WATCH: Former Barbers Hill student, who was told he had to cut his dreadlocks, gifted $20,000 from Alicia Keys on Ellen show
MONT BELVIEU, Texas โ Alicia Keys surprised a Houston-area student with $20,000 for โstanding up for what is rightโ on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. โI want to tell you that I couldnโt believe the story when I heard it,โ Keys said on the show. โIโm super proud of you for standing up for what you know is right. Arnold, who has since withdrawn from the Barbers Hill, said he was given two options: in-school suspension or alternative school. They deserve to see me walk across the stage.โDeGeneres and Keys hope the school changes their mind.
More Barbers Hill students angered by school dress code, forced to cut their hair as well
The issue is how long the hair of male students at Barbers Hill High School should be. They said that student Deandre Arnold is not the only one being targeted by the districtโs dress code. Arnold is Barbers Hill senior who has been told his hair is not in compliance with the districtโs dress code. His family said his dreadlocks are part of their Trinidadian culture, and he has been out of school since refusing to cut his hair to meet the districtโs dress code. โHe is absolutely permitted to come back to school,โ said Barbers Hill ISD Superintendent Greg Poole.