The #BlackGirlsWrapWednesday is a movement started by the African National Women’s Organization when our young organizers at Gibbs High School were told that they could not wear their African headwraps to school. A 17-year-old student was told that her headwrap was a violation of school dress code and was forced her to take it off in the presence of the school police.
Following this unnecessary show of power, African/black students at Gibbs High School felt compelled to organize to change the school dress code.
Led by students at Gibbs High School and Akile Anai, former student, we have expanded the campaign to go beyond Gibbs High School to other High Schools in Pinellas County.
This campaign has the following demands:
- Removal of Police from school campuses
- Change the Dress Code Policy, county-wide, to remove the contingent that headwraps require administrator approval to be worn. The way the policy is written now is completely subjective and at any time it can be restricted based on who is in charge.
- Black Community Control of Schools where the community is represented on the board and has decision making powers in regards to policy that could affect their children in schools.
- Allow the creation of a chapter of ANWO on school campus to protect the rights of African students.
Since the launch of this movement we have received international attention and support from around the world.
We appreciate you!
We continue to call on all students/parents/community members to support these girls and other African students who have been targeted within the school system. Join them by wearing your headwrap and/or dashiki on Wednesdays in solidarity. Participate in our calls to action.
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