Editing Durag (section)

== Bans and controversy ==
In 1995, the [[National Football League]] (NFL) considered banning players from wearing "[[bandana]]s, known as do-rags." League executive [[Gene Washington (American football, born 1947)|Gene Washington]] said durags were associated with crime and [[gang violence]] but insisted that the idea was "driven largely by black people, not white people." [[Safety (gridiron football position)|Safety]] [[Merton Hanks]] said that he wore one because it made his helmet fit better and was therefore akin to safety equipment. Ultimately, the league decided to take no action.<ref>{{cite news |title=The idea of an NFL ban on bandanas isn't sitting well with some players |url=https://apnews.com/article/288544907afa41cdca4cc9340f9c7b0a |access-date=6 May 2022 |work=AP News |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=May 23, 1995 |language=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506133149/https://apnews.com/article/288544907afa41cdca4cc9340f9c7b0a |archive-date= 6 May 2022 }}</ref> In 2001, however, the league owners voted 30–1 to ban players from wearing all headwear under helmets except for "[[Beanie (seamed cap)|skull caps]]" in what the league claimed was "a matter of image." Although there were concerns that the move may have been racially biased, the league again framed the ban as being originated by black members of their competition committee, including [[Denny Green]].<ref name="tribune">{{cite news |title=NFL to players . . . dump the do-rags |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2001-04-03-0104030012-story.html |access-date=6 May 2022 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=April 3, 2001 |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220506131841/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2001-04-03-0104030012-story.html|archive-date= 6 May 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=George |first1=Thomas |title=On Pro Football; Blacks at Center Stage in Rancorous Debate on Headgear |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/04/sports/on-pro-football-blacks-at-center-stage-in-rancorous-debate-on-headgear.html  |url-access=subscription |access-date=6 May 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=4 April 2001}}</ref> Some players argued unsuccessfully that wearing durags under helmets helped them prevent [[hair loss]].<ref name="tribune" />

During a preseason game in 2000, the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) told [[Indiana Pacers]] player [[Sam Perkins]] that he could not wear a durag because it was "a safety hazard."<ref>{{cite news |title=League notes |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2000/10/17/Leagues-Governing-Bodies/LEAGUE-NOTES.aspx |access-date=6 May 2022 |work=[[Sports Business Journal]] |date=October 17, 2000 |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240221215010/https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2000/10/17/Leagues-Governing-Bodies/LEAGUE-NOTES.aspx |archive-date= 21 February 2024 }}</ref> In October 2005, the NBA issued [[NBA dress code|a dress code]] which, among other changes, forbade players from wearing durags not just on the [[basketball court|court]] but while engaged in any manner of team or league business.<ref>{{cite news |last1=MacLeod |first1=Robert |title=Do-rags done for in NBA code |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/do-rags-done-for-in-nba-code/article18250318/ |access-date=6 May 2022 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=18 October 2005 |language=en-CA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506140838/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/do-rags-done-for-in-nba-code/article18250318/ |archive-date=6 May 2022 }}</ref>

Some United States high schools have attempted to ban the wearing of durags.<ref name="Rubio-Dec 2019">{{cite web |last1=Rubio |first1=Karolena |title=Du-Rag Controversy Resolved |url=https://raidervoice.com/uncategorized/2018/12/13/du-rag-controversy-resolved/ |website=OuRCity News |publisher=The Raider Voice |access-date=15 July 2019 |page=1 |language=en |date=13 December 2018 |archive-date=30 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130224930/https://raidervoice.com/uncategorized/2018/12/13/du-rag-controversy-resolved/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Miller- July 2018">{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Rann |title=A Charter School's Explanation for Banning Durags Is Worse Than the Ban |url=https://progressive.org/public-school-shakedown/charter-schools-explanation-for-banning-durags-worse-than-ban-180720/ |website=progressive.org |access-date=15 July 2019 |page=1 |language=en |date=20 July 2018}}</ref> When [[John Muir High School]] in [[Pasadena, California]], banned durags as part of a school dress-code policy, the Black Student Union staged a peaceful walk-out in February 2019.<ref name=Kenney2019>{{Cite web|url=https://atlantablackstar.com/2019/02/26/california-high-school-students-stage-mass-walkout-over-policy-banning-durags/|title=California High School Students Stage Mass Walkout Over Policy Banning Durags|last=Kenney|first=Tanasia|date=26 February 2019|website=Atlanta Black Star |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404103209/https://atlantablackstar.com/2019/02/26/california-high-school-students-stage-mass-walkout-over-policy-banning-durags/ |archive-date= Apr 4, 2023 }}</ref> Protesting students contended that school administrators banned the headwear because of its affiliation with [[gang culture]], although the principal claimed that durags were banned because "of values we have for how we present ourselves at school".<ref name=Kenney2019/>