Black high school valedictorian honored 38 years after ‘incredibly upsetting’ snub

Tracey Meares had highest grades at Springfield high school but was denied title, sharing top student' award with white peer

In 1984, Tracey Meares was on her way to becoming her Illinois high school's first Black valedictorian, with the highest academic ranking at Springfield High. Instead, she was declared top student" - alongside Heather Russell, a white student.

Thirty-eight years later, Meares is valedictorian at last, after she was finally presented with the title last Saturday after a screening of the documentary No Title for Tracey.