HIMSELF WHEN POLICE TRIED TO
TACK HIM TO CUSTODY.
>> SHOWING OFF YOUR NATURAL HAIR
IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD FEEL
COMFORTABLE AND PROUD DOING.
HERE IN TEXAS BOTH WOMEN AND MEN
HAVE BEEN AT THE REACHING END OF
HAIR DISCRIMINATION.
TONIGHT OUR TIASHA WALKER
REVEALED THE GROWING MOVEMENT TO
FINALLY PUT THAT TO’ END.
>> Reporter: NOW TO AN ALLEGED
HAIR CONTINUE VERSUS FOYER
STUDENT IN BARBER’S HILL ISD.
>> VIOLATED HER SON’S BELIEFS
AND CULTURE.
>> Reporter: THEY CANNOT RETURN
TO CAMPUS UNDER NORMAL CONDITION
UNTIL THEY CUT THEIR HAIR. >> DeANDRE ARNOLD SPINED OVER
>> DeANDRE ARNOLD SPINED OVER
THE LENGTHS OF HIS DREAD LOCKS.
THE DRESS CODE AT THE HIGH
SCHOOL FORCED HIM TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN HIS CULTURE AND HIS
DIPLOMA.
>> THEY SAY EVEN THOUGH MY HAIR
IS UP AND OFF ALL THE REGULATION
IF IT WAS DOWN IT WOULD BE OUT
OF DRESS CODE.
NOT THAT I AM OUT OF DRESS CODE.
BUT IF.
>> Reporter: DeANDRE MADE
NATIONAL NEWS.
THE STORY GOING VIRAL.
HIS DREAD LOCKS GETTING HAIR
LOVE FROM THE LIKES OF ELLEN.
>> HE MADE THE CHOICE ON
PRECIPITATION MEDICAL THAT HE
WOULD NOT CUT HIS HAIR AND HE
TRAPS PERIOD.
SO HE LEFT THE COMFORT OF HIS
HIGH SCHOOL HIS SENIOR YEAR,
PEOPLE HE GREW UP WITH.
HIS FRIENDS.
>> Reporter: THAT STATE
REPRESENTATIVE RON REYNOLDS FROM
MISSOURI CITY.
HE SAYS RIGHT NOW, TEXAS HAS NO
LAW PROCTING AGAINST HAIR
DISCRIMINATION.
BASED ON STYLE OR TEXTURE.
NO PROTECTION IN AN OFFICE
SETTING, NO PROTECTION IN THE
CLASSROOM.
HE SAYS THAT HAS TO CHANGE.
>> WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS RIGHT
AND TIME FOR TEXAS TO MOVE IN TO
THE 21st CENTURY.
>> Reporter: THAT’S THEIR
NATURAL HAIR AND THEY ARE BEING
PUNISHED FOR IT.
SO I LITTLE IT’S IMPORTANT TO
REALLY TALK ABOUT THE BEAUTY OF
OUR HAIR.
TO TALK ABOUT THE VERSATILITY.
HOW IT’S OUR PRIDE, OUR JOY.
>> Reporter: SHE IS A SCHOOL
COUNSELOR WHO TRANSITION TODAY
HER NATURAL ROOTS 10 YEARS AGO
AND NOW WEARS LOCKS.
SHE HASN’T FACED PURSUANT LITTLE
FROM AN EMPLOYER, BUT SAYS THERE
ARE TIMES WHERE SHE FELT
UNCOMFORTABLE AT WORK.
>> MORE SO I HAD COLLEAGUES WHO
HAVE ASKED IF THEY COULD TOUCH
MY HAIR.
SOME HAVE BEEN JUST GENUINE
CURIOSITY AND SOME I HAVE FELT
LIKE THEY JUST I DON’T WANT TO
SAY THEY WERE LOOKING AT ME LIKE
I AM A ZOO.
>> Reporter: SHE SAYS FOR FAR
TOO LONG STRAIGHT HAIR HAS BEEN
PERCEIVED IS STOP DART OF
BEAUTY.
RESEARCHED BY THE CROWN
COALITION WHICH ADVOCATES FOR
ENDING HER DISCRIMINATION, FOUND
BLACK WOMEN ARE 1 1/2 MORE TIMES
LIKELY TO BE SENT HOME FROM WORK
FOR THEIR HEY.
80% WOULD CHANGE THEIR HAIR FROM
ITS NATURAL STAYED TO ADAPT IN
WHITE WORKPLACES .
>> I THINK YOUR HAIR LIKES THESE
BETTER.
>> Reporter: TAMEKA MOORE
SPECIALIZES IN NATURAL HAIR AT
HER SALON, SUGAR CURL IN WEST
HOUSTON.
SHE SAYS TIMES OF CHANGING.
MORE WOMEN ARE TRANSITIONING
FROM CHEMICAL RELAXERS WHICH ARE
TOXIC TO THE SKIN, BACK TO THEIR
NATURAL WAVES, KINKS, AND COILS.
>> IN THEY DO THAT, THEY CAN
LACK IN THE THEIR OR AND MIRROR
DOESN’T MATTER SOME IF NONE
DOESN’T LIKE PIE CURL PAT WERE I
AM BEAUTIFULLY THE WAY I AM.
>> Reporter: NATURAL HAIR
STYLIST IS THE NATURAL HAIR
MOVEMENT HAS COME A LONG WAY.
>> IF YOU GO AND TARGET AND YOU
WALK DOWN THE, YOU KNOW, ETHNIC
HAIR CARE AISLE.
YOU SEE A LOT MORE PRODUCTS NOW,
THERE IS A GREATER SELECTION NOW
THAN HOW IT WAS IN 2009.
>> Reporter: REPRESENTATION IN
PRINT, ON TELEVISION AND IN THE
LAW.
THAT BRINGS US BACK TO STATE
REPRESENTATIVE RON REYNOLDS.
>> THERE HAVE BEEN A NATIONAL
MOVEMENT FOR THE CROWN ACT.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS RATE
AND TIME FOR TEXAS TO MOVE IN TO
THE 21st CENTURY.
AND LOOK AT STUDENTS AND PEOPLE
BASED UPON THEIR WORK ETHIC.
NOT BASED UPON HOW THEY CHOOSE
TO WEAR THEIR HAIR.
>> Reporter: REYNOLDS HAS
INTRODUCED HOUSE BILL 38, MORE
WIDELY KNOWN AS THE CROWN ACT.
>> WHETHER IT’S DREADS OR BRAIDS
OR LOCKS, THE CROWN ACTION WOULD
ELIMINATE THOSE TAPE OF
SUBJECTIVITY AND THAT IT WOULD
ALLOW PEOPLE TO BASICALLY WEAR
THEIR HAIR AS A BASICS OF
EXPRESSION.
>> Reporter: EIGHT STATES HAVE
PASSED THE CROWN ACT.
REYNOLDS IS HOPING THAT TEXAS
WILL BE NEXT.
HOW BILL 38 WAS REVVED TO THE
STATE’S AFFAIRS COMMITTEE LAST
MONTH.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE REYNOLDS
SAYS HE’S WORKING TO GET
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT SO THE BILL
CAN HEAD TO THE GOVERNOR’S DESK,