An African American Valdosta State baseball participant alleges his head coach barred him from taking part in as a consequence of hair size.
In a leaked video posted to social media, a baseball coach tells the nameless Valdosta athlete that he wouldn’t play due to “his locs.” Within the recording, the scholar claims his hair is beneath the required size.
“The participant mentioned he was complicit within the coach’s needs, however the coach adamantly claimed that the participant wanted to chop his hair to be able to be allowed to play,” The Michigan Chronicle’s Ebony JJ Curry writes.
When the participant asks why his white teammates with longer hair don’t have to stick to the identical commonplace, Curry studies the coach mentioned, “We’re not speaking about different gamers on the crew. We’re not taking place that route.”
Hair discrimination continues to be a hot-button subject within the U.S., and legal guidelines had been handed in varied states to fight this matter. From colleges to workplaces, Black people constantly expertise hair discrimination. Practically two dozen states handed the CROWN (Create a Respectful and Open Office for Pure Hair) Act to deal with such bias. The regulation prohibits discrimination primarily based on hair texture and protecting hairstyles akin to braids, locs, twists, and afros.
Georgia has but to undertake the act. The Valdosta College incident underscores the dire want for such laws in each state.
The nameless participant continued to plead his case, noting that his hair is brief, however the coach mentioned, “It’s not brief sufficient to be on the baseball crew.”
“I’m the one which units the foundations. I can set no matter rule I would like,” the coach added.
Watch the video beneath.
On Twitter, one consumer commented below Every part Georgia’s video of the recording, “The truth that the coach wouldn’t enable a dialog about comparability with different gamers exhibits you it’s not concerning the size. He’s in compliance with the size the coach doesn’t like his locs however he gained’t say that…”
One other individual wrote, “His hair is SHORTER than the opposite participant that he confirmed the image of. If he had a helmet on, it might not even be seen! That “coach” needs to be fired! I’m glad the younger man stood up for himself and recorded the dialog.”
A 3rd tweeted, “If one listens to the complete interview, the coach doesn’t emerge from this dialog in an excellent gentle, he merely doesn’t need this child to play at Valdosta State; personally, I wouldn’t need my son taking part in for this creep.”
TheGrio contacted the college a number of occasions for an announcement however didn’t obtain a response by press time.
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