Source: Jeff Greenberg / Getty
Sometimes Twitter is a dumpster fire and other times the social media tool brings about important discussions regarding race, culture and identity.
The latter arose this week when a former Howard University cheerleader revealed that she chose to leave the team due to a controversial hair policy which restricts members from wearing braids and/or twists.
On September 22, a Twitter user named @firstclassdreah wrote the following on Twitter to the surprise of many: “So my cheer coach said braids/twists are not allowed…at my HBCU.”
The tweet drew many questions, especially since we all know that braids, twists and locs are a fundamental part of Black hair culture, stemming from our ancestors in Africa.
Two days later she followed up with a longer thread revealing that she was a member of the Howard University cheer team. Her tweets not only explained why she left the squad, but also detailed an alleged uncomfortable conversation she had with the team’s cheer captain.
She went on to say that she hoped by revealing this aspect of the hair policy that it would move the powers to be to change it, but that was far from what happened.
@firstclassdreah also used the moment to clear up perceptions that she was booted off the team and states that she left on her own terms because she did not like the outcome of the conversation between her and her ex-captain.
She claims the captain told her braided styles were “too much” and “get in the way.” At the end of the conversation @firstclassdreah says the captain said, “I’m sorry but braids will never be a thing,” which completely invalidates centuries of Black history in America and abroad. The interaction made @firstclassdreah confirm that leaving the team was probably the best choice if ideals of anti-Blackness and respectability were part of the deal.
She concluded with saying that she felt the captain inferred there may be more trouble to come if @firstclassdreah continued to press the issue. But she ended the thread saying she’s content regarding her choice to leave and that she harbors “no hard feelings.”
Now of course the comments were divided among some of the responders, who also included several Howard University alumni. A few argued that the anti-braid/twist policy was the right move to prevent injury, while others sided with @firstclassdreah regarding its discriminatory origins and anti-Blackness.
As Black children find their hair policed in schools, as well as adults who are penalized for wearing their hair the way it grows out of their heads and in traditional styles, it’s particularly upsetting that the line continues in higher educational settings, if this policy is indeed a thing.
If Black girls can’t wear braids and twists on dance teams at HBCUs then there’s a larger, deeper issue at hand that deserves attention.
