Black Student Can't Be Valedictorian
July 26, 2011 7:36 AM Subscribe
" PINE BLUFF, Ark. (AR) - A high school southeast of Little Rock would not let a black student be valedictorian though she had the highest grade-point average, and wouldn't let her mom speak to the school board about it until graduation had passed, the graduate claims in Federal Court [PDF]."
" Wimberly's mother is the school's "certified media specialist." She says in the federal discrimination complaint that after her daughter had been told she would be valedictorian, the mother heard "in the copy room that same day, other school personnel expressed concern that Wimberly's status as valedictorian might cause a 'big mess.'""
" Wimberly's mother is the school's "certified media specialist." She says in the federal discrimination complaint that after her daughter had been told she would be valedictorian, the mother heard "in the copy room that same day, other school personnel expressed concern that Wimberly's status as valedictorian might cause a 'big mess.'""
This post was deleted for the following reason: Seems like a crappy situation, but this is a court filing and a restatement of the court filing and it sounds like the sitaution is still kind of developing, yeah? Maybe make a solid "this is what happened" post once there's a bit more substance available if it's worth posting at that point. -- cortex
Was this part of the Brown decision?
Aaaahh shit. This happened last week. Arkansas, you suck.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:45 AM on July 26, 2011
Aaaahh shit. This happened last week. Arkansas, you suck.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:45 AM on July 26, 2011
Here's a little discussion on the Arkansas Blog, run by Little Rock's alt-weekly (and on DU).
posted by box at 7:45 AM on July 26, 2011
posted by box at 7:45 AM on July 26, 2011
It would be interesting to see the school's answer. I wouldn't have thought that "because she's black" is still considered a reason to prevent a student from being valedictorian, but people always surprise me.
posted by planet at 7:46 AM on July 26, 2011
posted by planet at 7:46 AM on July 26, 2011
Interesting that the article didn't mention that she did this while also having taken time out of school for maternity leave (probably another reason they did not want her to be valedictorian).
posted by jeather at 7:46 AM on July 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by jeather at 7:46 AM on July 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
I know Randy Newman wrote this song (NSFW) sarcastically, but damn.
posted by Jon_Evil at 7:46 AM on July 26, 2011
posted by Jon_Evil at 7:46 AM on July 26, 2011
One of the things about the legal system is that you can complain about anything.
Another thing about it is that there's the whole presumption of innocence thing.
posted by Curious Artificer at 7:46 AM on July 26, 2011
Another thing about it is that there's the whole presumption of innocence thing.
posted by Curious Artificer at 7:46 AM on July 26, 2011
Huh...well, despite this interesting post from yesterday wherein many intelligent, knowledgable MeFi commenters wrote good explanations of how time-travel is not possible, I think we have found some conflicting evidence, at least showing it is possible to move backwards in time, or even not move in time at all. Very interesting results.
Also, seriously, wtf.
posted by dubitable at 7:49 AM on July 26, 2011
Also, seriously, wtf.
posted by dubitable at 7:49 AM on July 26, 2011
54 years later and we still haven't learned a fucking thing, apparently. Ugh.
posted by elizardbits at 7:50 AM on July 26, 2011
posted by elizardbits at 7:50 AM on July 26, 2011
Well, we have a press release and evidence that there's been a court filing. Anyone can write a press release, but you're not allowed to institute legal proceedings unless your claim is absolutely true.
On preview-- she took maternity leave? I think that has more to do with it than the color of her skin. I'm not suggesting that racism isn't pervasive, just that there are two sides to every story and the only story we have is the plantiff's. And events as described to us sound a bit too overt-- all but the most virulent racists are self-aware enough to mind appearances and pick their battles .
posted by Mayor Curley at 7:51 AM on July 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
On preview-- she took maternity leave? I think that has more to do with it than the color of her skin. I'm not suggesting that racism isn't pervasive, just that there are two sides to every story and the only story we have is the plantiff's. And events as described to us sound a bit too overt-- all but the most virulent racists are self-aware enough to mind appearances and pick their battles .
posted by Mayor Curley at 7:51 AM on July 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
Interesting that the article didn't mention that she did this while also having taken time out of school for maternity leave (probably another reason they did not want her to be valedictorian).
And an equally shitty, offensive reason (if proved to be the case).
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:53 AM on July 26, 2011 [4 favorites]
And an equally shitty, offensive reason (if proved to be the case).
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:53 AM on July 26, 2011 [4 favorites]
Remember, this is not part of any /systemic/ racism inherent in various public institutions. The US is in a post-race era, where institutional violence has been eradicated.
This is a simple case of allowing for a long tradition of ensuring white students receive the accolades they may not deserve because this is the tradition.
posted by clvrmnky at 7:53 AM on July 26, 2011
This is a simple case of allowing for a long tradition of ensuring white students receive the accolades they may not deserve because this is the tradition.
posted by clvrmnky at 7:53 AM on July 26, 2011
McGehee Secondary School is predominantly white, and 46 percent African-American, according to the complaint.
I think of "predominantly" as meaning well more than (at most) a 54-46 split.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 7:58 AM on July 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
I think of "predominantly" as meaning well more than (at most) a 54-46 split.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 7:58 AM on July 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
Another thing about it is that there's the whole presumption of innocence thing.
Except when you're caught being a non-white defendant, of course.
posted by blucevalo at 7:59 AM on July 26, 2011
Except when you're caught being a non-white defendant, of course.
posted by blucevalo at 7:59 AM on July 26, 2011
The court filing says she was out for 3 weeks on maternity leave one semester, and when she returned worked hard enough to get all her marks but one to an A. The next semester she was back to a straight A average. I am sure that the two together were what pushed things over the edge.
I mentioned this not because it's more okay to say teenage moms can't be valedictorians than Black kids can't be, but because I think it is almost certainly part of the reason, and I thought it was weird (though sort of nice) tha the article left it out.
posted by jeather at 8:00 AM on July 26, 2011
I mentioned this not because it's more okay to say teenage moms can't be valedictorians than Black kids can't be, but because I think it is almost certainly part of the reason, and I thought it was weird (though sort of nice) tha the article left it out.
posted by jeather at 8:00 AM on July 26, 2011
...Superintendent Thomas Gathen would not let her speak, because she allegedly had "filled out the wrong form. Instead of 'public comments,' Gather [sic] said Bratton should have asked for 'public participation.'"
This was, of course, on top of the time she got stuck in an administrative office due to a clerical error, the time she was thrown into detention for unspecified reasons which were never declared, and the time she woke up as a gigantic vermin.
posted by griphus at 8:01 AM on July 26, 2011
This was, of course, on top of the time she got stuck in an administrative office due to a clerical error, the time she was thrown into detention for unspecified reasons which were never declared, and the time she woke up as a gigantic vermin.
posted by griphus at 8:01 AM on July 26, 2011
I'm not saying this didn't happen exactly the way Courthouse News says it did, but I've got to admit that I find it a bit odd that every single Google News result for the story uses only one source: the Courthouse News article linked in the FPP. Well, except for the one that cites Alternet. Which in turn cites both Courthouse news and Thinkprogress. Which in turn cites... you guesses it: Courthouse News. It all seems strangely circular and makes me wonder what part of the story we're not getting here.
posted by dersins at 8:02 AM on July 26, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by dersins at 8:02 AM on July 26, 2011 [5 favorites]
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posted by ryanrs at 7:38 AM on July 26, 2011