3 Black Teachers Win $242,000 in Bias Case

A Los Angeles Superior Court jury has awarded more than $242,000 to three teachers who charged in a lawsuit that the Los Angeles Unified School District failed to halt pervasive discrimination against African Americans at South Gate Middle School.

A fourth plaintiff, 13-year-old former South Gate student Michael Collins, recently settled out of court for an undisclosed amount, said the plaintiffs’ attorney, Kwaku B. Duren.

Collins had been among 16 African American students at the district’s largest middle school, which is 98% Latino. He alleged that he had been the target of repeated racial slurs, malicious mischief and physical attacks.

The teachers--Emily F. Gibson, Frances M. Copeland and Levell Smith--alleged that they had been repeatedly passed over for desirable assignments in favor of lesser qualified applicants who were not black.

Gibson also charged that she had been retaliated against by district administrators because she stood up for the boy and demanded protection for him.

On Friday, a jury agreed, voting 9 to 3 in favor of the plaintiffs who filed their lawsuit Sept. 3, 1997.

“When I learned the verdict, I cried for five minutes--it’s been a long time coming,” said Gibson, who teaches English and English as a second language at South Gate Middle School.

“For me, this was always a case involving people in power who are incompetent, and their personal attendants, who misused power,” Gibson said.

Duren said the jury awards--which included $100,986 to Gibson, $98,146 to Copeland and $43,283 to Smith--send a message to district officials.

“Administrators must hold their principals accountable,” Duren said. “In this case, that didn’t happen. They backed up their principal all the way.”

School district attorney Dorothy Reyes said the district plans to appeal the verdict.

“We are very disappointed and we’re going to appeal,” Reyes said. “The evidence does not support the verdict or their claims.”

In a recent interview, Collins recalled that his problems began on his first day of school at South Gate. As soon as he and his mother walked through the gate they were greeted by a racial epithet.

Over the next several months, Collins said, he was called “Hershey Bar” and “Snickers.” He said other students tossed erasers and paper clips at him. Chocolate milk was allegedly poured on his head, ink splashed on his clothes and glue smeared in his hair. When he fought back, he was written up and sent home.

Outside school, Latino youths allegedly took turns kicking him in the back, poking him in the backside with a rusty nail and spraying his face with black paint.

Eventually, administrators labeled Collins “a mental case” and had him transferred to a school for the emotionally disturbed.

“With this verdict, I can sleep again,” said Collins’ mother, Jemmenia Young. “Emily, Frances and Levell were my son’s backbone when no one would listen to us.

“My son was almost killed at South Gate,” she said. “Ever since he left that school, his life and mine have improved.”