| " however, one thing i found was that many of the black people at the top lacs i visited/applied to were so used to be around only white people at their private and boarding schools they didn't know any different. and to be honest, being one of four black people in my class, i wouldn't be too shocked about a lack of diversity either. "
Interestingly, things were similar at the top colleges back when I went to college. A major reason why many black students hung out together was because many had grown up and gone to schools in areas where we were very much in the minority. College -- including top colleges where blacks were a very small proportion of the student body --- was for many of us the first opportunity to be around "many" black students.
For instance, I integrated the 1,500-student high school, middle school and elementary school in the Upstate NY town where I lived. When I entered h.s., I was the school's first black student. When I graduated, there were 4 more, one of whom was my brother.
"I mentioned this on another thread and was roundly lambasted for daring to do so, but the daughter of someone I know just decided to leave her southern LAC after one semester because of racism she encountered."
That kind of unfortunate experience can happen anywhere. I know a Cuban-American woman from Miami who says that one of the most painful experiences in her life was when she went to a high school debate tournament that was hosted by Harvard. An adult participant who didn't realize the student was Hispanic (the student is white, with green eyes and red hair) made very disparaging remarks about Cubans.
Having lived in the Northeast, New England, Midwest, West and South, I've encountered racism (as well as really good people) all over this country. |