Texas Businesses Plan to Ban "The Edgar": Popular Haircut or Criminal Signaling?

A haircut known as "The Edgar" has stirred controversy in Texas, with some businesses considering bans.

The Edgar is associated with a recent shooting in San Antonio, sparking debate and accusations of racism.

The Incident:

An April shooting in San Antonio has provoked a strong reaction against a particular haircut. At a festival, 18-year-old Mikey Valdez was shot and killed by police after they witnessed him firing a gun.

Locals Weigh In:

The "Edgar" haircut is under fire, as seen on Valdez in his mugshots. Ricky Ortiz, a food truck owner in San Antonio, posted an image on Instagram of a young Hispanic man with the haircut, declaring "No Edgars."

Instagram user @allsold0ut called this "a new form of racism."

Ortiz defended his post, stating it was a joke, but maintained that young Hispanic men with this haircut are often associated with gang culture.

"People accusing me of racism are speaking from a place of ignorance. They don't want to acknowledge the connection between this haircut and gang affiliation," Ortiz told the San Antonio Current.

Legal Perspective:

The CROWN Act, a Texas law prohibiting race-based hair discrimination, does not explicitly cover hairstyle-based customer denial. The statute focuses on schools, workplaces, and housing, protecting hairstyles culturally linked to race.

About the CROWN Act:

Texas's CROWN Act, or House Bill 567, stands for "Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair." It was passed with bipartisan support, making Texas the 21st state to ban race-based hair discrimination. The law protects black women and men's hairstyles, per the Texas Labor Code.

"An employer...commits an unlawful employment practice if they discriminate via dress or grooming policies against hair textures or protective hairstyles linked to race," the Act states.