This is the third in a series of blog posts about the book "Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together In the Cafeteria?" The third section of the book that I read was in between pages one hundred fifty two and two Hundred twenty. The main point from these pages that drew my attention was the answer to the question posed in the title. Having never really experienced this phenomenon due to the lack of diversity where I reside, I found this to be extremely interesting.
The first point that the author made that attracted my attention was that black students cant vent too their white friends in many instances because it is much more difficult for them to understand what they are going through. While I understand where the author is coming from and there is some truth to that statement I don't think that it is necessarily true. I can vent to my female friends about girls and it does not prove to be anymore difficult than talking to my guy friends. While this is a flawed example because my girl friends go through similar experience's with guys, I still think it has some value. Also I think that the majority of white teens today are more aware of how damaging little comments can be to our peers who are not white. However, a point that the author makes that could disprove this point is that black students perform better at traditionally black university's. The only real difference between these and more "white" university's is that there are many more black students there. As the author points out this would indicate that black students do better when surrounded by peers who are like them. Either way, that's one of the main reasons that black students tend to sit together in the cafeteria, justifiably or not.
Another extremely intriguing point the author brought up was how black adolescences will do a lot to dodge stereotypes of black people and weirdly enough, just about the opposite as well, being to white. Black students who are in schools that have a majority of white students will go out of their way to avoid being seen engaging in a stereotype about them. An example that the author brought up was a student had said he avoided doing things such as basketball to not be categorized into the stereotype that all black people are good at basketball. Later in the book the author talks about how in some schools the black kids who are in advanced classes /mainly but in really any classes might not apply themselves as hard to fit in with the "cool" black kids. I found these truth's to be very sad. The fact that a lot of black kids cant just be themselves is extremely perverted in nature. I have never had this issue in my life and cant imagine how terrible it must be to have to change your fundamental nature to just fit in.
Hi Garrett! I really enjoyed reading this post, and it gave me some new ways to think about things. I found it interesting how you mentioned that black students perform better when surrounded by other black students. Do you think that this goes for all races? As humans, we are afraid of what is different from us, because throughout evolution we were trained that different means danger. Do you believe that this evolutionary theory stands true for all races? Or just those discriminated against?
ReplyDeleteYou've made good points about the section you've read; I appreciate the ideas you raised about the similarity to discussing girls with female friends, as well as recognizing that there might be differences in the situations.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to be clear about what required posts you're completing.
Hello GGF,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your blog post. I apprciate you tried to bring your own understanding into the argument, though I feel as if it still just doesn't have enough weight or importance. I like how you do admit it doesn't apply in certain situations.
I too wrote about how students are more likely to do better if they are surrounded by people who look like them. Why do you think that is? I think it might be that they don't have to deal with the pressure of succeeding or failing just because of their skin color, though I am interested to hear your thoughts.
Emily