Female Students In South Africa Staged A Protest Against Racist Hair Rules

Female students at one of South Africa’s leading multinational schools, Pretoria Girls High, have staged a huge protest against its code of conduct which has been described as racist towards its African students.

According to the protesters, students who have contemporary African hair texture are forced to arrange their hair differently and are often asked to straighten their hair to make it look ‘tidy’.

The school which was open to white people only during the Apartheid has also banned students from speaking African languages within the school premises.

Here are the school policies that sparked anti-racism protests at #PretoriaGirlsHigh: pic.twitter.com/ip6dlKD1ez

— AJ+ (@ajplus) August 31, 2016

This is shocking considering the fact that South Africa has 11 official languages which include some languages.

The protest has also sparked interesting conversations on the internet.

Dear #PretoriaGirlsHigh girls: Ethnic hair need NOT be "fixed", relaxed or made to look like Caucasian hair. You are beautiful AS YOU ARE!

— Terri Noxolo Stander (@TerriStander) August 29, 2016

Non-Africans need to understand that Afro hair isn’t untidy!

Straight hair does not symbolize neatness much better that Afro hair. that is just demeaning and undermining Africanness #PretoriaGirlsHigh

— Ndzavi Derrick CBA™ (@NdzaviD) August 29, 2016

Because the hair rule obviously doesn’t apply to the white students in the school.

No one tells white people how to wear their hair, where do they get the nerve to tell us how to wear ours ? #StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh

— Thickleeyonce (@ThickLeeyonce) August 29, 2016

Unfortunately, this protest hasn’t even highlighted half of the racism currently going on in South Africa.

What's sad is that #PretoriaGirlsHigh is just the tip of the iceberg. We haven't scratched the surface of racism in SA's 'elite' schools.

— Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh (@SizweMW) August 29, 2016

Adults from everywhere are showing their support for the young protesters.

I salute all the courageous young black girls from #PretoriaGirlsHigh. Black hair is Beautiful allow us to shine pic.twitter.com/7BLhsTJ5Gp

— SaintofZion (@thoroluv) August 29, 2016

It’s unfortunate that young girls have to start fighting for basic rights at a young age.

These girls have to protest their rights to wear their NATURAL HAIR at school. ?? #StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh pic.twitter.com/9QdOrseaaS

— Chihiro Ogino (@WickedBeaute) August 29, 2016

Discrimination against a certain type of hair and look has to stop.

This is OUR HAIR.
It's not long & silky.
BUT We will NEVER EVER change it FOR YOU! #StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh pic.twitter.com/fQTgOc7RlN

— Reba (@RebaMokgoko) August 28, 2016

We’re still wondering how and why people are so bothered by black girls’ hair in 2016.

What do you think of this hair ban? Share your thoughts in the comments section.