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Making the Grade
"One of the most dominant stereotypes I see in my generation is the idea that when Black students show interest in academics, they're acting white. "
By Kumi Hodge
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High school students often struggle to find a balance between academic responsibilities and time spent socializing with friends. Youth Radio's Kumi Hodge, a young African-American student, says his school life is further complicated by peers who reject him because he is academically successful. Kumi says, "Because of my high grades, some of my black friends used to stereotype me. I was tempted to give up in school so they would accept me. But I never did."
All my life I have been exposed to the cliché that the smarter you are, the fewer friends you have.
I’m a junior in high school, and African-American. From a young age, I noticed that being book smart can make you unpopular. This is an especially difficult issue for minority youth, and, in my opinion, affects the minds of Black youth the most.
One of the most dominant stereotypes I see in my generation is the idea that when Black students show interest in academics, they're acting white. I've even read statistics from a public policy journal that say the popularity of Black students' slopes negatively when their GPA reaches a 3.5.
This may be our reality, but I really don't think A's and B's should be the determining factor of my social life. Because of my high grades, some of my black friends used to stereotype me. I was tempted to give up in school so they would accept me. But I never did. To me, the struggle of fitting in can be like giving up on yourself.
I may not have to deal with my friends’ jokes anymore, or the temptation of not doing well in school, but I’ve learned that either way, I’m not going to give up on education.
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