Why do white parents think black kids are accepted into private school only because of their race?

[Anonymous]

Hey, this is DC. To those of you not from here, there are LOTS of second and third generation upper middle class black families that send their kids to private school and pay full freight. Nowadays, being black isn't some kind of "edge," but people are so competitive and obsessed that maybe they have to come up with a reason for why my kid got in and theirs didn't. Anyway, it's the way things work in this country. I had lots of law school classmates assuming that I somehow got in on a lower standard -- I never bothered to tell them I had a damn near perfect LSAT score.

[Anonymous]

And that is the point, your work will show what kind of person and student you are...THAT always levels everyone.

[Anonymous]

Exactly, PP. That is what I teach my kids; just work hard and be a good person and don't worry about what other people think. You can't control that anyway.

[Anonymous]

Totally agree w/PPs who teach themselves and their kids that hard work will show why they are in elite schools, BUT I feel little kids should not have to feel they have to 'prove' anything to anyone---That the perception (and who is perceiving this myth) needs to be addressed and realized. Hey, my kids are black and we pay full tuition. My kids' closest friends are white, and both receive some tuition assistance. Go figure ; ) Maybe times are changing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I am pretty sure most of these schools wouldn't be willing to have a class that was a majority African American, even if all the best applicants that year were black.

That is incredibly sad and completely unfair.

Already happens to Asians in many places.

[Anonymous]

PP wrote: "I am pretty sure most of these schools wouldn't be willing to have a class that was a majority African American, even if all the best applicants that year were black."

... and you could replace "black" with any race and be equally correct. It's called "diversity."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because EVERY private school (almost) NEEDS more diversity and SOME of those schools accept students who may not be AS qualified due to their race and fulfilling quotas. It is true for many schools (how about COLLEGES?!?!?!?) and it is most unfortunate, b/c the non-white student is either left to feel they don't deserve it or that they have to prove it, something the white students NEVER feel (almost). It sucks and is yet another way our country is trying to heal the sins of the past while continuing to create new issues for the future. But the alternative does not feel right either...

I hope your kids quickly know that the only people they need to prove themselves to are themselves.

In that case we should get rid of all preferences (sibling, alumni, faculty and yes, those who know Mr. Big) and let all the kids complete on a level playing field. If the last few years are any indication most of the kids that get accepted into independent schools in the early grades got in based on preferences unrelated to race - the reason black kids are scapgoated is because of the underlying incorrect assumption that they must be less intelligent than their white colleagues.

[Anonymous]

PP wrote: "I am pretty sure most of these schools wouldn't be willing to have a class that was a majority African American, even if all the best applicants that year were black."

... and you could replace "black" with any race and be equally correct. It's called "diversity."

Not true. Schools are happy to have a white majority.

[Anonymous]

If it bothers you so much that you are writing about it on this forum, put your child in a public school. Private schools have a choice who and why they accept a student. Maybe not fair in your book but that is why they are "Private". If your child does well in a private school he/she would do well anywhere. OP, you seem to have a problem with white people. I would not want my child around your child because I am sure your attitude is rubbing off on him/her. How sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it bothers you so much that you are writing about it on this forum, put your child in a public school. Private schools have a choice who and why they accept a student. Maybe not fair in your book but that is why they are "Private". If your child does well in a private school he/she would do well anywhere. OP, you seem to have a problem with white people. I would not want my child around your child because I am sure your attitude is rubbing off on him/her. How sad.

W(TF) do you know? Get a life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it bothers you so much that you are writing about it on this forum, put your child in a public school. Private schools have a choice who and why they accept a student. Maybe not fair in your book but that is why they are "Private". If your child does well in a private school he/she would do well anywhere. OP, you seem to have a problem with white people. I would not want my child around your child because I am sure your attitude is rubbing off on him/her. How sad.

I don't think OP has a problem with white people. She sees things the way they are.
And as you may recall, what bothered her was the perception of why black children were accepted into private schools. That's got nothing to do with the private schools' actual reasons for accepting a student but everything to do with the beliefs of white parents about why the kids were accepted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm so TIRED of that closed-minded view. Our kids (black) are there because of their intellect, high test scores, strong grades--and (gasp!) we can actually afford it!

"Our" kids? "We" can actually afford it? Maybe your kids. And maybe you can afford it. But all this sweeping generalization does is, well, generalize. AA parent here who thinks your post is counter-productive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm so TIRED of that closed-minded view. Our kids (black) are there because of their intellect, high test scores, strong grades--and (gasp!) we can actually afford it!

"Our" kids? "We" can actually afford it? Maybe your kids. And maybe you can afford it. But all this sweeping generalization does is, well, generalize. AA parent here who thinks your post is counter-productive.

I think the poster actually meant her/his kids, not "our" as in the plurality of African American kids.

[Anonymous]

How do you know that is what white parents think? I can not believe someone "white" told you this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you know that is what white parents think? I can not believe someone "white" told you this.

Well, then all those obnoxious posts on this forum must have come from African Americans.