might cause a big mess - Arkansas

blucher · 07-28-2011, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Black Student Can't Be Valedictorian (PINE BLUFF, Ark.)

Source: Courthouse News Service

Black Student Can't Be Valedictorian
By EMMALEE ABEL

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.

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 heirs apparent to the valedictorian and salutatorian spots."

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.'"

Read more: Courthouse News Service

havasu · 07-28-2011, 01:08 PM

Seems to me that someone is tired of working and is going to play the "lawsuit lottery."

blucher · 07-28-2011, 06:17 PM

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Originally Posted by havasu

Seems to me that someone is tired of working and is going to play the "lawsuit lottery."

If it was your daughter earning the honor of valedictorian and it was denied for color what might you do?

havasu · 07-28-2011, 06:24 PM

I'm not arguing that, but what amazes me is that someone in today's society could actually say such a hurtful thing, based upon the color of their skin.

blucher · 07-28-2011, 07:14 PM

The person said "big mess". That seems horrific at best. The kid earned it even if she was purple with with lavender spots.

havasu · 07-28-2011, 07:31 PM

Three things bother me about this claim. One is the fact that it occurred in Arkansas, this information heard is only heresay, and lastly, the one to make the most profit from it is the mother, who happens to be the school's "certified media specialist."

blucher · 07-28-2011, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by havasu

Three things bother me about this claim. One is the fact that it occurred in Arkansas, this information heard is only heresay, and lastly, the one to make the most profit from it is the mother, who happens to be the school's "certified media specialist."

The source is colorofchange.com Their source was apparently CNN.

1. ?Valedictorian sues school: Was she snubbed because of race?? CNN,

7-26-11
Valedictorian sues school: Was she snubbed because of race? – This Just In - CNN.com Blogs

2. ?Kymberly L. Wimberly v. McGehee School District,? Complaint, 7-21-11
wimberlypdf

3. See reference 1

4. ?Seventh Annual AP Report to the Nation,? College Board, 2011
Offering Opportunities for Traditionally Underserved Students to Succeed | AP Report to the Nation

5. See reference 2

6. See reference 1

7. ?High school student alleges racial bias in valedictorian choice,?

Reuters, 7-27-11
High school student alleges racial bias in valedictorian choice | Reuters

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and lastly, the one to make the most profit from it is the mother, who happens to be the school's "certified media specialist."

She has a job as a media specialist with the school. How does that affect anything?

I think the girl wants what she earned but the courts can decide the rest. It's not "hearsay" when it's been vetted by several news organizations as well as what I'm hoping will be a segment on "Today" tomorrow morning.

Black people are allowed to sue too.

havasu · 07-28-2011, 07:58 PM

Please don't get me wrong. If it happened, shame on them. This should never happen. Unfortunately, watching the Los Angeles news everyday, these claims are quite common, and usually disproved when it goes into a courtroom. If someone is boasting the claim on the "Today" show, this tells me they are already trying this case in the public, rather than the courts.

Also, one who is a "Certified Media Specialist" is familar with using the media to her advantage, rather in the courts where this belongs.

blucher · 07-29-2011, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by havasu

Please don't get me wrong. If it happened, shame on them. This should never happen. Unfortunately, watching the Los Angeles news everyday, these claims are quite common, and usually disproved when it goes into a courtroom.

Is that in LA or do we apply it to any minority based on LA-California courts, after all OJ walked.

Quote:

"If someone is boasting the claim on the "Today" show, this tells me they are already trying this case in the public, rather than the courts."

That's "Entertainment Tonight" where all hype is welcome. "Today" is actually real journalism in a TV format.

Quote:

Also, one who is a "Certified Media Specialist" is familar with using the media to her advantage, rather in the courts where this belongs.

Now you hold the mother's job against the validity of the discrimination.

With all due respect, you brought a lot of bias to your former job from what you've been saying.

havasu · 07-29-2011, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blucher

With all due respect, you brought a lot of bias to your former job from what you've been saying.

I will have to agree with you on this statement. I have been taught to never believe anything that you read, and only half of what you see.

Again, I do not condone discrimination, and in fact despise it. I have been taught that there are two sides to every story, and we are only hearing one side of it.