Birmingham awards diplomas to students who died before graduation

 1601200008 
1654256338
Graduates of the A.H. Parker High School Class of 2022 walked the stage on Thursday, June 2.

Graduates of the A.H. Parker High School Class of 2022 walked the stage on Thursday, June 2.

Kyra Miles, WBHM

Students from all seven of the Birmingham City Schools’ high schools walked the stage at Bill Harris Arena this week and received their diplomas.

The graduates of A.H. Parker High School filed in Thursday wearing the school’s colors of purple and white. In the audience, families wore T-shirts with their graduates’ faces on them, and cheers filled the arena as Pomp and Circumstance began to play.

Graduation is a rite of passage many families and students look forward to their whole lives. But in the rows where the graduates sat three seats were left open.

Families wore t-shirts with their graduates' face on them and cheered when their name was called.
Families wore T-shirts with their graduates’ faces on them and cheered when their names were called.

On top of those seats were wrapped cap and gowns with a big bow on top and three large signs with the names of Parker students who lost their lives before graduation: Kaleb Tucker, James Looney and De’Undray Haggard.

After all the graduates walked across the stage, Principal Darrel Hudson asked for the families of the students who died to come to the stage to accept their diplomas.

“These seniors are not here with us physically, but they are here with us spiritually. And they will always be part of A.H. Parker High School, Class of 2022,” Hudson said.

When Kaleb’s name was called, his mom accepted his diploma along with his cousin Kendarius Tucker.

“It was unfortunate what had happened to him. But we still congratulated him,” Tucker said. “We’re still, you know, living for him because I know that’s the way he would want instead of just us constantly grieving all the time. He was a really good person.”

Kaleb died from medical complications in 2019. James and De’Undray died in shootings in 2019 and 2022 respectively. Since the beginning of this school year seven students in Birmingham City Schools have been shot and killed.

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence estimated nearly 2,000 children and teens die from gun violence every year in the United States. City leaders in Birmingham launched a series of listening sessions for teens in city high schools as part of an effort to reduce gun violence in the community. In May, they held the first listening session at Parker High School. The city-funded effort will put new counselors in schools, train students on how to de-escalate tense situations and is asking students for solutions.

Kyra Miles is a Report for America corps member at WBHM. 

 

The Supreme Court will let Alabama’s congressional map be redrawn to better represent Black voters

The justices, without any noted dissent, rejected the state's plea to retain Republican-drawn lines that were turned down by a lower court.

6 months later, Mississippi communities hit by March tornado fear they’ve been abandoned

As national attention wanes and volunteers head to other disasters, residents of Rolling Fork and nearby Silver City have been left to recover on their own.

Court appointee proposes Alabama congressional districts to provide representation to Black voters

The three proposals all create a second district where Black voters comprise a majority of the voting age population or close to it — something that state lawmakers refused to do when they drew lines this summer.

Elections in two JeffCo-area seats Tuesday

In the House District 55 race, voters will select a replacement for Rep. Fred Plump. The District 16 seat is vacant after former Rep. Kyle South stepped down June 30.

Supreme Court to decide whether Alabama can postpone drawing new congressional districts

The outcome could determine what map the state uses in the 2024 elections and whether the high court will revisit arguments over the role of race in redistricting.

Q&A: Author of ‘Rocket Men’ details how Black quarterbacks helped move the NFL forward

John Eisenberg talks with the Gulf States Newsroom about the Black quarterbacks who helped change the NFL, as well as the players who never got the chance.

More Education Coverage