A high school teacher was told not to wear African headdresses after some parents complained when she wore them during Black History Month.

Amelia County High School has a policy against hats.

“The only headdress that’s appropriate is related to religious … custom,” Superintendent Charles Shell said Monday.

Delmartri Womack said she wore about 15 different African-inspired outfits in February, with a different hat for each outfit.

Shell said he received several telephone calls from parents about Womack’s outfits and learned of some critical comments made by a student.

On Monday, about 100 black students wore African-inspired clothing or dressed in black in support of Womack and to protest the lack of a Black History Month program this year at the high school.

Womack said she will stop wearing the headdress to school, but feels strongly about how the clothes represent her awakening appreciation of her heritage.