Graduating senior Nyree Holmes was set to receive his diploma from Cosumnes Oaks High School in Elk Grove, California however, he was met with resistance from the school over refusing to remove his kente cloth. It cost him being able to receive his diploma as the other students did.
Holmes explained to Atlanta Black Star that it was important for him to wear the cloth because, as “descendant of slaves, I have no firm connection to my roots in Africa.” He continued, I wanted to wear my kente cloth as a representation of my pride in my ancestors, to display my cultural and religious heritage. As my particular cloth was made by Christians in Ghana, where the kente cloth has been worn by royalty and during important ceremonies for hundreds if not thousands of years.”
You can view Nyree’s account of what happened via Twitter below:
