We need a News of Weird, Racism version

[monstro]

Because this story is just CRAZY!

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.”
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.’”
McGehee Secondary School is predominantly white, and 46 percent African-American, according to the complaint. Bratton says that the day after she heard the “big mess” comment, McGehee Principal Darrell Thompson, a defendant, told her “that he decided to name a white student as co-valedictorian,” although the white student had a lower G.P.A.

In summary:

Black girl earns highest GPA out of the whole class. She is told she will be the valedictorian.

School administrators worry of a “big mess” if a black student carries that title, so they appoint a white “co-valedictorian” who has a lower GPA.

The black girl’s mother wants to put the brakes on this, but is told she can only address the school board AFTER the graduation.

Usually I can’t muster up much sympathy for litigious valedictorians. But this is just ridiculous. And it’s so weird to me because the “big mess” they were trying to avoid? I can’t imagine it being any bigger than the big mess that’s sure to follow from this.

The irony of this madness being set in Little Rock burns with the black heat of a million Malcolm Xs.

[Argent_Towers]

Kimberly Wimberly?

I am going to have to wait until more info about this comes out. Something doesn’t sound right about it. I never believe claims like this right away - race-related or otherwise - until a little more information is available.

Unfortunately, racial hucksterism of the Sharpton, Jena 6, Duke Rape variety has poisoned the well for me, and now I am always very hesitant to take any stories like this at face value.

[postcards]

“McGehee Secondary School is predominantly white, and 46 percent African-American…”

How can a school that’s nearly half black be “predominantly” white?

[jjimm]

Were I a principal I would refuse to let someone called “Kymberly Wimberly” be a valedictorian regardless of their color.

Nor anyone called Schminky Pinky, Lanshawe Featherstonehaugh, or Bumly Cholmondeley. It would be a big ol’ mess.

[Snowboarder_Bo]

Huffington Post has the entire filed lawsuit document on their site.

[Little_Nemo]

I agree with Argent Towers on this one. This seems too outrageous to believe it’s happening in 2011. But if this story is generally true then I wish Ms Wimberly and Ms Bratton the best of luck in their lawsuit. Although with a case like this I don’t think they’re going to need much luck.

[monstro]

Just curious about the nature of the skepticism here.

Are ya’ll doubtful that there’s a person called Kimberly Wimberly?

That she was the valedictorian of her class?

That the school appointed a co-valedictorian with a lesser GPA?

Let’s say mother and daughter are lying–she’s actually was not the valedictorian nor was there a co-valedictorian. Wouldn’t it be something that the school would be immediately be able to prove?

Why would the mother risk losing her job by coming up with such a bald-faced lie?

Why would a girl who only made one B through all four years of high school risk her reputation by going up against her alma mater with such a stupid lie?

I can understand being shocked that this could happen. But automatically thinking this is all a farse? I’d have to believe that none of these people existed at all and that the article I linked to was right out of the Onion for my mind to jump to that conclusion.

But I perhaps I’m the gullible one. I dunno.

[Dewey_Finn]

@postcards

“McGehee Secondary School is predominantly white, and 46 percent African-American…”

How can a school that’s nearly half black be “predominantly” white?

That’s the part that confused me.

[Argent_Towers]

I’ll buy that there was a “co-valedictorian” selected. And, understandably, that would piss off the originally-selected valedictorian. I would also buy that someone in this position, or their family, would imagine a racial angle where none existed, and go to the media about it.

[Uncle_Jocko]

@postcards

“McGehee Secondary School is predominantly white, and 46 percent African-American…”

How can a school that’s nearly half black be “predominantly” white?

Maybe there’s a lot of South African-Americans around Little Rock.

[Rand_Rover]

Monstro, here’s a fact you haven’t mentioned–Kymberly’s mom works at the school.

Do you think that could possible be relevant here?

[Little_Nemo]

@Rand_Rover

Monstro, here’s a fact you haven’t mentioned–Kymberly’s mom works at the school.

Do you think that could possible be relevant here?

He mentioned that in the OP.

[Little_Nemo]

@monstro

Just curious about the nature of the skepticism here.

Are ya’ll doubtful that there’s a person called Kimberly Wimberly?

That she was the valedictorian of her class?

That the school appointed a co-valedictorian with a lesser GPA?

Let’s say mother and daughter are lying–she’s actually was not the valedictorian nor was there a co-valedictorian. Wouldn’t it be something that the school would be immediately be able to prove?

Why would the mother risk losing her job by coming up with such a bald-faced lie?

Why would a girl who only made one B through all four years of high school risk her reputation by going up against her alma mater with such a stupid lie?

I can understand being shocked that this could happen. But automatically thinking this is all a farse? I’d have to believe that none of these people existed at all and that the article I linked to was right out of the Onion for my mind to jump to that conclusion.

But I perhaps I’m the gullible one. I dunno.

Maybe I’m naive. But I find it hard to believe that a school administration in 2011 would be as openly discriminatory as the article is claiming. This causes me to wonder if there are other factors involved that the lawsuit isn’t mentioning.

And the student’s name isn’t Kimberly Wimberly - that would be silly. She’s Kymberly Wimberly.

[monstro]

Is the mom working at the school supposed to make her more or less credible? I’m not sure what you’re getting at, Rand.

I know in this economy, the last thing I’d want to do is call out my employer unless I was 100% sure I was going to be able to make my case. I just assume other people would have the same sense.

[chorpler]

I wonder what kind of “big mess” could possibly result from her being sole valedictorian…?

ETA: Somehow I missed the fact that you basically asked this question in the OP, monstro. Sorry. I presume the lawsuit doesn’t expand on what the “big mess” might be? If she were pregnant or a convicted criminal or something, that might explain it, but if they were solely worried about the race angle, well, I agree, it seems like doing this would obviously be creating a much bigger mess.

It will be interesting to hear what the school administrators have to say for themselves…

[Algorithm]

@monstro

School administrators worry of a “big mess” if a black student carries that title

The article you linked doesn’t actually say that:

@the linked article

…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.’”

Nowhere does it state or imply the “big mess” has anything to do with the color of Wimberly’s skin. Other things could have factored in to the decision. We don’t know unless the school releases a statement.

[Peremensoe]

The school is not actually in Little Rock, FTR.

@Reuters

McGehee is a town of about 5,000 people near the border of Mississippi and Arkansas in the middle of the impoverished Mississippi Delta.

@CNN

Wimberly’s complaint also argues the McGehee school district, in southeastern Arkansas not too far from the Mississippi River, habitually withheld access to challenging classes from black students.

Wimberly said students were told at a schoolwide assembly that advance placement classes were very rigorous and that only those who really thought they would thrive with intense workloads should elect to take them. Then, individual students were taken aside and told that the classes really weren’t all that bad, she told CNN. The overwhelming majority of those students were white, she said, adding that she was the only black student in her AP literature class and one of two in calculus.

“Black students are meant to stay in regular course levels and mostly play sports,” Wimberly said. “That’s what were good at that that’s what we should stick to - that’s the mentality of McGehee.”

Wimberly said she had one teacher, for AP biology, who encouraged all students to take the class. Its racial makeup was half black, half white, and was more reflective of McGehee’s student population, which is 46% black.

@Argent_Towers

I’ll buy that there was a “co-valedictorian” selected. And, understandably, that would piss off the originally-selected valedictorian. I would also buy that someone in this position, or their family, would imagine a racial angle where none existed, and go to the media about it.

What other angle do you imagine?

[Algorithm]

@monstro

Is the mom working at the school supposed to make her more or less credible? I’m not sure what you’re getting at, Rand.

Perhaps a school employee’s daughter being selected valedictorian would make some people think favoritism was involved. That could be a big mess. Perhaps there are policies or precedents around these types of situations.

What has the school said? Has the school ever selected a black valedictorian in the past?

ETA: “favoritism” above referring to the initial receipt of high marks by the student.

[Peremensoe]

@chorpler

If she were pregnant or a convicted criminal or something, that might explain it…

She is actually the mother of a 1½-year-old child.

[Rand_Rover]

@monstro

Is the mom working at the school supposed to make her more or less credible? I’m not sure what you’re getting at, Rand.

That fact doesn’t do anything for your view of the situation? Really? Think really hard, now.