Do you think that Kaneland High School is the only school to put a ban on cell phones? Better yet, did you know that Kaneland could have it much worse?
According to an Aug. 7 New York Post article by Patrick Reilly, “A Texas middle school has banned students from wearing all-black outfits to class because officials claimed the threads are associated with depression and mental health issues.”
The El Paso Independent School District created a policy to prevent students from wearing black tops with black bottoms. I find it ridiculous that they are doing this to prevent “depressive behavior.” As if the holy grail of healing magic comes from changing the dress code. It’s no wonder so many of us are depressed. It’s the clothes. Definitely the clothes. Not the fact that we are stressed out 24/7. Nope. It’s the clothes.
Let’s go explore the basics of color psychology, shall we?
According to an article by HubSpot, a website that believes in helping millions of organizations grow, “Nike utilizes black-and-white advertising and its signature swoosh logo to reinforce its power focused branding.”
Yes, Nike apparel relies on its black-and-white color scheme, but by using black, they are sending a message about empowering athletes. The color black is oftentimes associated with power and elegance.
On the other hand, black also represents oppression and coldness as well as death and mourning. But just because you wear black, that doesn’t mean you are depressed or have an increased amount of depressive emotions.
However, when it comes to depression, black isn’t the only color that many associate with the mental disorder.
According to an article by Psych Central, a website that focuses on information regarding psychology, “Gray and blue tend to be high on the list of those associated with low mood.”
When I read that sentence, I saw the word “associated.” Not “causes.” In my previous sentences, I’ve been using the word “associated” as well. There is no evidence that the color black causes actual depression.
Depression isn’t something that is caused by a color choice in an outfit. Depression is caused by trauma or even by a chronic illness in your neurons that affects your mood.
Imagine you’re a depressed student trying to get ready for school at home. It’s six in the morning and you just woke up. You don’t feel like coming to school, you don’t feel like smiling and faking it for your friends and you don’t feel like focusing today. What outfit do you want to wear? Yes. Let’s wear a bright yellow hoodie and some white pants because that will fix everything. Oh wait, hoodies are being banned in some places (I’ll get to that later), so let’s wear a T-shirt or a crop top. Because crop tops are much better than hoodies, right?
When you’re depressed, you shouldn’t be forced to smile and wear hot pink. You have the right to decide what color outfit you want to wear, and if it’s all black, then so be it. You might actually not be depressed and love to wear all black outfits, and that’s normal too.
Your right to wear a certain color shouldn’t be taken away. We’re just teenagers. And whiole this sort of policy might not be happening at Kaneland, I worry that students in schools that are quickly stripping their rights. Let those students wear the color black if that’s what they choose to wear.
In Oklahoma schools, it is required to teach the bible. Imagine being a Jewish, Muslim or even an Atheist student who now finds themselves in a classroom needing to learn biblical lessons. Also, many schools in different states across the nation are banning the option to wear hoodies all in the name of having “better student engagement.”
Slowly, student rights are being taken away. First, it’s the color black, cell phones, religious practices and hoodies.
What’s next?
