So what's wrong with Cornrow?

A judge recently ruled that a school in Harrow was guilty of unlawful indirect racial discrimination when it operated a ban on cornrow hairstyle in its school. The case was brought by the family of an 11 year old boy who was banned from starting at their school because his hair was worn in a cornrow plaits. Apparently the school operated a "no cornrow" policy because it associated this hairstyle with gang culture and that by allowing pupils to wear their hair in this way it would encourage gang violence.
The boy's family argued that styling hair in cornrow is an African Carribean tradition, and the boy had plaited his hair into cornrows from birth.  By sanctioning him because of his hair style was racial discrimination.

The parents were pleased with the verdict, though the school plan to appeal against the decision.

I think it is such a sad state of affairs that in the society we live in today, the way that a universal, traditional hairstyle worn by a culture of people can give negative connotations and trigger so much controversy.

As someone who has worn her hair in cornrow for the last 15 years I find it quite offensive that institutions should think to ban me from wearing my hair in a way which is not only part of my culture, but also a style which I happen to find very neat and practical!

Having my hair in corn row has saved me from hours of standing in front of the mirror trying to style my hair each morning. It gives me one less thing to think about, and the hairstyle makes me look prettier and younger!
If my employers decided to ban the wearing of hair in cornrow I would be in a quandry. Straightening my hair and all the maintenance required would be quite expensive, and in the long-run would damage my hair. Leaving it as an Afro would be a frightful mess, and would be frightening for those who would have to look at it!

So why would anyone think that plaiting my hair into corn row would be synonymous with some sort of gangland violence?

Furthermore, I hate the way that people say that I am making a statement about my ethnicity or my culture. Many white women who don't style their hair in any particular way will put it into a quick pony tail or maybe a French plait. Is that some sort of statement they are making? Is there some cultural message being communicated by tying your hair back?

Black afro hair can be quite unmanageable if left to just grow out. Tying it back in some way is much neater and more practical. Back in the days when I would go swimming alot, corn ow was also the style that caused the least damage to my hair. So no, there is no ethnic statement being made - unless you want to include the wish to keep my hair healthy and tidy!

One thing this court case has done is to highlight some of the wider issues regarding wearing hair in corn row. Some of my peers who apply for professional jobs say that black women are more likely to secure managerial roles if their hair is straightened or styled in a Caucasian hairstyle.  A few women who did not want to subject their hair to the chemical damage from perming have had to resort to wearing straight-haired wigs while in the work place.

I have never thought to change my hair style when going for a job interview or when working in a professional capacity, but I must admit that I have seen very few black women in positions of influence wearing African braids.

Whether it's Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, 2012 Olympics Ambassador Denise Lewis, or the BBC's  Brenda Emmanus, it seems as if they have had to style their hair in a Caucasian cut as their image profiles increased. Even Alicia Keys, who many years ago championed cornrow hair, now has a perfectly straight long mane.

So what's wrong with corn row. Is it the embarrassing cousin that you only want to be seen with in selected places, and gets marginalised most of the time? I think we should stand up for the cornrow and wear it with pride. That way, society will begin to see this hairstyle in all its positive highlights. And now, I'm off to the hairdressing salon!