*A Texas high schooler is speaking out about not being allowed to attend graduation unless he cuts his dreadlocks.
DeAndre Arnold, a senior at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, told CBS This Morning and local news station KPRC that he was suspended and barred from walking in his graduation ceremony unless he chops his locks.
Arnold’s father is from Trinidad and locks are part of the culture.
“I really like that part of Trinidadian culture; I really embrace that,” he told KPRC.
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A Texas family is threatening legal action against their local school district after their teen son was told he couldn’t walk at graduation because of his long dreadlocks.
DeAndre Arnold is being forced to either cut his hair or face in-school suspension. pic.twitter.com/7Roq9ezD2K
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) January 23, 2020
His mother, Sandy Arnold, told CBS This Morning that the lack of diversity in the district is the issue.
“There is no people of color on the school board. I get it that they don’t understand his hair,” she said.
When she reached out to board members and the superintendent to explores ways to reach a conclusion together, she claims they never responded to her.
When asked if she’s going to out his hair so he can walk in his upcoming graduation ceremony, Sandy replied, “Absolutely not, this is a part of who he is. So absolutely not going to cut his hair,” she told the news station.
DeAndre is not allowed back in school until his dreads are cut.
Meanwhile, the Barbers Hill School District said in a written statement: “We do have a community-supported hair length policy & have had for decades. Barbers Hill is a state leader with high expectations in all areas!”
Scroll up and watch the video report via the YouTube player above.
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