Ellen DeGeneres Gives Teen Who Refused To Cut His Locs $20,000

DeAndre Arnold made nationwide news after refusing to cuts his locs against school dress code policy. DeAndre is a high school senior at the Barbers Hill Independent School District in Mont Belvieu, TX. Reported from Washington Post, Arnold was suspended from school and denied walking the graduation stage into he change his mind about cutting his locs. Arnold been growing his locs since seventh grade, and now a senior which is a milestone year for any student. In a interview with Ellen DeGeneres he was asked by the talk show host, why his hair style was important to him ? "It's really important to me because my dad is from Trinidad," he told her, his dreadlocks are part of his culture and heritage.

"... 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," says DeAndre Arnold.

 

Barbers Hill Independent School changed their dress code mid-year, stating no long hair for boys, even if they kept their hair tied up during the school day. Via nbcnews, Arnold tells Ellen DeGeneres on her show, his not a troubled teen and always followed school rules. His mom, whom defend his choice to go against administration, would cornrow his hair as it grew and tied his locks into a bun to keep it out of his face and off his neck. After the Christmas break the teen was told from his school principal he wouldnt be able to return back to school or walk the graduation stage into he change his mind about cutting his locs. Is that even legal?  During his interview with daytime host Ellen DeGeneres she ask, "are there girls in your school with long hair." Arnold replies "yes, - if girls can have long hair, why can't I have long hair?" Which is a very good question, why is it okay for girls and not boys ? Whats the difference? DeAndre and his mother does not feel the school is being racist but definitely sexes with allowing the girls in the school to wear their hair however they pleases but stricter when it comes to the boys in the school. I personality feel both boys and girl should be able to wear their hair as they pleases as long it dont cause distraction from their learning. Besides that the whole purpose of school - right ? At the end of the Ellen DeGeneres show, Grammy winner Alicia Keys honored him with a 20,000 scholarship along with his plans to become a veterinarian. I hope all parties involved can come to a agreement and the most important result if that this young men graduate with his class.