Going to College While Black

Think it’s easy? Think again.

Black Woman + Mother + Wife + Neighbor + Friend + Psychotherapist + Giving Human Being

This remarkable woman never expected to face such racism, both overt and subtle, when attending the University of Maryland to earn her second Master’s Degree in Counseling.

She was often ignored, assumed present due to affirmative action and accused of plagiarism. She was not respected nor appreciated for her full value as a human being. It’s not just a matter of fairness and justice. Racial inclusion and diversity add VALUE to college life, the workplace and everywhere in society! And for those still holding out, it’s even good for the bottom line. “New research makes it increasingly clear that companies with more diverse workforces perform better financially.” 

Today, this remarkable woman is happily married with two kids, working as a psychotherapist helping single mothers in Washington, D.C. make a better life for themselves and their children.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

If you see someone different from you in a group, welcome and befriend them!
Get to know someone before making assumptions.
Let people speak from their own experience, not for their entire race.

#BlackLivesMatter #AffirmativeAction #DiversityBenefitsEveryone

Falsely Accused of Plagiarism

A professor falsely accused her of plagiarism, saying he looked into her “background” and didn’t know someone “like her” could write at that caliber. This was her second master’s degree, earning a previous 3.8 GPA. The assumption that “black” means “not as smart” was strong in this white professor. And this happened to other minority students, too. Yet they did nothing to protect her and others.

Not Equally Included

From the very start, this woman experienced a lack of inclusion, a feeling of being treated like an “other” simply because of the color of her skin. This did not happen in the deep south, but right here in Maryland. She was told by another black woman in the program that “they don’t mingle with us” and to “get used to it.”