QUARREL FILES SUIT AGAINST WMSD

Article appeared in West Memphis Evening Times dated January 26,2010.

A PERFECT STORM

How can one define a perfect storm?

Perfect: [adj., n. pur-fikt; v. per-fekt] thorough; complete; utter: perfect strangers. entirely without any flaws, defects, or short coming.

Storm: [stawrm] disturbance of the normal condition, A disturbance of affairs, as a civil, political, social, or domestic commotion.

I wonder how West Memphis will remember the fall of the current Administration of West Memphis School District? One Voice will define it as a PERFECT STORM.

WE HAVE NOT STOPPED THE FIGHT

One Voice has in no way stopped the fight for justice within West Memphis School District. Just waiting on the right time for the next plan. Keep checking and keep talking about the injustice that was done to Dr. Quarrels and others by this administration. When its time to act you will know. Just remember its always quiet before THE STORM.

This is The Main Problem With African Americans In West Memphis Willie Lynch

I encourage you to read it print it out and share it with your children.

I thought this was the most appropriate time for ALL OF US to re-read, remember and NEVER FORGET, the speech given by Willie Lynch a slave owner who over 300 years ago devised a plan to help keep Black people divided...
Gentlemen:
I greet you here on the bank of the James River in the year of our lord, one thousand seven hundred and twelve. First , I shall thank you, the gentlemen of the of the colony of Virginia, for bringing me here. I am here to help you solve some of your problems with slaves. Your invitation reached me in my modest plantation in the West Indies where I have experimented with some of the newest and still the oldest method for control of slaves. Ancient Rome would envy us if my program is implemented. As our boat sailed south on the James River, named for our illustrious KING JAMES, whose BIBLE we CHERISH, I saw enough to know that our problem is not unique. While Rome used cords or wood as crosses for standing human bodies along the old highways in great numbers, you are here using the tree and the rope on occasion.
I caught the whiff of a dead slave hanging from a tree a couple of miles back. You are losing valuable stock by hangings, you are having uprisings, slaves are running away, your crops are sometimes left in the fields too long for maximum profit, you suffer occasional fires, your animals are killed, Gentleman,...You know what your problems are; I do not need to elaborate. I am not here to enumerate your problems, I am here to introduce you to a method of solving them.
In my bag, I have a fool proof method for controlling your slaves. I guarantee everyone of you that if installed it will control the slaves for at least three hundred years. My method is simple, any member of your family or any OVERSEER can use it.
I have outlined a number of differences among the slaves, and I take these differences and make them bigger. I use FEAR, DISTRUST, and ENVY for control purposes. These methods have worked on my modest plantation in the West Indies, and it will work throughout the SOUTH. Take this simple little list of differences and think about them. On the top of my list is "AGE" but it is only there because it starts with an "A"; The second is"COLOR" or shade; there is INTELLIGENCE, SIZE, SEX, SIZE OF PLANTATION, ATTITUDE of owner, whether the slaves live in the valley, on a hill, east or west, north, south, have fine or coarse hair, or is tall or short. Now that you have a list of differences, I shall give you an outline of action- but before that, I shall assure you that DISTRUST IS STRONGER THAN TRUST, AND ENVY IS STRONGER THAN ADULATION, RESPECT OR ADMIRATION.
The black slave, after receiving this indoctrination, shall carry on and will become self-refueling and self-generating for hundreds of years, maybe thousands.
Don't forget you must pitch the old black VS. the young black males, and the young black male against the old black male. You must use the dark skinned slaves VS. the light skin slaves. You must use the female VS the male, and the male VS, the female. You must always have your servants and OVERSEERS distrust all blacks, but it is necessary that your slaves trust and depend on us.
Gentlemen, these kits are your keys to control, use them. Never miss an opportunity. My plan is guaranteed, and the good thing about this plan is that if used intensely for one year the slave will remain perpetually distrustful.
-WILLIAM LYNCH-1772
The letter above is one of the major problems of the African-American race today. And with this knowledge we as a race can and will over come. So with this letter still in your mind I ask that you enlighten someone else and send this letter to as many brothers and sisters. We as a race must start somewhere in learning our problems what better place than the document that started the destruction of our MOST POWERFUL RACE!!!

INTIMIDATION TACKS USED BY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Once ago the good o'l boys with the assistance of African Americans leaders are using intimidation tacks. We knew going into this that the fight would be a hard and long fight. We as people are fighting against so many different elements here in Crittenden County. It's discouraging and difficult at times especially went you are not only in a fight against injustice, you are also fighting against those who are coming to the meetings, going back and selling out the cause to appear that they can control the outcome of things to the same people who are oppressing our people. What a shame, I just Wonder how much does it cost. Take a moment to ponder the What if question. What if Dr. Martin Luther King had decided not to come to Memphis to fight for the sanitation worker. What if Rosa Parks had gotten up when ordered to. What if the Little Rock nine had of just settled for second rate education. What if the people thousand upon thousands of people had of just stayed at home, and say this is not my fight, and not walked for miles in protest for injustice only to be attacked by the police, dogs, knight sticks and the water hose. There are so many what if, in the movement for change and justice for all. Now you must ask the question WHAT IF I, stop selling out my people.

A Recent Blogger Posed This Question

Can you post some information about the person that was selected and how their experience/qualifications compare to Dr. Quarrels. This is my first time hearing about this, and I would love to have more information about the selection process/desired criteria.
Dr. Quarrels is the only person in the District with a doctoral degree, she also hold a specialist in Educational leadership and supervision. She has been employed with the district for twenty two years. Served as an assistant principal for thirteen of those year both a Wonder Junior High and West Memphis Senior High for the pass six years. During the former principal leave of absent for health reasons Dr. Quarrels was the acting building principal on a daily basis. We know that the appointment had zero to do with qualifications and everything to do with race and gender.
The person they GAVE the high school principal job to was hired into the district six year ago when Mr. Burton went to the high school. He has a Masters Degree Education and have been in administration for seven years. "Go figure."
To add insult to injury the superintendent had, yet another mock interview for the principal position that was open at West Junior High School and hired Mr. Burton as the new principal. Keep in mind this is the principal that missed well over one hundred documented days out of school, retired because of health reasons, coming from a school that have been in school improvement for six years, placing him at a school with outstanding benchmark scores, allowing him to retire for 30 day and then hiring him so that he can get his full retirement and a salary. This is the Crittenden County Good O'l boys at its finest. It is almost getting to be a joke because they think the African Americans in West Memphis don't have a clue.

Letter to the Editor appeared in the local newspaper July 6, 2009
"If Not Now, When?

Now, the Crittenden County Branch NAACP would like to go on record in support of Dr. Palmer Quarrels as principal of West Memphis High School.

We Know that a person has been hired as principal of the school However, we as members of the Crittenden County Branch did not agree with the choice made by the West Memphis School Board. We give high regards and congratulations to the one school board member who felt that Dr. Quarrels should have been given the opportunity to serve as the principal of West Memphis High School. The reason we feel that Dr. Quarrels should have been given the opportunity to serve as principal of the West Memphis School are:

1. She is qualified with a Dr. Degree in School Administration.


2. She has experience - she has served as teacher, assistant principal at two schools - Wonder Jr. High - West Memphis Sr. High.


3. She live in the community, know the students and parents.


4. We feel Dr. Quarrels could have been an excellent choice to continue to promote excellence in the school.

The NAACP has a six point plan

1. Protection of Civil Rights


2. Educational Excellence


3. Youth Outreach


4. Voter Empowerment


5. Economic and Community Development


6. Membership Increase

As you can see Civil Rights is our Number 1 plan The NAACP is a civil Rights Organization that fight for Civil Rights of people at the local , state and national level.

We feel that injustice has been done to Dr. Quarrels the community should realize that the struggle continues. If not now, when? When will we speak up and out against injustice to people?

The National NAACP will be 100 years old this year. For 100 years the NAACP has been fighting against injustice toward people, just when we think we have rose above injustice it appears again.

This letter was submitted by Willie Catha Jones, President of Crittenden County NAACP.

LOCAL NEWSPAPER CENSOR ITS READERS

This was the editor's note in the Evening Times newspaper, dated Friday, June 19, 2009: The controversy swirling around the Principal's job at West Memphis High School is getting too intense for anonymous calls to Speak Out, therefore, further comments must be a written Letter to the Editor, signed by the writer and include a daytime and nighttime telephone number and mailing address. Mail to P.O. Box 459, West Memphis, AR 72303. Any letters without a name, telephone number and mailing address will be disregarded. Further calls to Speak Out on the subject will not be printed. They can allow people to call in and Speak Out about our city council members for weeks on end take up most of a page trying to embarrass them by they will not print the truth. Maybe we need to look into a boycott of the local newspaper. I just wonder how much do it cost West Memphis School district to censor the people? We must come together the cause is to important to just say, "wait."

What Are YOU Waiting For?

We know that the community is upset about the acts of the superintendent and the school board. People have stopped us in the local stores, called our phones, and expressed their feelings. One must ponder how could a school board allow a superintendent not to hire the most qualified person for the job. The other applicant has a masters degree and Dr. Quarrels has a Doctorate in Education.

Dr. Palmer Quarrels has worked in the district for twenty-two years and has always been fair and consistent in dealing with issues relating to the district, the school, the students and the overall professional development of the community at large. Her main focus is to make sure that each child is provided an opportunity to grow as well as to develop in a safe and wholesome learning environment.

Dr. Quarrels has worked closely with and for the outgoing principal for the past six years, assisting with matters relating to discipline, counseling with both parents and students, and troubleshooting and interacting with other school officials and community leaders. During the outgoing principal's leave of absence for health reasons, Dr. Quarrels was a major influential force in maintaining the day to day operation of the school.

The superintendent assembled an interview committee that consisted of central office administrators and two high school employees who currently work under Dr. Quarrels' supervision. This was the first time that an interview committee of that structure had been assembled for the West Memphis School District.

West Memphis Senior High School and the students deserve a high school principal that has an open door policy, a principal who is independent, a principal who is compassionate to all students, and a principal who is knowledgeable about current practices in education. We demand a leader, that understands that winning state championships are GREAT, but a quality education is better.

Parents, now is the time to prove that we do care about our children and their education. Students, now is the time to prove that you do matter and to let your voice be heard. We must let the community and the world know that we do care about our education.

Just as Dr. Martin Luther King stated in his letter while jailed in Birmingham. "For years now I have heard the word "wait!" It rings in the ears with piercing familiarity. This "Wait" has almost always meant "Never." This school board and this superintendent time has come and gone and our children cannot wait any longer.

You ask, how can you make an impact? Attend the community meetings, get involved with the acts of protest big or small, donate funds to the legal defense, get your children involved and educate them about this movement, tell as many people as you can about this injustice and encourage them to log on and blog. Get involved!