Inside Texas Politics: Bill would aim to ban hair discrimination in 2021
DeAndre Arnold was suspended from school in Mont Belvieu, Texas because he wears dreadlocks. Now, his dreadlocks could change state law.
Author: Jason Whitely, Berna Dean Steptoe
Published: 12:31 PM CST February 8, 2020
Updated: 9:34 AM CST February 9, 2020
DALLAS — This week on Inside Texas Politics, we’ll get you caught up on what is happening around the state. A few of our major headlines: a Houston fight over dreadlocks is going statewide, why cities want a piece of the sales tax pie, and questions about whether delegates will be distributed in Texas on Super Tuesday.
NEWSMAKER
By now, a lot of people have heard of DeAndre Arnold. DeAndre lives near Houston. He was suspended from the Barbers Hill Independent School District in Mont Belvieu, Texas because he wears dreadlocks. His story made national news. The 18-year-old was even invited to the Academy Awards. Now, his dreadlocks could change state law.
State Rep. Rhetta Bowers, D-Garland, is a member of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus. Members of the caucus are working on a bill for the 2021 legislative session called the CROWN Act. That bill would ban discrimination based on hair textures and styles commonly associated with race. Bowers represents the eastern portion of Dallas County. She joined host Jason Whitely and Bud Kennedy from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram to discuss the bill.
