A Timeline Of Alleged Racism In The Tatum, TX School District | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Currently

There's Undercover Racism In The Tatum, TX, School District And It's Up To You To Stop It

Discrimination? Or an outdated policy? Both.

1970
There's Undercover Racism In The Tatum, TX, School District And It's Up To You To Stop It
Randi Woodley / Facebook

The drama going on at Tatum, TX, the school my mom graduated from, is really the talk of the town.

Randi Woodley is the grandmother of a 4-year-old student at Tatum Primary School. Woodley claims the superintendent, J.P. Richardson, told Woodley to either cut the 4-year-old's hair or "put [him] in a dress."

Woodley went public in September with what was going on between the school and her grandson. It gained a lot of attention locally, including mine. Then, it hit the press from ABC News to CNN. I've seen people saying Woodley and her grandson should follow the rules — but I've seen more people saying the system needs to change.

If you ask me, It's discrimination but undercover.

What do I mean by undercover discrimination? The rules severely limit how people express themselves, especially minorities. In Tatum, if you played sports and had long, natural hair, you would get a pass. Trust me, I've seen it happen. If you didn't play sports, then you just had to follow the rules, no questions asked. Other superintendents were cool with some people wearing their hair down. That was before J.P. Richardson, the former superintendent of Gladewater, came to Tatum.

Ever since Richardson came to Tatum, people have claimed he was discriminating against minorities, like the timeline below charges:

The alleged timeline of discrimination at Tatum ISD

Personal photo / Facebook

I'm not really surprised the direction he took the hair policy once he came to Tatum. One of my friends at Tatum had to go back to his old school because he was told to cut his hair or do something else with it.

Things are looking really funny in the light for J.P. Richardson. It makes you think whether is he doing it for his satisfaction and not his students' best interests.

Last, but not least, what in the hell does a 4-year-old's hair got to do with their education?

Books don't care about his hair, so why should the superintendent be worrying about how he or she should wear their hair? Focus on what's more important and fixed that outdated rule that's been there since the '60s. The time where — well, you know what I'm about to say — exists and still exists today. For the people who want this to change, you all have to fight for your rights to get to that goal.

Attend every school board meeting, stay active on the updates, and vote like hell.

Longview, Pine Tree, Marshall, and other high schools let them wear their hair down. The school board at Tatum is behind. It's 2019 and this is America. Tatum must paint a better a picture for themselves as if they're the best school in Texas. But if you want to be the best school in Texas, you have to start with creating equality.

And as of right now, I'm not seeing it.

Report this Content
Featured

How Technology Has Changed Our Lives

While we are all very dependant on technology, we are losing touch with humanity.

2942
How Technology Has Changed Our Lives

If we look back on how our ancestors lived we can sense a totally different lifestyle. If they could come back and live with all our technological devices they surely would think they are in a completely new alien world. They lived such a simple life without our devices that it seems as if centuries have passed by. In reality most of the discoveries were accomplished in the past twenty years. Indeed we have assisted a total technological distortion. This change in our lives was characterized by a myriad of technological innovations, due to globalization.

Keep Reading...Show less
Sports

Why I Love Football

Why Is Football A Sport That Is So Celebrated Across The Nation?

6628
College quarterback drops back to make pass as football season begins
https://pixabay.com/en/quarterback-american-football-sport-67701/

It is the time of year when the athletic event of football tends to exhilarate fans across the Nation. Why is football a sport that is so celebrated across the Nation? Many times I have asked myself why I even love the game of football so much, especially being a female, but I came up with a few of the many reasons why football fans love the game. though this may not be everyone's reasons for loving the game, here are some reasons that I love football.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Nostalgic Early 2000s Barbies: 34 Forgotten Treasures

For all the 90's babies and their obsession with Barbies.

33069
Barbies on a display case
LATimes

With Barbie mania overtaking society with the release of the new movie, here is some late 90's/early 2000's nostalgia for you in Barbie form.

It's sure to stir up old memories and unlock some good ones. And if you're feeling inspired by a particular toy but you don't remember where you put it, we've listed where you can find one today. You're welcome.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Riots and Protests rock Paris and other French cities

Crazy European Summer

1407
Riots and Protests rock Paris and other French cities
A 17 year old boy of North African origin was shot and killed by French police during a traffic stop on Tuesday. The police claimed they "feared for their lives" when the boy started driving away from them and opened fire, killing him.
Keep Reading...Show less
News

All aboard, er, all orbit the Galactic 01?

Brave enough to orbit the earth in a commercial space tourism flight?

510
All aboard, er, all orbit the Galactic 01?
Photo Credit: pixabay.com

This is a response to Falcon Heavy And SpaceX Show Us The Benefits Of Privatized Space Exploration.

For those who haven’t heard quite yet, the presumed rumors in subsequent years turn out to be true.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments