Placeholder Image

Subtitles section Play video

  • Hi, DeAndre.

  • So I know this is weird for you.

  • Because you're in a school in a small town in Texas.

  • And all of a sudden, this is national news.

  • And now you're on television.

  • And I'm sure this is not easy or comfortable for you.

  • But I want you to just relax and know that I'm here for you.

  • Thank you.

  • That's why you're here.

  • Because I don't understand this.

  • They've told you that you need to cut your hair in order

  • to return to school.

  • You get good grades.

  • You've never been in trouble, ever.

  • This is the first time anything has come up.

  • And now you haven't been in school

  • for weeks because of this situation.

  • So, OK, when did this dress code happen that you--

  • because you've been wearing your hair up.

  • Right?

  • OK.

  • Every day I would go to school, I

  • would always be in dress code.

  • But the thing with them is, if it was let down,

  • I would be out of dress code.

  • And this issue really escalated about after Christmas break.

  • So you were wearing your hair up.

  • And that was fine, but the point was

  • if you let it down, it would be past your--

  • what is this supposed be?

  • It's not supposed to be past your ears?

  • Yeah.

  • It can't be in your face, past your ears,

  • or touching your collar.

  • OK.

  • Are there girls in your school?

  • Oh, yeah.

  • OK.

  • And do the girls have long hair?

  • There's plenty of girls with long hair at my school.

  • Like, if girls can have long hair,

  • why can't I have long hair?

  • That's my point.

  • That's what I don't understand.

  • [APPLAUSE]

  • I just personally think you should

  • be able to wear your hair however you want,

  • especially if there's girls with long hair.

  • What's the difference if girls have long hair

  • and if guys have long hair?

  • And also, so let's just say that was just the case.

  • I don't think it's fair.

  • That's my opinion.

  • But also, this really has more meaning to you.

  • And tell everybody why.

  • My hair really means-- like, it's really important to me

  • because my dad is from Trinidad.

  • And you know, it's part of our culture and our heritage.

  • And 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.

  • Yeah.

  • [APPLAUSE]

  • I think that's what school's supposed to do,

  • is teach you about other cultures.

  • You're not supposed to teach them.

  • They're supposed to teach you.

  • So if you go back to school--

  • let's say you want to go back to school tomorrow.

  • What happens?

  • So if I go back to school tomorrow,

  • my only options are in school suspension

  • or alternative school.

  • And what is alternative school?

  • Alternative school is where all the kids

  • that have behavioral issues, sell drugs, fight all the time.

  • Like I wish the best for them.

  • And I know they have good qualities in them.

  • But I don't deserve to be grouped with them.

  • No.

  • You have good grades.

  • You don't do drugs.

  • You don't do any of that.

  • And they won't allow you to walk in graduation.

  • Which is the biggest--

  • you get that far through school, and you

  • want to walk graduation.

  • Like, I've worked for this all my life.

  • I've strived for this.

  • I deserve this moment, to walk across stage

  • and enter into life.

  • My parents deserve this.

  • Like, they're the ones who, you know,

  • they got me through anything.

  • And you know, they just taught me everything.

  • They deserve to see me walk across the stage.

  • They sure do.

  • All right.

  • [APPLAUSE]

  • We're going to take a break, and more with DeAndre after this.

  • Let's talk about-- you want to go to college.

  • Right?

  • What do you want to major in?

  • When I go to college, I want to be a vet because I've always

  • loved animals--

  • everything about animals.

  • Just their sense of loyalty, and just companionship.

  • You can't get it anywhere else.

  • No.

  • Unconditional love.

  • Love it.

  • Listen, do you know how much school that is?

  • Like, you have to go to more school

  • than a doctor for people.

  • Go to more-- it's a long time.

  • But I love that you want to do that.

  • That's amazing.

  • I have to say something into this camera right here.

  • I am begging you--

  • this kid is a good kid.

  • He deserves to graduate, to walk with all the other kids.

  • He's a good guy.

  • I just am urging you to do the right thing.

  • Please.

  • Please.

  • [APPLAUSE]

  • Change your mind.

  • [APPLAUSE]

  • You have an incredible future ahead of you.

  • And as much as this has been a hassle,

  • I think it will be a discussion, and an eye opener

  • for these people to go maybe we did make a mistake.

  • Hey, Alicia.

  • Alicia wants to tell you something.

  • Alicia.

  • [APPLAUSE]

  • Hi, brother.

  • Can I get some love?

  • All right.

  • Well, I'm so happy to surprise you.

  • And I want to tell you that I couldn't believe the story when

  • I heard it.

  • And I'm super proud of you for standing up

  • for what you know is right.

  • And I know that the school needs to do the right thing.

  • Me and Ellen, you know, we called our friends

  • at Shutterfly because we know that you're a special person.

  • And you're destined for already such greatness.

  • And we wanted to support that greatness,

  • and invest in that greatness.

  • And so we wanted to present you with a check for $20,000.

  • [APPLAUSE]

  • Thank you so much.

  • So when you go to college--

  • [APPLAUSE]

  • Yes, proud of you.

  • Thank you.

  • There's nothing you can't do.

  • I want to thank Hoda Kotb, Alicia Keys.

  • I'll see you tomorrow.

  • Be kind to one another.

  • Please change your mind.

  • Come on, he's a good kid.

Hi, DeAndre.

Subtitles and vocabulary

Click the word to look it up Click the word to find further inforamtion about it