Natural Hair Club Teaches 4th Graders How to Love their Locks: “Kids Used to Make Fun of Me”

March 17, 2026

A teacher at Patrick Henry Prep in New York has established an after-school club focused on natural hair care and education for students of color. Jade Lambert secured grant funding to provide hair care tools and products while developing a curriculum that teaches students about hair types and the historical context of hair discrimination. The initiative addresses research showing that Black students face higher rates of teasing and discrimination related to their natural hair compared to non-Black peers.

Who is affected

Fourth-grade students at Patrick Henry Prep (particularly students of color)
Jade Lambert, the teacher who created the program
Black students who face discrimination and teasing about their natural hair
Non-Black classmates (mentioned as comparison group in research)

What action is being taken

Jade Lambert is running an after-school natural hair club
Students are learning about hair types and hair discrimination history through Lambert's curriculum
Lambert is providing hair tools and products to students through grant funding
Lambert is teaching fourth graders cultural hair care skills

Why it matters

This initiative matters because research shows Black students disproportionately experience teasing and discrimination based on their natural hair. The program helps combat this by teaching students practical hair care skills while building cultural pride and self-acceptance. By educating young students about their hair and its historical significance, the club addresses both the practical and psychological impacts of hair discrimination, empowering students to view their natural hair as something valuable rather than shameful.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint