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A Southeast Texas teenager was gifted $20, 000 to attend college during an appearance on the Ellen show.
18-year old Deandre Arnold of Mont Belvieu, about 30 minutes east of Houston, has been at the center of controversy over the length of his dreadlocks.
Barbers Hill ISD says Arnold has to cut his hair to participate in graduation. The district says the length of his hair was in violation of the dress code.
Deandre told Ellen that he pulled his hair up for school:
“Everyday I would go to school I would always be in dress code but the issue with them is, if it was let down, I would be out of dress code, and this all escalated after Christmas break.”
The teen says that his hair is important to him because his father is Trinidadian, and that it’s part of his culture.
Rather than cut his hair, Arnold transferred to a new school.
Singer Alicia Keys presented the big check, telling Arnold that she could not believe his story when she heard it, and that she was proud of him “for standing up for what he knows is right.”
WATCH:
Annnnd, after the ELLEN show aired, the creators of the Oscar nominated production ‘Hair Love‘ invited Deandre and his mother to be their guests at the Oscars ceremony on Sunday night, February 9th.
DeAndre Arnold Gets Invite To Oscars From Team Behind 'Hair Love' – HuffPost
DeAndre Arnold Gets Invite To Oscars From Team Behind 'Hair Love' HuffPost
Ellen DeGeneres surprises Texas teen told to cut dreadlocks with $20K for college New York Post
— Ayubi (@Shikai32) February 1, 2020
Alicia Keys Barbers Hill ISD Black culture culture Dandre Arnold dreadlocks ellen Mont Belvieu Trinidad
