You meet a black Ivy League grad - what are you secretly thinking to yourself?

[Anonymous]

"Do I call her First Lady? Mrs. Obama? She seems like the type who prefers Michelle but I don't want to screw this up..."

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking, are they cool? Do they want to go grab a drink? Maybe we have friends in common.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm thinking, are they cool? Do they want to go grab a drink? Maybe we have friends in common.

Is it because they are black that you are thinking this?

[Anonymous]

Yes. I want more black friends and don't like how my circle in DC has become so white.

[Anonymous]

Maybe you do, but the ones I have met are very smart and very driven. What on earth would make me think they need help?

On the other hand, I have met some white grads and couldn't help but think their parents got them in. But that's not because they are white, but because they are untalented, unmotivated, and are unimpressive at work. I have to assume they were like that in high school, too.

I suggest you stop looking at skin color and take a look at the horsepower of these people you are judging.

[Anonymous]

I am with PP who said they are jealous. I am thinking, wow, you could have your pick of jobs etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My guess is the first thing that comes to mind is Affirmative Action.

I hate this. Yet another reason to get rid of this notion.

That is a very non-Ivy grad way of thinking.

[Anonymous]

I don't think I've ever met a successful black American who I ever thought got there because of Affirmitive Action. Anyone af there level, I would assume that they are just way smarter and harder working than me. Period.

[Anonymous]

The first thing I think of when I meet a White Person that graduated from an Ivy (other than one of the big 3) is, "I bet they're either a legacy or their daddy knows the Dean." Why else would anyone want to go to Dartmouth or Brown?

Sincerely,

Black Princeton Grad '01

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I am 34 and "affirmative action" makes me think of a phrase my dad would debate with someone 20 years ago.

Is this really still what people are thinking?

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking that we need more highly educated AA's in our country and I strangely feel proud of that person. I'm thinking that we need a new paradigm where going to college and achieving is not perceived as "acting white" to the much of the black community. I'm thinking that there are so many intelligent, ambitious young African Americans out there that need a chance. This is really what I'm thinking.

I'm a teacher and white, BTW.

[Anonymous]

Are we counting fake Ivy League schools like Stanford, Duke or Northwestern?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are we counting fake Ivy League schools like Stanford, Duke or Northwestern?

Oh please get over yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My guess is the first thing that comes to mind is Affirmative Action.

I hate this. Yet another reason to get rid of this notion.

So because you jump to this conclusion we should get rid of it??? What ass-backwards thinking!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The first thing I think of when I meet a White Person that graduated from an Ivy (other than one of the big 3) is, "I bet they're either a legacy or their daddy knows the Dean." Why else would anyone want to go to Dartmouth or Brown?

Sincerely,

Black Princeton Grad '01

Ha! I love this!