In the vast landscape of social justice movements, few figures have managed to inspire as much hope and change at such a young age as Zulaikha Patel. Born in 2003, Zulaikha became a symbol of resistance against the institutional racism that persisted within South African schools long after the official end of apartheid. At just 13 years old, she ignited a movement that challenged not only her school’s discriminatory policies but also the broader issue of systemic racism.
The Fight for Identity: Zulaikha Patel at Pretoria Girls’ High School
The battle began in 2016 at Pretoria Girls’ High School, one of South Africa’s oldest and most prestigious institutions, where Zulaikha Patel and her classmates faced a deeply rooted form of discrimination that went beyond the classroom—it was embedded in the school’s policies regarding black students’ natural hair.
Pretoria Girls’ High, founded in 1902, had only opened its doors to all races in 1990, a mere year before the official end of apartheid. Despite the promise of equality, remnants of segregation lingered in the school’s culture. According to the school’s Code of Conduct, hairstyles needed to be “conservative, neat, and in keeping with the school uniform.”
While this language may seem innocuous, it was weaponized against black girls who wore their hair in its natural afro state. Teachers reportedly described afro hair as “exotic” and in need of taming, implying that black students’ hair was something to be controlled or hidden.
Zulaikha Patel refused to accept this narrative. She knew that asking her to change her hair was tantamount to asking her to erase her identity. As she famously said, “Asking me to change my hair is like asking me to erase my blackness.” Her statement resonated with black girls across the country who had faced similar pressures to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards.
The Protest that Sparked a Movement
In August 2016, Zulaikha Patel led a silent protest against her school’s racist policies. Alongside her fellow students, she stood defiantly with her hair in its full, natural glory. What started as a school protest quickly escalated when three armed security guards were brought in to break up the demonstration. A video of the standoff between Patel and the guards, who towered over her, was shared widely on social media, sparking outrage not just in South Africa but across the globe.
The image of a young black girl standing fearlessly against armed guards became a powerful symbol of resistance. Zulaikha’s actions and the ensuing protests captured the world’s attention, drawing attention to the racial inequities that still existed in South Africa more than two decades after apartheid ended.
A Ripple Effect: The Aftermath of the Protests
Zulaikha Patel’s bravery did not just inspire her peers at Pretoria Girls’ High; it inspired a wave of protests across the country. At Lawson Brown High School in the Eastern Cape and St. Michael’s School for Girls in Bloemfontein, students and even parents marched in solidarity. The protests were not only about hair but also about the broader racial divisions that still permeated South African society.
The wave of solidarity was reflected online as well, with people worldwide sharing images of their afros and natural hairstyles in support of Zulaikha and her classmates. It was clear that the struggle these students were facing was not an isolated incident—it resonated with black individuals globally who had experienced the pressure to conform to white beauty standards.
As the protests grew, so did the calls for change. The Gauteng Department of Education took notice, and Panyaza Lesufi, the Gauteng Education MEC, visited Pretoria Girls’ High to hear the grievances of black students. Their concerns went beyond hair—students also spoke of being forbidden to speak African languages on school grounds, an enforcement of linguistic and cultural erasure.
The school’s hair policy was eventually suspended, but more importantly, the protests sparked a broader conversation about the lingering effects of apartheid-era policies on South Africa’s educational institutions.
Zulaikha Patel’s Legacy: A Beacon of Hope and Change
Zulaikha Patel’s courage at such a young age solidified her as a symbol of resistance and hope. In recognition of her activism, she was named one of the BBC’s 100 Women of 2016, a prestigious honor that acknowledged her role in sparking a national conversation about race, identity, and equality.
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