The Teacher Who Let His Students Unbraid His Hair In a viral video that has sparked heated debates, a male teacher allowed his female students to take out his braids. The clip, which has been widely shared on social media, shows the teacher sitting at his desk while five or six students carefully comb out his box braids. The teacher, known as Q (or by his profile name “thilluminator”), is a middle school science teacher. He often shares videos from inside his classroom, showcasing interactions with his students. According to Q, he takes the time to get to know his students beyond academics because he believes caring for the whole child is essential. In his defense, he stated, “To me, it’s literally just hair. It doesn’t have to be weird. Some people have never had cool teachers, and it shows.” Q explained in another video that he had a hair appointment after school and didn’t have time to take out his braids. So, he enlisted the assistance of a few of his “best friends” (his students)

to help him out after class. While some parents found this behavior inappropriate, others defended him, emphasizing the importance of teaching young Black girls healthy, relationships with men. The video sparked a discourse about appropriate boundaries between teachers and students. Some argue that the teacher’s behavior was too intimate, while others see it as harmless. The controversy also highlights the unhealthy outlook of young African American girls and the criminalization of African American men. Parents’ reactions varied, with some supporting Q’s approach and others expressing concern. Unfortunately, the video led to consequences for the teacher. JaQ Lee, as he is known on TT, was fired after the video went viral. Despite the differing opinions, the incident raised questions about professionalism, boundaries, and the role of social media in educators’ lives. In the end, the teacher’s decision to let his students unbraid his hair became a powerful conversation starter, touching on issues of race, gender, and appropriate conduct within the classroom. Whether you view it as a positive or negative example, it certainly got people talking.