Interesting. Another factor may be the stigma and social backlash that happens when the African American kids do well in school. OREO isnt just a cookie, its a purgative that kids of color that do well in school and who get interested in perceived mainstream white interests get called (volley ball, dog shows, chess club...) It is still a dumb nasty counterproductive insult today as it was when I was going to school. Success doesnt have a color and I think that it is a toxic remnant of the 60s and 70s movement of rebelling against the repressive culture of the times - unfortunately by sneering and looking down at those who conform by doing well in school and playing societies games and labeling that a racial thing instead of just a success thing they are throwing the baby out with the bathwater. (Kinda like girls still play dumb to get more dates and are afraid of looking too smart in school for fear of peer backlash) At this point I think that the counter culture movement has dissolved into unfair attacks on brilliant kids instead of healthy questioning of why things are the way they are. Some private schools have taken this head on with stunning success with even the most at-risk kids.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 23:28:30 +0000
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