Lifestyle

‘Outdated, punishing rules’ – Mom fights for son, 8, to keep his long hair despite schools rejecting him

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2m ago

Sep 17, 2024 / 6807 Views

Evan Walker

Despite the fact that we all have mixed memories of school, we can all relate to the rules. This is a tumultuous moment of highs and lows.

While some rules, like the one against wearing jewelry to athletic events, make sense, it seems unnecessary to send someone home because they brought a certain soda or because they are wearing too much makeup. It also misses teaching opportunities for the kids involved.

The strict dress codes enforced by schools often clash with the times in children’s lives when they want to be different and express who they are.

For one mother and her child, these rules might have been excessive, and they might have kept an 8-year-old boy from getting an excellent education.

Farouk James of London, England, attracts the attention of model scouts due to his amazing hairstyle. He is currently working as a child model and has completed photo shoots in Italy and New York.

But his appearance has only made things difficult for him in the classroom; multiple institutions have rejected him due to the length of his hair.

Bonnie Miller, James’s mother, says she was told when her older brother was in school that his hair was too short.

Bonnie claims that Farouk’s father is from Ghana and that, in accordance with traditional traditions, his parents waited until he was three years old to cut his hair.

THE FUTURE OF FASHION: FAROUK JAMES — @JustChambers

“At that point, he was attached— and so was I, to be honest— with his beautiful hair,” Bonnie stated to CBS News. “We kept the hair only.”

The family lives in the UK, where most schools have a policy against guys wearing long hair, even if girls are allowed to.

Bonnie claims that cutting a child’s hair violates their human rights.

“I will not give up trying to persuade governments to put legislation in place to protect children from these outdated, punishing rules,” his mother Bonnie wrote in an Instagram post.

“Despite the fact that Farok has done nothing wrong, you reject him! He will have to say farewell to his buddies when they are all accepted into the universities he so desperately wants to attend.

Because of this, Bonnie even started a Change.org Petition to make hair discrimination illegal in the UK.

“We’re assembling a real team and dubbed it the Mane Generation,” Bonnie said. “We are going to fight this until these rules are changed. It also spreads over the entire world, not only the United Kingdom.

Farouk’s mother has an Instagram account that boasts over a quarter of a million followers, showcasing his lively nature and role as a child model.

They still get hate mail, though, despite all the love and support he gets online. Bonnie stated she received a lot of negative comments after discussing the family’s search for a school that will welcome Farouk and his hair on the well-known U.K. TV morning show “This Morning.”

“This is mental health week, so I’m surprised to be receiving lots of negative comments about Farouk’s hair,” Bonnie said in May of last year.

“Farouk refuses to cut his hair to appease people; it is a God-given feature of him, and he does not keep it long at my request.”

Bonnie argues that the clothing regulations for boys and girls in schools are outdated and often discriminatory because many schools prohibit braids and dreadlocks.

The mother vows that she will never give up on gaining acceptance for Farouk, his hair, and all the other children who encounter discrimination because they want to display their cultural heritage and identity.

In 2022, it will not be acceptable for people in charge of our children’s education to turn away a student because of the color of their hair. Farouk’s hair is an essential component of who he is. These rules should be prohibited.

Boy Stuns Prom in Red Ballgown and Lipstick – Teachers Can’t Hold Back the Tears

A boy named Korben dreamed of wearing a ball gown to prom from a young age. Four years later, his parents made that dream come true. When Korben showed up in his red ball gown and lipstick, his teachers and classmates were moved to tears.

Prom is a special event marking the end of high school, and everyone wants it to be memorable. Korben, who is 16, had an unforgettable night thanks to his supportive mom. She shared pictures of his prom outfit on Twitter, and her post quickly went viral. Many celebrities and fans liked and shared it, celebrating Korben’s unique and heartfelt choice.

Korben’s mom, Nina Green, shared that her son had always loved wearing dresses. As a teenager, he even performed as the “sassy” drag queen Miss Frou Frou. But for prom night, Korben had a new idea.

He wanted to attend prom as himself, but in a dress. This way, he could show off his feminine side while being true to who he is. Nina explained:

“He wanted to be himself, combining his masculine and feminine sides. He planned to wear a tuxedo on top and a dress on the bottom, inspired by Billy Porter.”

When Korben arrived at his school prom, wearing his unique outfit, everyone went wild with excitement. His classmates and teachers at Archbishop Sancroft High School in Harleston, Norfolk, cheered loudly for him.

Nina Green shared that many teachers were emotional as they watched Korben step out of the car. They were moved by his bravery and confidence. Nina said, “As soon as he got out of the car, everyone started cheering, and I was crying. Some of the teachers were crying too because he was being true to himself.”

Korben had asked to wear a dress to his prom when he was just 12, and his parents made sure to remember his request. When prom night arrived, they helped him get ready just the way he wanted and supported him both in person and online.

Korben looked fantastic in his ball gown, which had a flowing skirt, a sparkly jacket, a bow tie, and a matching small bag. Nina, his mom, took lots of photos of him before he left for prom and shared them on Twitter to show her support.

Nina Green was thrilled to share Korben’s prom look on Twitter and tagged Billy Porter and Michelle Visage from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” to get their opinions. Michelle Visage responded with excitement, saying, “Ohhhhhhhh yes! You are an amazing, beautiful mom and your child is a STAR.”

Michelle wasn’t the only one impressed. The tweet quickly went viral, with many people praising Korben’s fabulous prom outfit and expressing how happy they were for him.

Since Nina Green’s post about Korben’s prom outfit was shared, it has received over 4,000 retweets, more than 8,000 comments, and over 110,000 likes from celebrities and everyday people alike. One admirer commented:

“Looks fabulous! I absolutely love the gown/tux combo. I hope my son is still as confident and comfortable with himself at that age. Never lose your sparkle.”

Kirk Wills, who implied they made the dress, added, “I couldn’t be more proud of Korben; he rocked the look without a doubt. It was an honor to make this subtle look for his big night and see him rock his entrance.”

Although there were some negative comments, many people defended Korben. One fan responded, “Some people should have listened to their parents or grandparents: ‘If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.’ If he wants to wear a dress, then that’s his choice, and his choice only. He’s not harming anyone.”

Korben’s mother, Nina, later shared her gratitude in a post, admitting she hadn’t expected such a positive response when she first shared the pictures. She wrote:

“The support and positivity have been overwhelming and have completely overshadowed the few negative comments, which we ignore. It’s his life, and I’m letting him live it.”

Korben realized how important it was to have the courage to be himself. He said, “It sends a message—you can be who you want to be.”

The following day, Nina and Korben attended Pride in London. There, a fan approached them, recognizing Korben as the boy in the red dress and telling him he was “amazing.”

These moments became unforgettable memories for Korben as he moved on to the next chapter in his life. Through this experience, Korben’s parents demonstrated the importance of allowing children to be themselves without imposing their own beliefs.