On Black Excellence And What It Means
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

On Black Excellence And What It Means

Do you fit into the Black excellence mode?

9478
On Black Excellence And What It Means
E Online

As I scroll through my Instagram popular feed, I see many things. My ‘Girl Crush’ Rihanna strutting the streets in vintage Dior, beautiful women with beat faces that could slay for days, the occasional Kardashian photo op and a smiling photo of a young black person who has either just graduated from a university, gained an insanely large amount of scholarship money to a school that everyone and their momma knows about, or living a glamorous life where they can afford things that I could only dream of (I see you Gucci). All with the hashtag #BlackExcellence underneath the photo. All I could think of after seeing photos of these beautiful black men and women was that I am not black excellence and I am nowhere near that title. I started to doubt and attack myself. I felt worthless because I was not one of these people who went to an Ivy League university, who majored in political science, engineering or biology. I didn’t have dreams of working in a lab, being a doctor or challenging other opinions at a law firm. I started to think, “What If I worked harder in my calculus class last year?” or “What if I had joined more clubs in high school?” The feelings of mediocrity quickly crept back into my mind and all the good energy had left. I was going through a rough patch, a really bad rough patch.

Every time I went to my music class, I questioned why I was there. Campus always looked miserable to me and I started to isolate myself from people that I really liked at school. It took a conversation with one of my favorite professors to snap me out of the rut that I was in. I realized that I should be proud of myself for being in college, and for having dreams like whether I want to own a home, be the first music producer to work at a specific company or write an opera someday.

Although I love the term and page Black excellence, I realized that it was only exclusive to certain people in the black community. Black excellence was only exclusive to college educated, corporate business types, who have exceeded standards in the fields that they work in. While that is beautiful and inspirational, shouldn’t black excellence go to the single mom who is putting all three kids to school and working two full-time jobs to support them? Shouldn’t it go to the young lady who is finally taking the courage to get her G.E.D. after years of saying “I would never succeed?” Shouldn’t we give Black excellence to everyone who has tried to make their dreams come true and failed, to people who live paycheck by paycheck, who are trying to get by in a post-Trump America? I love the term Black excellence and I am here for the posts supporting the young girl who got into all eight ivies with full scholarships and the young lady who just finished medical school and will be doing a stint for Doctors Without Borders – but I’m also here for the single moms and the people who decided that college wasn’t for them. So, when I look in the mirror, I see a beautiful girl with dreams and aspirations. I may not be a Yale student majoring in civil engineering, but I am still a smart kid with dreams and aspirations. I am still Black excellence.

You are Black excellence. We are Black excellence, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

51417
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

32990
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

956008
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

180965
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments