Update (November 18, 2019): A Chicago photographer took matters into his own hands after an 8-year-old girl Michigan was told she couldn't take school pictures because of her hair last month.
WTVR reports photographer Jermaine Horton drove to Michigan and arranged a personal photoshoot for Marian Scott.
The photographer said he wanted to help Marian get her confidence back after the school turned her away on picture day because of her red braids.
“When you’re singled out like that it’s a sucky feeling, and you could tell her confidence was just shot,” Horton told WTVR. “It was just a thing I wanted to do out of my heart.”
In her photoshoot with Horton, Marian wore a colorful dress and kept her red braids. The photographer then posted the photo on Instagram and explained why he did it.
“When I heard about this story I was furious as a parent because the first thing I thought about was the impact of what this would do to such a beautiful little girl,” he wrote. “Im so blessed to have been apart of this to give her an amazing day that showed her that she truly is beautiful and her hair color was the BOMB! Of course we kept it for the shoot!”
Horton said he contacted WILX, which first reported the story, to arrange a date with Marian. He also got help from donors who provided items for the hoot.
“We set a date and I drove from Chicago to do our OWN photoshoot of this amazing beautiful little girl,” Horton wrote.
Marian’s father, Doug, spoke to the news outlet and expressed his frustration when his child was excluded from picture day at Paragon Charter Academy.
"All of this is uncalled for, they didn't even call us," he said. "Marian didn't leave the house, go on the street and get this done on her own, no — she's 8 years old, we did this ourselves in our own home and there's no way I felt like this would happen."
Original story (October 8, 2019): An 8-year-old Michigan girl was told she was not allowed to take school pictures because she was wearing red braids on picture day.
Little Marian Scott cried when she was told she would not be able to take school pictures at Paragon Charter Academy due to her hairstyle, reports WILX. She was wearing red braids, which were styled into a bun.
"It's upsetting you know," Doug Scott, Marian's father, said.
Marian was sent back to class after the incident.
"If she's not a disruption to the class, then why is she a disruption to the picture?" her dad wondered.
Doug claimed the school did not inform him or the little girl's mom about the issue.
"All of this is uncalled for, they didn't even call us," said Doug. "Marian didn't leave the house, go on the street and get this done on her own, no — she's 8 years old, we did this ourselves in our own home and there's no way I felt like this would happen."
According to school policy, students are not allowed to be photographed if their hair isn't a natural color. The school also sent out a robocall about the dress code on the Sunday before picture day.
"We take great care to ensure our families are well-informed about this policy, and also work closely with students and their parents if there's a concern," the school told NBC News.
School principal Ben Kriesch said Marian was sent back to class because students are usually given a week to correct a dress code infraction.
Doug insists he never received a message.
"Had I seen the email, I probably would have told Marian's mother to not do it, but I guess I think it's good that this happened because now people are going to get the opportunity to see what is really going on," he said.
Marian will remain at Paragon, but Doug hopes the lines of communication will be more open. On Monday, she showed up at school with black hair.
Marian's picture will be taken on retake day in November.
