Wave Staff Report
LEIMERT PARK — It was standing room only in the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center June 3 for a special graduation party for A’Shari Hobbs.
Hobbs who completed her studies at St. Mary’s Academy in Inglewood this year was denied a chance to take part in graduation activities with her classmates by head of the school Brandi Odom Lucas after Hobbs’ mother, Elvira McBride, made what Lucas called threatening remarks after Hobbs was involved in an on-campus altercation with other students in late April.
Hobbs, who ran track for St. Mary’s, was forced to complete the final weeks of her education remotely and barred from the prom, Grad Nite, on-campus activities and postseason track competition by Lucas.
Community activist Najee Ali and others united to throw Hobbs her own graduation party.
“Dr. Odom Lucas’ punishment imposed against A’Shari was frankly cruel and inhumane,” Ali said. “To have an African-American woman attempt to harm an African-American youth under the guise of handbook rules is just plain wrong. Rules can be changed or amended.
“When I spoke to A’Shari and her mom, they were both in tears and heartbroken,” he said. “I wasn’t going to allow that, and I knew our community wouldn’t allow it either. The village stepped up immediately and within days organized A’Shari Hobbs’ own personal graduation ceremony and celebration.”
Speakers at the celebration spoke of the challenges faced by Hobbs and the determination she displayed in continuing to pursue her goals despite the controversy.
Speakers included four-time Olympian Johny Gray, who had coached Hobbs and considered her one of the top runners in the CIF Southern Section; KJLH radio personality Tammi Mack and Robert Saucedo, CEO of Community Build.
The graduation party was as much a community rally as it was a graduation ceremony. Several of Hobbs’ St. Mary’s classmates attended the event.
Hobbs was barred from St. Mary’s graduation, as well as other senior activities, after she was involved with a physical altercation with another student in late April that turned into a full-scale fight with several other students involved. Hobbs’ mother went to the school and got into an argument with school officials.
Emails, disciplinary records and school correspondence reviewed by The Wave show administrators explicitly told Hobbs the punishment was “not a result of A’Shari’s conduct,” but instead stemmed from threats allegedly made by her mother following the altercation between Hobbs and other students.
“She’s essentially punishing a child for something an adult did,” Ali said. “And that doesn’t make any sense.”
Gray, who has coached Hobbs in track, said Hobbs had a chance to qualify for the CIF Southern Section master’s meet and possibly the state championship track meet is not for the school ban. She will continue her track career next year at Chicago State University.
Founded in 1889, St. Mary’s Academy is the oldest continuously operating Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
In a written statement, head of the school Brandi Odom Lucas said the school could not discuss details of the case “out of respect for the privacy of the minors involved and the integrity of pending legal proceedings.”
“The safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff remain our highest priority,” Odom-Lucas said.
Freelance reporter Stephen Oduntan contributed to this story.
