How do I get in trouble for wearing the same uniform? I cant help that my body is shaped differently or that Im tall, so skirts look short on me.

Do you feel like youre treated differently when you dont wear braids or straighten your hair?

In May 2019, I wrote a column about my experiences in journalism school as a Black student. Since then, I sometimes get invited to speak on panels or give talks.

After I had given a talk a few months ago in Ottawa, a group of Black female Grade 12 high-school students asked if they could speak with me about issues they faced on a regular basis. They described how they felt they were perceived and treated based on how they wore their hair, and how their bodies were policed by dress codes that didnt seem to apply equally to others.

At one point, the conversation turned to education.