Student Who Refused To Cut His Dreadlocks For Graduation Will Be WALKING The Red Carpet At The Oscars Thanks To Mathew Cherry, Gabrielle Union & D. Wade!

Texas teen DeAndre Arnold was told he had to cut his dreadlocks to walk across the stage at his graduation. Well, Black Hollywood has stepped up and invited him to walk the red carpet at this year’s Oscars ceremony! He also copped a scholarship for college! Get the feel good deets inside…

DeAndre Arnold – a former senior at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, Texas – was told he had to cut his dreadlocks in order to walk during his graduation ceremony. Now, he’s gearing up to walk the red carpet at the 2020 Academy Awards. Woot!

DeAndre wore dreadlocks his entire high school career and made sure to pin them up to comply with the school's dress code, but the school changed the policy before graduation (right before Christmas break) and told him if he didn’t comply, he would NOT be able to walk. His hair is culturally important to him as a part of his dad’s Trinidadian roots.

Since he refused to cut his hair, the school suspended and banned him from walking during the graduation. The nerve.

Well, Black Hollywood got wind of his story and decided to do something about it.

Oscar nominee Matthew Cherry, actress Gabrielle Union and retired NBA player Dwyane Wade (producers of “Hair Love”) teamed up to invite DeAndre and his mother, Sandy Arnold, to the Oscars.

 

Since Deandre Arnold’s school didnt want to let him walk at his graduation because of his hair we figured that he should walk with us on the red carpet at the #Oscars as our special guest. Thank you @itsgabrielleu @DwyaneWade & @Dove for their help. pic.twitter.com/RD8cv0iL8G

— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) January 31, 2020

 

“Since Deandre Arnold’s school didn’t want to let him walk at his graduation because of his hair we figured that he should walk with us on the red carpet at the #Oscars,” Matthew Cherry tweeted.

 

This is the full video we sent Deandre @itsgabrielleu @DwyaneWade @Dove pic.twitter.com/kcW288b6JY

— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) January 31, 2020

 

The “Hair Love” team (along with Dove) will pull out the red carpet for DeAndre and his mother. They’ll “provide full wardrobe and glam for the big night" for both him and his mom. Sweet! “Hair Love” is an Oscar-nominated animated short film that tells the story of a black father who wears his own hair in locs and learns to do his daughter’s hair.

"We've all been so inspired by your story and this is the very least we can do to thank you for standing up for yourself and for your right to wear your natural hair at school," Matthew said.

Before the school changed the policy, DeAndre complied to the rules, tying his hair up to keep it out his face and off his shoulders. However, the females in the school who had long hair were able to wear their hair down. Hmph.

“It’s crazy! I never thought that people like D Wade and Gabrielle Union would be ... on my side,” DeAndre said on “CBS This Morning.” "The film is about hair love, and me and my hair kind of grew up together. In a way, it’s like we’re best friends.”

Aww!

Before appearing on “CBS This Morning,” he appeared on the “Ellen DeGeneres Show” where singer/Grammy host Alicia Keys surprised him with a $20,000 scholarship.

Watch the touching clip below:

DeAndre said he wants to go to college to become a veterinarian because he loves animals. Our hearts are full!

Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (who also has locs) showed his support on social media, tweeting: “Never cut your locs Deandre Arnold.”

 

Never cut your locks Deandre Arnold.

— Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) January 22, 2020

 

DeAndre has since changed schools amid the controversy:

The 92nd Academy Awards will premiere live on Sunday, February 9th at 8pm EST/5pm PST on ABC.

Have fun at the Oscars, DeAndre! We can't wait to see you and your mom on the carpet!

Photos: CBS This Morning

source: theybf