Father Demands Action from Oklahoma School District in Alleged Hair-Cutting Incident

Jamil Garcia recalls waking up to a troubling sight when his 7-year-old son returned home from school. The little boy’s long hair, a source of pride for the Kickapoo first grader, had been cut off. When Garcia asked what happened, his son told him that while in class, two students had taken scissors and cut his hair off against his will. In a phone interview from his home in Del City, Oklahoma, Garcia explains that his son Andreas “was sad about it" and “kind of tearful.” 

The family felt the school was not taking the investigation seriously. Garcia says of the delay, “My son had to sit there for a whole week with no answers.” 

Andreas’ family immediately demanded answers from Del City Elementary where the alleged incident took place. The school district initially delayed the investigation last month citing a snow day and spring break. The process was frustrating, Garcia states, and the family felt the school was not taking the investigation seriously. He says of the delay, “My son had to sit there for a whole week with no answers.” 

In response, the family held a rally and march at the elementary school demanding accountability. When a reporter asked Andreas how he felt when the alleged incident occurred, the little boy, wiping away tears, said that he felt “mad.” Andreas’ family held the rally, as Garcia explains, to let the school district “know this is not right and we’re still here and we’re not going to be silenced.” Additionally, the family stresses the importance of understanding Indigenous cultures and practices. 

Long hair, Garcia explains, is culturally significant in Native communities. “It shows who we are as Native American people.” For the Kickapoo Tribe, he explains, hair is an important expression of their heritage, for both men and women; whether that’s braiding hair, or adding jewelry and mementos for rituals, dances, and the passing of elders or family members. Because of the cultural importance, Garcia stresses, “I just want people to be aware that Native American hair is a sacred thing.” However, Andreas’ family feels that the school district is not adequately investigating the hair-cutting allegation. It’s also a claim that bears similarities to an incident that was reported last year at another elementary school. 

A fifth grader in Clinton, Oklahoma said his hair had been cut off by classmates. An investigation into the alleged incident resulted in conflicting accounts. And much like that case, Andreas’ family is disputing the school district’s findings. 

Garcia said school officials told him that his son cut his own hair. However, he believes that they did not present adequate proof to back up this claim. Additionally, he questions how a child could have their hair cut off in a classroom without the teacher noticing, “Cutting my son’s hair, it would have taken some time to take it off.”  

Del City Elementary issued a statement relaying that they had spoken with Garcia, Andreas, and several witnesses who were in the classroom. They said they presented their findings to everyone involved but because the incident happened inside a first-grade classroom, they will not be making their findings public. The superintendent and principal were contacted for comment for this article, but at the time of publication, they had not issued a reply. 

Garcia rejects the school district’s findings. “They said it was closed” he states, “but it’s not closed with us.” He stresses, “I don’t want this to happen to any other kid, whether they’re white or they’re Black. No kid should go through this.”