Ellen DeGeneres awarded DeAndre Arnold, Texas teen who was told to cut his dreadlocks or else he wouldn’t be able to walk during his graduation ceremony, a $20,000 scholarship.
While appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Arnold stated, “Every day I would go to school, I would be in dress code. But the thing with them [dreads] is, if it was let down, I would be out of dress code.”
After Ellen asked were there girls with long hair, the senior stated, “There’s plenty of girls with long hair at any school. Like, if girls can have long hair, why can’t I have long hair?”
The talk show host replied, “I just personally think you should be able to wear your hair however you want, especially if there’s girls with long hair. What’s the difference if girls have long hair and if guys have long hair?”
The student also stated it was important to express his culture. He added, “ It’s really important to me because my dad is from Trinidad. I really wish the school would kind of be open to other cultures and just, at least let us try to tell you some things. Don’t just shut us out.”
After the exchange, Alicia Keys presented him with the scholarship and stated, “ I want to tell you that I couldn’t believe the story when I heard it. And I’m super proud of you for standing up for what you know is right. And I know that the school needs to do the right thing.”
According to NBC News, “Sandy Arnold (DeAndre’s mother) said after Christmas break, three months before graduation, the Barbers Hill Independent School District changed its dress code as it refers to hair. Now the rules stipulate “hair must be clean and well groomed” and not extend on male students, at any time, below the eyebrows, the ear lobes or the top of a T-shirt collar, including when let down.”
DeAndre appeared on Wednesday’s show after his story was picked up nationwide. Just last week it was reported that the student also withdrew from Barbers High School because the school insisted he changed his appearance (cutting his dreadlocks).
