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A policy designed 30 years ago and implemented in a Mississippi school to achieve racial equality is now gone with the wind after Brandy Springer, mother of four mixed-race children who also attended the school, challenged a system of student elections in which race determined whether a candidate could run for some class positions, including class president.
Springer's 12-year-old daughter was initially told that she couldn't run for class reporter because she wasn't the right race. The school-election guidelines were sent home with each child, indicating that only white students were allowed to run for class president this year. In alternating years, the positions would be reversed so blacks could run for president and whites could hold other positions, district officials said. See the actual memo above.
Springer is white. Her two older children, though, including the sixth grader, are one-half Native American, while her two youngest children have a black father. This is clearly a woman who embraces diversity.
Springer contacted an advocacy group for mixed-race families, and the NAACP (which is always so on top of things) called for a Justice Department investigation.
By last Friday afternoon, Superintendent Russell Taylor posted a statement on the school's Website, saying the policy had been in place for 30 years, dating to a time when school districts across Mississippi came under close scrutiny from the U.S. Justice Department over desegregation:
"It is the belief of the current administration that these procedures were implemented to help ensure minority representation and involvement in the student body," the statement said. "It is our hope and desire that these practices and procedures are no longer needed."
Even if the policy is an attempt to ensure black and white participation, Springer said diversity is no longer a black-and-white issue, with a growing number of mixed-race children, Hispanics and other ethnicities attending school together.
The school district stated last Friday that, "Beginning immediately, student elections at Nettleton School District will no longer have a classification of ethnicity. It is our intent that each student has equal opportunity to seek election for any student office."
Although well-intentioned, it is pretty shocking that such a policy has gone unquestioned for so long. There's just something a little different about those folks in the South.
Good riddance to that silly obsolete policy; however, I must say that in five years, we'll probably hear complaints that no students of color have been elected for student government positions.
Comments: (17)
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By: Amy on 8/30/2010 2:55PM
Shouldn't the title be "Miss.Middle School Bars Minority children Students from running for class President" because they are discriminating against all minority children not just black.
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By: aaron on 8/31/2010 10:56AM
I understand their thinking. It maybe wong but they are trying to mke it equal. Maybe there are so many whites at the school that if they had it any other way maybe no black kids would be voted in.`
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By: Igby on 8/31/2010 6:53PM
It should be that the best candidate wins. Mississippi still has racially segregated proms. See the movie Prom Night In Mississippi: Morgan Freeman paid for an integrated prom in a small town, and they still had white folks who wanted to stick by the segregated, all-white prom. What the hell do you all expect??? It only changes when people take a stand and refuse to put up with this s*it. Remain silent and it stays the same.
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By: The truth on 8/31/2010 11:19PM
The article heading is misleading. Blacks are not eligible this year and whites the next. This type of "affirmative action" is written into laws in some states to help so-called minorities get public civil service positions. How would you like to know someone scoring lower on the same test got a job over you because of their skin color. Don't believe it happens... Welcome to Massachusetts. Looks like some dumbass put their foot in their mouth complaining about this one.
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By: Sonya on 8/30/2010 5:45PM
I wonder what took so long and why is it that someone had to complaint before the rule changed.
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By: bob on 8/31/2010 3:39PM
Sonya it took so long because it worked! It is called affirmitive action. Now when they change the policy no blacks will be elected for anything at that school. Dumb Dumb Dumb!
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By: bob on 8/30/2010 3:59PM
Did I read it right. The school said that this year only whites could run for president but in the following year Blacks would be the only ones to run for president? If that is truly the case than what is your problem. If the school is mostly white and a white and black run for president who do you think is going to win? This is why they have a white one year and a black the next. This will ensure that the school student body has a black president. Seems like the school is trying to do the right thing and you blacks on this site just want to start a fight.
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By: jeromequigley on 8/30/2010 5:39PM
Jam, another job well done!! Your zinger at the end was so funny, mainly because it will most likely happen. As for all the groups she contacted first (I think the NAACP is busy going over the new wave of Hallmark Cards), this is a good point to hit on. Why did she not just start out having a conversation with the people at the school? No march, no sit in, and NO LAWSUIT (I wish more people worked in the insurance field and realize that when some slow sap gets $2 million for being a D.A. from a school or whomever. That the money they get robs all the other students or workers of that company and the entire town. Then people wonder why the schools, city's and companies are broke?? WAKE UP). But I would of liked to see her just got to the peepz in charge and have a civil conversation and come to the same out come. With out bring ALL these other groups in to it! Peepz seem to be unable to talk to one another any more, or see things differently but be able to meet on middle ground. I am happy the way it turned out, very peaceful. Would just be nice to see things like this happen with out it always coming down to a battle(so to speak). Again this situation did not get to that point, very happy about that. But you know what I mean! And I understand her point completely. My son is Irish/German from me and Philipino from his Mom. Where would his turn come in, he sure don't look white like me. So he would of been out of luck!! The world is changing folks, we are still using such out dated and strict rules of 30yrs ago. Now we are living the way I like, It's all about the Grey Baby!! Things are rarely Black and White any more! Peepz are either going to catch up and become very miserable! Will be interesting to see which way it goes?? Thanks Again Jam, you always get my mind going!!!
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By: jeromequigley on 8/30/2010 5:46PM
LET ME CLEAR 1 THING UP BEFORE PEEPZ TAKE IT ALL WRONG: When I said my son does not look white like me, I meant he would not of been able to run when it was a white's turn. But when it was a black's turn he would not of been able to run then either cause he look philipino (just a lot taller than average, he got some of his dads traits. just not my looks or complextion. Thank God for that!! He's a good looking kid the way he is)! I know some peepz can take one line and read WAY TO MUCH INTO IT. Thought I would cut it off before some one harped on it!
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By: Stephen on 8/30/2010 11:48PM
The Nettleton school district had an affirmative action policy in place in order to ensure that black students were elected to a certain number of positions each year. In fact, only a black student would have been able to hold the office of president during the 2011/2012 school year. So, those of you who are speaking out against the policy are evidently anti-affirmative action? Is that what you're saying? Very interesting indeed if that's the case. With this new "open" election process, it is going to make it hard for black students to win a single race if they have white opponents, because this school is over 70% white. It would be nice if students would be elected without their ethnicity coming into play, but time will tell.
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