"Hair Love" wins Oscar for best animated short

"Hair Love" took home an Oscar on Sunday night for best animated short. The heartwarming animation tells the sweet story of an African American father who learns how to do his little girl's hair for the first time.

Former NFL player Matthew A. Cherry, who is behind the touching short film, said "Hair Love" was done "because we wanted to see more representation in animation, we wanted to normalize black hair."

"There is a very important issue that's out there — it's the CROWN Act. And if we can help to get this passed in all 50 states it will help stories like DeAndre Arnold's," Cherry said as he accepted his award.

The CROWN Act is a law that bans discrimination based on hairstyles associated with race. So far, only New York, New Jersey and California have signed it into law.

Arnold, a senior at a Texas high school, was suspended and told he could not walk at his graduation in the spring unless he cuts his dreadlocks. After his case gained widespread attention, the "Hair Love" team invited Arnold to the Oscars as their special guest. 

"We have a firm belief that representation matters deeply. Especially in cartoons," said the film's producer Karen Rupert Toliver as she accepted the award. "In cartoons that's when we first see our movies, that's how we shape our lives and how we see ourselves."

The win makes Cherry just the second professional athlete to win an Oscar. Two years ago, Kobe Bryant won the same award for "Dear Basketball."

Cherry paid tribute to the late NBA champion, who died alongside eight others in a helicopter crash in California two weeks ago.

"This award is dedicated to Kobe Bryant, may we all have a second act as great as his was," Cherry said. 

Long-time supporters of the animated short took to Twitter to share their congratulations.

"Shaking crying grateful," actress Gabrielle Union wrote. "Representation realllly matters!!!!!"

"Pass. The. Crown. Act. #HairLove," tweeted rapper Common.

Cherry also spoke about it in a recent interview on "CBS This Morning" — watch the video below.