At first, it seemed a joyous occasion. There was an audible gasp in the room, then boisterous cheering and applause when the announcement was made: Ikeria Washington and Layla Temple had been named 2021 valedictorian and salutatorian for West Point High School.
The president of the local NAACP in West Point, Mississippi, Anner Cunningham, smiled as the two young women, both standout students, were photographed. “It was a beautiful and proud moment to witness two young, Black ladies standing side by side given such honors,” Cunningham said.
But almost immediately, parents of other students near the top of the rankings raised questions about who should have been honored. Within days, and breaking with long-standing tradition, West Point High School decided to name two valedictorians and two salutatorians — with two white students, Emma Berry and Dominic Borgioli, joining the Black students who had already been named.
(cont.)
Two white kids got slightly higher grades in easier classes than the Black kids who excelled in AP classes, so they complained to their parents.
Because white mediocrity will find a way to weasel its way alongside Black excellence every single time.
If you run a mile in six minutes and I run a mile in six minutes and 15 seconds carrying a 50 lb sack on my back, yes you finished first, but my time was much more impressive, and the rules of the race say I get bonus points for the extra weight so I win the trophy.
You *chose* to run that race without the weight, forgoing the bonus points, because you thought you could finish so much faster than me that you would win even with my bonus.
But you didn’t. Because I’m better than you. You don’t then get to cry until you get a trophy too.
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