Lotus Bloom and the Afro Revolution

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of bullying, racism, and child abuse.

At school, Lotus hears all of the other students talking about her hair. When Adolpho comes into the lunchroom, he is hit with a bunch of paper airplanes. The entire cafeteria laughs. Lotus’s friend, Benz, says that he is glad Lotus and the rest of the school are finally standing up to him.

Lunch is interrupted by an announcement asking Lotus to go to Mr. Mackie’s office. When she gets there, she finds Mr. Mackie in his office with Mrs. Cortez and two other women. Mrs. Cortez confronts her about changing her hair back. Lotus tells them that she isn’t going to change who she is. Mrs. Cortez then introduces one of the women with her, Penelope Garcia-Pass, who is an attorney. She tells Lotus that she will be expelled from school on Monday if she does not change her afro. The third woman tries to interject, commenting that they don’t have that authority, but Mrs. Cortez silences her.

After the women leave, Mr. Mackie apologizes to Lotus. He tells her that he isn’t sure they have the authority to get her expelled, but that they will do everything in their power to try.