"It seems like something from an earlier century in which native American children were forced to give up their Indian ways and for the culture of whites.

A five-year old native American boy in Texas was punished for wearing his hair in two lengthy braids.

School officials deemed the kindergartner's braids in violation of the Needville Independent School District's dress code which forbids long hair for boys.

The ACLU sued on the boy's behalf and earlier this year, a federal district judge said the child had a constitutional right to wear his braids as an expression of his religion. On Friday, the case will be heard by the U.S. Appeals Court in New Orleans."

Get the Story:
Native American Boy's Right To Wear Braids Moves To U.S. Appeals Court (National Public Radio 12/3)

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Commentary: Native boy fights to keep hair long (6/30)
Boy's hair length at issue for school in Texas (7/15)