School District Won't Allow Black Valedictorian, Lawsuit Alleges

After four years of nearly straight-As, Honors and Advanced Placement classes, 18-year-old Kymberly Wimberly achieved the highest GPA at McGehee Secondary School southeast of Little Rock, Ark., according to a court complaint.

However, instead of awarding the student for her hard work and dedication, the school denied her the valedictorian status because she was black, claims the document filed by Wimberly's lawyer, John W. Walker.

According to the court document, this is not the first time this has happened in the school's history:

"[The] defendant's actions were part of a pattern and practice of school administrators and personnel treating the African-American students less favorably than the Caucasian ones...Until Wimberly, the last African-American valedictorian in the McGeeHee school district was in 1989."

Although the high school is predominantly white, 46 percent of students are African-American.

Wimberly's mother, Molly Bratton, said in the federal discrimination complaint that after her daughter had been told she would be the class valedictorian, she heard whispers of discontent over her daughter's race.

According to an article in the Courthouse News Service and the court document itself, Bratton heard school personnel discussing that Wimberly's valedictorian status might cause a "big mess."

The next day, high school principal Darrell Thompson told the mother that he had decided to name a white student as "co-valedictorian," even though Wimberly had a higher GPA and a press release had already been sent out to the local paper naming her in the position.

Despite Bratton's protests, the school board would not hear her appeal on her daughter's behalf.

Wimberly seeks punitive damages for violation of equal protection rights secured by the 14th amendment of the U.S. constitution.

Read the official court document:

wimberlypdf

Comments

[jdguera20]

05:59 PM on 08/09/2011

Not convinced a constitutional issue is here. She wasn't deprived of her status as valedictorian, instead she shares the title. It would be like having team co-captains. This is a pathetic lawsuit.

[SeanMMasters]

09:24 AM on 09/16/2011

If she had the highest academic achievement, she should be the valedictorian. The only reason for "co-" status would be if two students had the same academic achievements. Unless the other valedictorian had the same academic achievements, then, Wimberly should be the sole valedictorian.

[amanofmanyfaucets]

01:22 PM on 08/08/2011

First Racism is a very dirty word that is over used. However, in this case, whether race did or did not play a part, the action of the school was just plain dumb. It blatantly invited the judgment of racism an so was done very poorly.

[fmd]

01:15 PM on 08/08/2011

If they have never had a co-valedictorian before and the school's rules state that the highest GPA wins then it's totally wrong to force the girl to share first place.

[Wanda Duve]

11:03 AM on 08/02/2011

Is this REALLY a black/white issue? The Valedictorian is not ALWAYS the one with the top GPA. There are other things considered. ." Some institutions confer the title on the class member chosen to deliver the final graduation address, regardless of the speaker's academic credentials". Did this school make the decision based on race or due to the fact that this girl already had a baby? And PLEASE don't tell me that it does not matter if the child had a child. That just shows the deeper problem with our society. It is time we stop just being accepting of many things (children having children, drugs, taking God out of everything, always having to be Politically Correct). It is a choice this young lady made to have sex. It is not someone I want my child to "look up to". This is not a black and white issue. It is a moral issue as far as I am concerned. PLEASE STOP making racial issues out of issues that are not racial.

[iron-man]

09:50 AM on 08/04/2011

Did you and other people think the same way about Bristol Palin who we all know was white, became a single mother in her teens.
The media and the GOP turned that around to publicly advocate sexual abstinence for unmarried teens, and turn it into a positive and even rewarding her and her family for supporting her. It sounds like your ready to throw this school girl under the bus!

[Wanda Duve]

12:02 AM on 08/05/2011

Yes, I did feel the same way about Bristol Palin. It saddens me to see young girls becoming mothers while they are in high school (and younger). I don't want school girls who are pregnant to become role models. Life is hard enough without a child trying to raise a child. And yes some girls succeed. But MOST do NOT. Perhaps it is my age. I am saddened by the state of our youth. Not all, but a good bit Look around - teen moms, some have more than on child (and where are the dads, often "fathering" other children. Our youth are running wild. (and yes I blame the parents). But don't make these girls role models. So please don't lump me in with "other people". I admire the few that make it. But I feel for the ones who struggle.

[KristaStone]

10:27 PM on 08/04/2011

Wanda, I'm sorry, but this holds the STENCH of racism both of SKIN COLOR & THE FACT THAT THIS YOUNG WOMAN had a child out of wedlock! BOTH ACTIONS ARE VILE & WRONG any way you look at it. Yes, the young woman made a mistake, BUT she proved herself & worked EXTRA hard to get grades worthy of TOP HONORS! Now, if the other young lady was tied in her scores, then it would have been a totally different story. The actions of this school district is equal to the abuse that was imposed on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. & it is equal to throwing sewage on the great speech that he made so many years ago.... His dream was that ALL people would be judged by the CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER, not the color of their skin & I'm sure he would have added by mistakes that they had made. This young lady could have dropped out of school & gone on welfare, but she didn't do that! She wanted better for herself & her child! FYI, before you ask, I'm white, but again, it shouldn't matter what my skin color is, what matters is the CONTENT OF MY CHARACTER....

[eletryxx]

09:33 AM on 08/02/2011

bigalburke2
1 Fans
Become a fan
06:34 PM on 7/28/2011
I am confused..­.are we not all Americans? If we are then, why do we create these labels of African-Am­erican and so forth. If you were born here then why are you not just American? Do you think these false labels keeps both sides apart? How can we act like one "people" when we have to check a box stating something else?

-----

That almost says that St. Patrick's Day parades are separatist . . .

If you think that if African-Americans stop calling themselves African-Americans, somehow they'll be more accepted by mainstream America then you are being absolutely dishonest.

[iron-man]

10:38 AM on 08/04/2011

That's only a few vehicles in this country playing this African American game that you call labeling, and as you can see by the figures of unemployment and poverty, it not doing much to help conditions for them.

Quote: "In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

A paragraph from the "I Have a Dream" speech from Dr. Martin Luther King

Note: With the help of the G.O.P and the Demorcrats that in office today, all Americans Black and White will be in defaulted the promissory note, that Dr. King spoke about.

Wake-Up !!!

[olitenup]

10:41 PM on 08/01/2011

Oh I see, more of that southern Christianity, Christian values thing happening. Yep those adults made sure they did the right thing by that young woman.

snark

[go owls]

05:48 PM on 08/02/2011

By naming her covaledictorian!!! they really showed her.

[new beginning]

01:49 PM on 08/08/2011

Why bring religion into this?

snark

[Strateshooter]

09:25 PM on 08/01/2011

Why is everyone up in arms? Don't you white folks realize that a black woman is NOT suppose to be smarter than a blonde-haired blue-eyed white woman?

[Wanda Duve]

11:12 AM on 08/02/2011

It is comments like this that actually keep the racial "anger" going. Why could it not be that the young lady was already a mother and that is why the school was not comfortable. How many white pregnant females have held this title? Did anyone do research on this subject? I do not see this as a black/white issue. It is time to stop being so acceptive of Girls in high school having babies. It is time we get some morals instilled in our youth. I wonder if it was a white female instead of a black female if the reaction would have been the same? Why did the title of the article have to be "School District Won't Allow Black Valedictorian, Lawsuit Alleges" Instead of School District Won't Allow Teen Mom Valedictorian, Lawsuit alleges. That actually would have had many more people saying "great, it is time we stop promoting high school pregnancy. And Strateshooter - I know plenty of "black women" who are smarter than "white folks". That isnt the issue is it?

[go owls]

05:54 PM on 08/02/2011

Technically she is valedictorian, just covaledictorian. If the school wanted to punish her for being black or pregnant they would not have made her co, it would defeat the purpose. The problem is the grading system nothing more, well taht and a girl that is just trying to cause drama and take money from the kids she supposedly wants to help.

[Charlie Belin]

04:25 PM on 08/01/2011

For more information regarding the district and the lawsuit, go here: www.edspressway.com

[RuthieGix]

02:54 PM on 08/01/2011

It's a shame that in 21st century America this mother must fight 'the system' in order to get what rightfully belongs to her child.

[elaineray]

11:27 PM on 07/31/2011

Across the country there are "racially diverse" schools that are terribly segregated once you are inside, with white and Asian students in the higher lane classes and black students in lower classes. Wimberly said that black students at her school are discouraged from taking AP and honors classes and that her lawsuit is an effort to bring attention to that issue.

The question of racism in awarding valedictory status to black students is not new. Just this spring, Westinghouse High School in Pittsburgh awarded the honor posthumously to a black woman who had been denied it 75 years earlier. In that case, her sister had been valedictorian two years earlier and school officials said they couldn't have another black valedictorian , so the principal urged one of the teachers to lower the students' grade.
http://ebenezerray.com/2011/07/30/black-valedictorians-the-sound-of-history-repeating/

The question of whether Kymberly was discriminated against because of racism or because she's had a baby is interesting but irrelevant. Either way, one could argue that she was denied equal protection under the law. If the valedictorian at the school has always been chosen based on a single numerical standard - the GPA - and Kymberly had the highest GPA, she should be the valedictorian.

Kymberly is an amazing young woman with a strong support system. If she continues to work hard and stay focused and her support system remains intact, she will do well. We want this for all students.

[James Lestat Buynar]

06:27 PM on 07/31/2011

First place is first place, no one should share it with you. Some say it is not fair, tough, life is not fair. You suck it up and deal with it.

[amandalberns]

03:17 AM on 07/31/2011

I noticed on the court filing #28 mentions that the real Valedictorian is also a "young mother" and I wonder why that wasn't mentioned in the article.

It is against the law to segregate schools between white and black, but in the city I live in (and I'm sure it isn't the only one) pregnant girls are sent to the same remedial school they send dumb kids and trouble makers.

In public schools pregnant girls and young mothers are discriminated toward more than African Americans because it is still legal. Maybe that "big mess" comment was about the fact that the girl was a young mother.

Because it would be terrible to send the message that young mothers can actually make something of themselves, right?

[EvaluatingItAll]

04:48 PM on 08/01/2011

Isn't it also illegal to discriminate based on familial status? If so, "pregnant" would seem to fall in that class. Pregnant girls are presumptive mothers.

[Ian Target]

05:37 PM on 07/30/2011

"Wolf! Wolf!" Whoops, I mean, "Racism! Racism!" And does anybody who remember what happened to the little boy who cried, "Wolf!" too often?

[Mike Saenz]

01:13 AM on 07/31/2011

So...you seem to have your mind made up already, even though the article doesn't say anything to discredit the plaintiff's claim.

Tell me, Ian 0 fans, how is it that you are so sure?

Not calling you a racist. Just prejudiced. Literally...from the words meaning "to PREJUDGE."

[Ian Target]

11:52 AM on 07/31/2011

I don't see your point. I mean, the sole purpose of this forum is to state an opinion based on the article. And based on what is in the article, this young woman is claiming racism without validity.

[new beginning]

01:56 PM on 08/08/2011

Gotta be your first fan Ian. Welcome to hp

[DrizzyDrake]

05:34 PM on 07/30/2011

anyone surprised its in Arkansas..?

[dirtydog1776]

03:39 PM on 07/29/2011

"Although the high school is predominantly white, 46 percent of students are African-American."

But whites make up about 48% which I hardly think is "predominant."