Director Matthew A. Cherry has had one of the most successful second careers in recent history. The former Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens wide receiver won a 2020 Oscar for the animated short film “Hair Love.”
At the 2022 BET Awards, Cherry attended to continue to spread the message of Black hair positivity, as he advocated for The Crown Act, a law that prohibits job discrimination based on someone’s hair.
Hair discrimination is racial discrimination, and discrimination is not a Louisiana value. Rep. Newell's CROWN Act will protect Louisianans from discrimination based on a person's natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle. It is with great pride that I signed it into law. #lagov
— Gov. John Bel Edwards (@LouisianaGov) June 21, 2022
While on the red carpet, Cherry stopped by rolling out to explain why he’s pushing so hard for the law Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed into law on June 21.
What are three tips you can give to athletes right now that are looking to take their next step in life?
I think one tip is you’re a little bit more prepared than you think. The world of sports really prepares you for a world in entertainment. It’s all about teamwork, it’s very collaborative. And if you know how to take instructions, you’ll go really far.
You’re here at the BET Awards. What do you guys have going in the works?
We’re here today showing … The Crown Act, trying to make sure we keep that going and get the platform up because as you know, certain jobs won’t let us wear our hair the way we want to wear it. I did “Hair Love” a couple of years back, we’re turning it into an animated series that’s going to be coming out soon to HBO Max. More TV directing. I’m doing “Swagger.” I’m doing a “Ghosts” for CBS, and I’m going back to “Bel-Air” so you know, just keeping it going.
