Education

Black Student Sues Arkansas School: Claims Race Prevented Her From Being Valedictorian

Black Student Sues School Race Prevented Her ValedictorianOne Arkansas high school graduate is reportedly suing her high school, claiming racial discrimination prevented her from becoming her school’s sole valedictorian. 18-year old Kymberly Wimberly, a black student from the town of McGehee alleges she had the highest G.P.A. in her graduating class but was forced to share a “co-valedictorian” title with a white student she claims had a lower G.P.A.

The lawsuit alleges that the decision to make Wimberly share the title reveals a “pattern and practice of school administrators and personnel treating the African-American students less favorably than the Caucasian ones.”

To add fuel to the fire, Wimberly’s mother, who actually works for the McGehee school district, is alleging she overheard school officials say they wanted to avoid the “big mess” that would come about if Wimberly was slected to be sole valedictorian. Shine reports:

On May 10, the school‘s counselor told Wimberly’s mother, Molly Bratton, who works as the McGehee school district’s media specialist, that Wimberly had the highest GPA in the class of 2011. The school superintendent, Thomas Gathen, confirmed that she had been named valedictorian.

But a few hours later, Bratton overheard an employee saying that having Wimberly as valedictorian might cause a “big mess.” And the next day the school’s principal, Darrell Thompson, said “that he decided to name a white student as co-valedictorian,” even though the other student‘s GPA was lower than Wimberly’s, according to the lawsuit filed in federal court July 21.

Wimberly also asserts that even while she was pregnant and gave birth to her own child junior year, she took advanced placement and honors courses, earning only one B mark during her entire 4-years of high school.

The graduate reportedly told ABC News “my teachers thought I’d fall flat on my face, but I kept trying to succeed.”

Now Wimberly is seeking punitive damages in addition to her school record being changed. Shine explains the allegations put forth in Wimberly’s lawsuit:

“Defendants did not support African-American students, and did not want to see Wimberly, an African-American young mother, as valedictorian,” the lawsuit alleges. In addition to $75,000 in punitive damages, Wimberly, who will be attending the University of Arkansas this fall, is asking that the school recognizes her as the only valedictorian of her class. No legal response has been filed by lawyers for the school district.

“I told [the co-valedictorian] this isn’t fair. This is an administrative decision,” Wimberly said in an interview with ABC News. In her lawsuit, she accuses the school of racial discrimination, saying that the district is more committed to advancing its white students than its black ones. (According to high-schools.com, there are 643 students at McGehee High School, and the student body is 50 percent black and 49 percent white.) “African-American students were not encouraged to take Honors or Advanced Placement classes,” her complaint reads. “Caucasian students had to almost opt out (of advanced classes).”

Not surprisingly, school officials are denying race factored in to their decision to select a co-valedictorian. Do you think race played a role?

The ABC News report featured below explores other instances of black students who also cite suffering similar discrimination:
Black Student Sues School Race Prevented Her Valedictorian

Comments (206)

1 2 3 ... 6
  • CapaCity
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 6:57am

    Why the need to sue for 75 large? That would put the school in a position to cut programs that could benefit other students, and she will get a good job with her education. Just another product of the “me generation”.

    Report Post »  
    • txbigfoot
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 7:03am

      Fire mom.
      Defend the lawsuit and when they win then sue her to collect court cost. If she cant pay, no degree.
      I am tired of this BS

      Report Post » txbigfoot  
    • B4B
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 7:11am

      So what we have here is an example of a less qualified minority (49% Caucasian, 50% Black at this school) being promoted at the expense of a more qualified majority?

      What’s the gripe?

      Isn’t this the “social justice” minorities have been championing for decades?

      Report Post »  
    • Mrtoohappy
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 7:21am

      Hurts when the shoe is on the other foot, doesn’t it. If the white guy was high grade and they didn’t let her share with him she would of sued.

      Report Post »  
    • sxnson
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 9:42am

      $75K is the minimum amount necessary to file a civil claim in federal (instead of state) court.

      Report Post »  
    • Jezcruzen
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 9:50am

      Sounds to me like she should have been the only valedictorian. She earned the right by hard work and shouldn’t have had to “share” with someone of a lessor GPA. The idiots who hatched this scam should have to pay out of their own pockets.

      Report Post »  
    • Cerealface
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 10:11am

      Sue the school for getting pregnant huh?

      Report Post » Cerealface  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 11:44am

      Numbers don’t LIE…..This girl needs to learn simple math…

      Report Post » banjarmon  
    • The Big Pickle
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 12:05pm

      I’ll bet the White kid took classes like Advanced Physics, Calculius, Chemistry, etc.etc..etc.. and the black girl took african studies, woman studies, basic algebra and things of that nature. No wonder she got good grades. A monkey could get an “A” in the easiest classes.

      Like somebody else already said, I’d be surprised if she could pass an ACT or SAT test.

      Report Post » The Big Pickle  
    • YouGottaProblemWithThat
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 3:35pm

      She is totally right! Pregnant prom queen, no problem. Gay prom king, no problem. Pediphile Muslims, no problem. Boys and girls who graduate from our schools and cannot read, no problem either.

      Life would be so very fair and equitable if we just started to do away with all standards of behavior.

      Hey Johnny, here is a trophy for your participation, and don’t feel bad that Ping is so much smarter than you. His home country of China will soon be your master. Better take this chance to make friends now.

      America will be taken without a shot!

      Report Post » YouGottaProblemWithThat  
    • FreedomMissMeYet
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 7:31pm

      In the story, replace all “Black” w/ “Gray” and all “White” w/ “Gray”. Now relax, open your mind, take 3 deep breaths. What do you see?

      …

      For those of you who said the exact same thing, you are delusional. You may as well be saying, “I’m right, I’m right, I know I’m right…how do I know? My brain goes out and picks up just the things it needs to tell me I’m right.”

      She earned the grade and the sole Val spot.

      Report Post »  
    • vtxphantom
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 10:27pm

      Kymberly Wimberly, from McGehee. Your kidding right? Is she going to blame the school for getting knocked up too? What a bimbo.

      Report Post »  
    • Imagettinsome
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 12:02am

      When your last name is Wimberly don’t name your kid Kymberly…that right there should disqualify her..and the fact she wasn’t smart enough to avoid pregnancy

      Report Post »  
    • nptden
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 9:07am

      Nothing like the ole ‘race’ card game. They sure know how to milk it. I hope the GOP puts up Rep Allen West as a candidate. Time to end racism which is fired up by the Dems, ACLU and all the deadbeats like Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Jones who ride the coat-tails of Civil Rights for their own pocketbook.

      Report Post » nptden  
    • Woody WoodBecker
      Posted on August 1, 2011 at 6:56am

      Most of don’t get it and a few in here are racist.

      Most blacks, live very conservative lives – going to Church, anti- abortion, anti-gay marriage, etc.

      And most blacks want everything most people want – fairness. We don’t want the rules changed or rigged so we can win or co-win, we want to compete, win and get the rewards of winning.

      In fact, the biggest threat to black people is white liberal guilt. It’s destroying black education, careers, family, neighborhoods, businesses and finances.

      Think about it.

      Report Post »  
  • dissentnow
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 6:51am

    She thinks that she is entitled and that if she doesn’t get her way then cry racism…..go figure

    Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 8:03am

      That depends on whether the facts are right or not. IF she was the highest GPA and was forced to share the honor with someone of a lower GPA, then she’s in the right. But it it was lower by a really small fraction, sharing would be the right answer. I wonder if it had been reversed, the white forced to share with a lower GPA black student, if it would make as much news?

      Report Post »  
    • Realwithit
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 8:36am

      Funny thing about this post is that until you walk in the shoes of a minority then you would fully know what it is to be discriminated against both openly or in smooth undertones. If the facts were right and the margin was big, and also if the comments were made in regards to “A big mess” in her scholastic accomplishment being public then yes that would be discriminatory. Also you have to make sure that when you state a condescending opinion, it is of you own. Because if you are the face of all like you then you will realize that yes some of your own is racist to a high percent.

      Report Post »  
    • vehoae
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 11:33am

      This black student is merely following directives handed down by organizations i.e. NAACP and from encouragement by celebrities — such as Jesse Jackson, Jr.’s speech the other day recommending that blacks fight (aka, Civil War Phase 2).

      Report Post »  
    • ecurbyy
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 11:44am

      She will probably be on the supreme court someday. She certainly knows all about “Me Me Me. What about me? At least I got to get paid! I got a baby to feed!

      Report Post » ecurbyy  
  • aguynameddave
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 6:33am

    if she had the highest GPA, and that was the criteria for naming a valedictorian, than she should be it, alone. if someone else had the same GPA, or there where other qualifying factors for who was named valedictorian, and the other person met those also, than she doesn’t have a leg to stand on.

    Report Post » aguynameddave  
    • chazman
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 6:49am

      … wah! Because I’m BBLLAACCKK!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • auntmoxie.com
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 8:16am

      Thank you. This shouldn’t be so convoluted. I get the sense that some details are missing here. And if it’s that cut-and-dry, and it is racism, then go fight it. Next story, please…

      Report Post » auntmoxie.com  
    • Carolina Infidel
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 8:46am

      Yeah, but where are the damages? Why sue for $75K? Who is hurt? If the record needs to be set straight, set it straight but where is there monetary or even personal damages if the record is set right if her GPA was the highest?

      Report Post »  
    • Docrow
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 9:03am

      The story never gave the GPA numbers. Why are these not available? Who is hiding them? That will tell you who is in the wrong.

      Report Post » Docrow  
    • GiveMeLiberty1775
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 10:20am

      When I was in school. You needed to have all A’s to be valedictorian. The story does need to include the full criteria for the honor.

      Report Post »  
    • cromag11b
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 1:52pm

      This is entirely the wrong site to take a stand against racism.

      Report Post » cromag11b  
    • RabidPatriot
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 2:24pm

      Valedictorian is not just about GPA. It is the student that is the highest achiever which is a combination of GPA and the strength of academic schedule. Someone with 10 AP classes and a 3.9 GPA is higher placed than someone with 5 AP classes and a 3.95 GPA.

      Report Post » RabidPatriot  
  • BobinAtlanta
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 6:23am

    I am confused. Using racial set-asides is a good thing when it comes to promoting police and firemen. Have to have that “balance”, right? So, racial set-asides are NOT a good thing when it comes to education? I thought certain colleges had to accept a certain percentage of minorities….

    Like I said, racial politics can be so confusing!

    Report Post »  
  • NHABE64
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 5:49am

    Of course is racism, anytime a black person does not get their way or does not reach their goals its always because of racism. Its certainly not because just possibily because a white person, we all know that is not possible. The race card, the crutch of the black American until the end of time I guess. Get a life people!

    Report Post »  
    • HappyStretchedThin
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 5:59am

      What’s the school policy on choosing a val? That’s missing. If not wanting to hold up a teen mother as a role model was part of the decision, the school should be open about it. This article sure makes it sound like miss Wimberly got a flaming MISeducation, though, if she really has the attitude that the way to success is to work hard, then if you don’t get what you want, sue and blame everything on race…

      Report Post » HappyStretchedThin  
    • 1proudAmerican
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 10:14am

      @happystretchedthin
      I was thinking the same thing. Maybe the “big mess” they were worried about was honoring a teen mom as Valadictorian. It’s great that she was able to work hard and earn high grades, but she still had a baby during high school. That’s not a role model.

      Report Post »  
    • oregon scott
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 4:41pm

      Obama wants to share the wealth, tell me what the difference is here, if she actually got better grades then the School gave the co val some of her grade point average to make them equal. No law suit is needed just ask your so called president.

      Report Post »  
  • Chasvs391
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 5:29am

    Do you think her uppity attitude had anything to do with the decision?

    Report Post »  
  • THE EQUALIZER
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 4:47am

    No sweetie…Race got you to believe you deserve it, Reality and genetics did the rest.

    Report Post »  
  • Walter P
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 4:43am

    There‘s two pieces of information I’d like to see.
    1) As other posters said: the GPAs of both individuals
    2) The exact “damages” she has suffered being named co-val instead of solo-val.

    Report Post » Walter P  
  • USAFFELPMAN
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 4:21am

    A: How did this rise to the level to make it the blaze?
    B. Past racism doesn’t justify current racism (against any race)
    C. Agree with those who withheld judgement due to lack of information

    Report Post »  
    • AmericanPatriot02
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 12:20pm

      I don’t think this site is about reporting the news. It’s about picking out sensational points from newsworthy topics to get discussions going about said topics. Racism, teen pregnancy, affirmative action, students getting screwed,etc. Look at the comments, every person wants to talk about at least one of these things. The result doesn’t matter, because it already did the job of getting people who already agreed on beliefs in the first place to reaffirm them.

      Report Post » AmericanPatriot02  
  • justice
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 4:07am

    Wha, Wha. Welcome to the real world. We all do not get our way! Need a tissue.

    Report Post »  
  • FlowerBell
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 4:03am

    The person with the highest scores should have won, period. But this article has no evidence of who actually has the highest scores, only hearsay. Make the scores public and be done with the nonsense.

    Report Post » FlowerBell  
    • younowknow
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 6:01am

      I agree.

      Where is the rest of the information?

      This article is one sided no doubt. Come on Blaze you have done much better than this in the past.

      Where is the truth or the GPA of the other student?

      Report Post » younowknow  
    • JJ Coolay
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 6:34am

      Agreed. The story needs better coverage. What’s the deal with half a story. If I wanted a cliff hanger Id the season finale of some stupid tv show.

      Report Post » JJ Coolay  
    • gunslingerpatriot
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 8:07am

      Come on Blaze:
      What are the students GPA’s.
      Which student took more AP Honors courses?
      The story is lacking this relavant information.

      If both students took the same number of AP Honors classes, then the student with the highest GPA is class Val. It would be interesting to see a comparison of these two students transcripts, and a list of their extra curricular activities. My instincts tell me that the white student may have accomplished more outside the classroom for his school than this young lady did.

      Report Post » gunslingerpatriot  
  • Ron_WA
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 3:50am

    I hope for everyone’s sake there is a very transparent, open & independent North Korean review (kidding) but a truly independent review that shows which GPA (weighted) & extra-curricular (lower weight) efforts resulted in an objectively numerical score for valedictorian.

    That would go a long way towards healing that district & surrounding region.

    ]If one or the other side has cried wolf I hope the reap the consequences …

    Report Post » Ron_WA  
  • ForeignWatcher
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 3:37am

    Quite a good move theblaze, let them racist show themselves so we dont have to sort them out ourselves…

    Report Post »  
  • headbtweenlegs
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 3:35am

    This is getting old…Obama has played this out so bad. It becomes a kneejerk response for the Black Americans ( NOT AFRICAN ) if you don’t get your way.

    Report Post » headbtweenlegs  
  • 264win
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 3:26am

    72 Percent of African-American Children Born to Unwed Mothers
    By: Nsenga Burton | Posted: November 9, 2010

    Report Post »  
  • 264win
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 3:23am

    “More than half of all black children live in single-parent households, a number that has doubled — doubled — since we were children.”
    Barack Obama on Sunday, June 15th, 2008 in a speech at a Chicago church

    Report Post »  
  • pahalik
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 3:21am

    Morality apparently doesn’t matter to her. Only the grades. Maybe it matters to the school? I doubt it but it is possilble.

    Report Post » pahalik  
  • 264win
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 3:17am

    Dang Girl!

    You were bright enough to figure out how to contact an attorney, but not bright enough to master the use of a condom.

    Hey enjoy the money from the lawsuit.

    Don’t worry about the child the American tax-payer are use to picking up the tab!

    Report Post »  
  • 264win
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 3:09am

    g

    Report Post »  
  • 264win
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 3:07am

    Kymberly,

    I completely understand how you must feel, I have had the same thing happen to me over my life time.

    Like….

    • when my tuition for college cost more than the African Americans in my class.
    • when I was a way better than the African American at work but they laid me off because of diversity.
    • when I am standing in line at the grocery store and some African American buys steak with food stamps and I then buy chicken because that is all I have in my budget for that pay week.
    • when I am not welcome at the Malcolm X college but am not allowed to open a all white college which would make me racist.
    • when I took the police academy test but never pass but the African American passed but then they get a easer test because they are unable to pass the normal test.

    So it would appear that you are not the only not being treated fairly.

    Have you given it much thought what you will be buying first with your lawsuit money?

    Escalade with 24 karat rims?

    Hey I am sure Eric Holder will love to help you out on this issue?

    Regards

    Whitey

    Report Post »  
    • REZZ909
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 10:28am

      That was awesome!

      Report Post » REZZ909  
    • AmericanPatriot02
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 12:30pm

      Malcom X College would probably give you a good scholarship if you went. Historical Black Colleges give great scholarships to people who aren’t of color.

      Report Post » AmericanPatriot02  
  • CHEWYRUNTS
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 3:06am

    morality counts too! prego out side of wedlock? really intelligent move there Einstein.

    Report Post » CHEWYRUNTS  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 3:05am

    1im betting gpa’s were the same, or hers was a bit lower and she was just poo pooed that an error was made so the school decided since they had already told her she was val. they decided that instead of having the other girl with the perfect gpa, and NO B’S ever as val, they would share it

    actually, she probably didnt deserve the grades she got…………..teachers probably erased her wrong answers

    more directly, from me to her …………..quit your b!tching

    Report Post » Psychosis  
    • wodiej
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 8:04pm

      was thinking along the same lines. AA no doubt gave her a boost to being with.

      Report Post »  
  • meeester
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 3:05am

    classless piece of cr.p. They should take the title away from her altogether.
    Whining jackass.

    Report Post »  
  • Carborendum
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 3:05am

    Only one thing matters. What was the GPA? Notice the article says “claim”. If her claim is true (that the other student had a lower GPA) then she is right. It is racial discrimination. If the GPAs are the same, then she is wrong and is pulling out the race card for nothing.

    I’d like to see the numbers.

    Report Post »  
    • Steve
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 3:35am

      Agree

      Report Post »  
    • tarbush
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 6:03am

      might not still be about race. the other student may be related to an important union official or prominent member of the democratic socialist party. that is how things are decided in my town. they recently changed it from awarding top 10 in the class to top 10% so somebodies kid would be included. plenty of petty politics in the pristine world of high school.

      Report Post »  
  • thecid100
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 2:55am

    She’s learned enough to get an attorney…

    Report Post »  
    • MUDFLAPS
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 6:16pm

      I gave it some thought and said to myself, THECID100 said it best so Im just tagging along with him.
      All I can say is Ditto!

      Report Post »  
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