in Bessemer, according to Fox 6 News WBRC in Birmingham, Alabama.

“He was walking with his head down, when I saw him he was like teary-eyed at first because he doesn’t want to be suspended for no part in his head. I told him, ‘Don’t hold your head down…continue to make these A’s and B’s because that part is nothing,'” Rembert said.

Be Black. Be Soulful. Be You. Black hair is beautiful. Believe and celebrate your culture. Live your Afrocentric life! It’s not criminal to wear your natural hair.

If you find you have been discriminated against for wearing your natural hair, call GOINS LAW at (318) 787-5607 or (713) 759-9266. We will seek justice for you.

Available in Louisiana and Texas

Build-A-Bear not built-a-properly

Mom and Dad, if your child has a Build-A-Bear Starbrights Dragon, take it away from them right now. And while it’ll probably break their tiny hearts, they will thank you for it when they’re older.

The folks at Build-A-Bear Workshop issued a recall Thursday for the dragon, one of its most beloved, one-of-a-kind plushables. It seems what may be your child’s favorite toy is also a safety risk because a defect causes the satin seam to open. This poses a hazard for young children who may choke on the stuffing. Build-A-Bear sold almost 35,000 dragons in the United States and Canada between April and August of last year, alone.

In case you haven’t heard of Build-A-Bear, it’s a plush toy manufacturer based in Overland, Kansas which provides a highly interactive assembly process for the consumer (the kids).  There are more than 400 “workshops” worldwide operating in 19 countries. Noted for craftsmanship, Build-A-Bear posted a total revenue of $379 million in FY 2013.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission wants adults to immediately take the dragon and return it to the nearest Build-A-Bear store, where they will receive a voucher for any stuffed animal. Thankfully, no adverse incidents were reported as of yet, but you can’t be too careful when it comes to your kids or their toys.

The holidays are fast approaching and its news like this you can use to make sound decisions. Goins Law is here not only to present a problem, but provide solutions. If you or someone you know needs information or guidance regarding a product recall, GET GOINS. Remember, GOINS GOT YOU.