Black students' success

[meeks]

Hello all,

Well after doing a search of over 5 pages of topics, I was going to post this under the black elite topic but decided not to b/c I wanted to ask a question from a slightly different angle.

I have to do a presentation on Black students' success for my school & society class. Basically the article I have is about black students who feel like they have to "hide" their academic achievement for fear of being labled by their peers as acting white. here is a quote from the artcle:
"Black Americans began to doubt their own ability, began to define academic success as white people's perogative, and began to discourage their peers from emulating white people in academic striving, i.e from "acting white".

this goes deeper than someone snidely saying "oh you talk so proper" (read "white")
its about students actually hiding their talents and success for fear of being labeled. i was just wondering if any of you had any experience of this or of any teachers out there have witnessed this in your classes.



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The truly educated never graduate!

[This message has been edited by meeks (edited March 07, 2001).]

[CarmelTreat]

I went to both a private and predominately white middle school and high school (they both were about 10% minority). But I lived in a predominately black neighborhood. I got talked about and harassed so much for talking, acting and/or wanting to "be white" by my "friends" at home that I tried to hide the fact that I excelled in school and I started acting downright dumb in class in hopes that 1) the kids on my block would find out and either think I was "black-acting" and get off of my back, or 2) I would get kicked out of that private school and get to go the schools around home so I could be one of them. I feel for the people that think that they have to hide their success and academic excellence and achievements because they are afraid of being outkasts. I'm just glad I grew out of it before I got to college.

CT

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"Only passions, great
passions can elevate
the soul to do great things"

--Diderot
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[This message has been edited by CarmelTreat (edited March 07, 2001).]

[Ania]

Carmel Treat,
I didn't go to a private school-but I feel you girl!! I'm glad we both grew out of that.

Besides, the people that tried to pull my card, are stuck with some narrow-minded attitude about life! They still call me white, stuck-up, think I'm this or that, etc.

I recently saw one young lady who had the loudest mouth in high school and used to laugh at everyone that was not like her She went out her way to tell me about how one of her baby's daddies just brought her a two-tone blue weave and their new born Nike sneakers, (she has 4children). She asked me if I had any children and what I have been up to.

I've been asking God to forgive me all day, but I had to let her know(WITH A BIG OL' CHEESE SMILE!)that I just got a full scholarship to study in Asia this summer! And that I'm handling mine! AND NO, I DON'T HAVE A VILLAGE OF CHILDREN!

DAMN THAT FELT GOOD! (Sorry, had to vent a little)

However, she still gave me that you-"stuck up, white, traitor, etc." look. Mentality of some people!

Exuse my (sp)

[mccoyred]

There was an article in a recent issue of Essence about this very same subject. I beleive it was the end of last year. I'll find it and let you know.

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MCCOYRED
Mu Psi '86
BaltCo Alumnae

Dynamic...Salient...Temperate...Since 1913

[CocoaCaramel]

I think in the Black community a GOOD education is seen as a great privelege (sp?). And when one or a few of us get the opportunity to take advantage of something like that it makes SOME people who don't have that opportunity not feel so good about themselves. So for some people (not everyone) making those who have been given or have worked hard for that privelege feel like what they have earned is a negative thing.
As a race, I feel that we generally are very supportive of one another when we accomplish something great, but there will always be haters who will only be happy if the accomplishment is theirs. Its natural to have a little envy but when it gets in the way of our advancement......please just let it go.
Just my opinion

I don't know. You be the judge.

[blu_theatrics]

We had a topic sort of like this back a few months ago on the SGRho forum.

I went to ellementary school with all white people,I was the only black girl period. but I spent most of my spare time at my grandmothers who lived in "basically the projects" so I eneded up with basically to sets off friends, it was never really a problem until junior high though when both ets of my friends ended up at the same school and I had to choose. I was in all of my classes with my white friends, and my black friends always made little comments about me trying to be white (please excuse the way this is sounding because I don't like the idea of catergorizing my friends as black or whit, but I'm trying to make the story understanable)
Anyhow, I got it all, I was called little white girl,, told I talk white, I act white etc. etc. and I really think that for a while , weel I know that I did everything I could to be looked at as "black"
It's really funny looking back at it know, but is is really sad that I felt that I had to act extra black to be accepted.

I talk correctly and really I am finding my self to be a little more ibonically correct lately, but I am not changing me for anyone. I am proud of the fact that I am a black women and that I am raising a young black man andI will make sur that he knows he has a long line of ancestors that he should be proud about.

I just wish that people would wake up and realize that there is no such thing is acting white or black. There are basically just correct ways to speak the english language and incorrect, not black or white ways.......I just had to vent for a second. sorry that was so long

[meeks]

Thanks for all your responses I'll be sure to add them in my "view points" section

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The truly educated never graduate!