07/30/2026
Someone stated that they haven’t seen me weigh in on Tuskegee University’s 2026-27 ban on bonnets, du-rags, and bedroom shoes in classrooms .
Well here is my take on it.
I am all for it. I think we’ve reached a point where accountability is often confused with restriction, and standards are mistaken for control. Yet standards have always existed in society because they help create order, mutual respect, and appropriate conduct.
Scripture reminds us in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that there is “a time for every purpose under heaven.” To me, that includes how we present ourselves. There is a time and place for everything.
At home, you’re free to dress however you’re comfortable. But when we enter public spaces; schools, workplaces, churches, courtrooms, or formal events, we’re entering shared environments where expectations naturally shift. That’s not oppression; it’s understanding context.
We all have free will. But free will doesn’t exempt us from consequences, public perception, or institutional standards. Every environment communicates what it values, and we each decide whether we’re willing to meet those expectations.
As an etiquette professional, I don’t see this as a race issue as much as a principle of presentation. We have become very casual in many areas of life, and I believe it’s worth encouraging people to be more intentional about their appearance. Not because our worth is found in our clothing, but because how we present ourselves communicates something before we ever speak.
