Nyree Holmes achieved great academic success while attending the predominately white Cosumnes Oaks High School in Elk Grove, California. He became a merit scholar and was accepted into California State University where he will pursue a degree in film.
However, Holmes high school career ended on a bad note after he faced discrimination on the day of his graduation. According to his posts on Twitter, Holmes was preparing to receive his high school diploma when he was confronted by a White person named Matt Mason, who demanded that he remove his African kente cloth from around his neck. Holmes refused to remove the kente cloth and Mason notified several teaches. The teachers then asked Holmes to remove the kente cloth and he told them it was a cultural piece.
Mason and other school officials went to get police shortly before Holmes was set to receive his diploma. Holmes was able to walk across the stage and take a picture, but once he exited the stage three police officers were waiting on him at the side of the stage. The officers force Holmes to leave the graduation and the school officials would not give Holmes his official diploma. Holmes father was eventually able to grab the diploma by reaching over a secured table to retrieve it.
The incident soon became viral after Holmes went to Twitter to share his ordeal. School officials at Cosumnes Oaks High responded by saying, “The district’s approved graduation uniform is a cap and gown. Unfortunately, school officials were not given the opportunity to discuss with the student’s desire to wear the cloth.”
Officials at the school never apologized or took the time to understand the cultural significance of why some Black graduates choose to wear kente cloth.
Holmes told Atlanta Black Star that since he was a “descendant of slaves, I have no firm connection to my roots in Africa. I wanted to wear my kente cloth as a representation of my pride in my ancestors.”
Holmes’ desire to express himself culturally on the biggest day of his life should not have led to a police escort out of the building. It was a form of racial discrimination and the school and individuals who attempted to force Holmes to remove the cloth should be held accountable for their actions.
