Minorities At Risk For Drowning
Obama Honors Fallen Troops
From Courthouse News: 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.
Kymberly Wimberly, 18, got only a single B in her 4 years at McGehee Secondary School, and loaded up on Honors and Advanced Placement classes. She had the highest G.P.A. and says the school's refusal to let her be sole valedictorian was part of a pattern of discrimination against black students.
Wimberly says that despite earning the highest G.P.A. of the Class of 2011, and being informed of it by a school counselor, "school administrators and personnel treated two other white students as heir[s] apparent to the valedictorian and salutatorian spots."
Read more here.
Comments: (45)
Add a comment
By: Tiana on 7/26/2011 12:58PM
I hope she wins this lawsuit also..... There was
a notation in the article "this young mother"???
Did anyone see this.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: inga on 10/11/2011 11:47PM
You know, my cv services willbe interesting for you I am sure
Report This
By: Jsmoot on 7/26/2011 3:45PM
This rag is an endless parade of fake racism articles. This young woman had a baby in high school. I hardly think that qualifies her to be the best representative of her class. Now, if you could find me some white high school moms that were named sole valedictorian based on grades alone, we'd have an interesting story.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Dee Dee on 7/27/2011 5:37AM
It doesn't matter whether she had a child or not; she still achieved her education requirements, and got the highest score of the whole school. She is not an example for anyone but herself. Having kids do not stop a person from getting an education.
Report This
By: Jsmoot on 7/27/2011 11:09PM
I didn't say she didn't do a fantastic job getting good grades despite her poor life choices. I'm proud of her for that. But I personally would not vote her class valedictorian because I think having children in high school is a horrible thing to do to both yourself and to your neighbors, who generally have to pay for your selfishness.
The valedictorian should be an example to follow, not just someone who managed top grades.
Report This
By: Greg D. on 7/30/2011 9:23PM
@Jsmoot,
Nowhere in the article does it suggest the highest GPA IS NOT the only criteria. You're injecting other criteria not stated. If it can be proven historically the only criteria to be GPA, she will win her case. Subjectivity remains the food that feeds the beast of racism.
You prove it by injecting a criteria for selecting valedictorian that has yet to be presented. You're predisposed to doubt discrimination against African-Americans out-of-hand in spite of historical precedence.
There's no double standard at work either. African-Americans don't have a history of systemic discrimination against whites.
Common logic would suggest, the person with the long established history of stealing chickens is most like the person who stole the chicken. The person with no history of stealing chickens, most likely didn't do it.
White America has a long history of stealing chickens and just about everything else.
You do the math.
Report This
By: Tracy on 7/28/2011 7:00PM
It's a shame that a person hard work doesn't count for anything these days. Just because this young woman had a child and is African American and in high school she is looked down upon. You need to be a shamed of yourself. Yes she may have made a mistake, but look what she did she finished school at the top of her class, with a child in hand. What was wrong with those who did not have her challenges. She should be honored. And shame on your RASIST out look.
Report This
By: troy on 7/29/2011 3:14AM
Its even more remarkable that she earned the highest grades as a teen (and I am assuming single) mother. Most teens would drop out at worst or barely get passing grades at best. She should be noted for her responsibility to graduate and excel. With these grades she will get a full ride somewhere (that she has earned not been entitled to) and be able to provide for her baby. What a great example of a young women breaking stereotypes. I personally dislike most black people generally because they are not like this young woman, but if it were up to me I would have put out a press release to commend her academic feat coupled with her commitment to her pregnancy and child. She must be very mature and determined and hopefully has a great support network (out of school).
Report This
By: clark on 7/26/2011 8:15PM
Finally, some guts on the part of a school! Good for them, turning down the affirmative action Negro and instead choosing someone for valecdictorian who really earned it and someone the whole school could be proud of, a white person!
Congratulations to this brave school!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: HoneyKone on 7/26/2011 8:23PM
What does "affirmative action" have to do with a public high school??
Report This