<p>As for URMs not being as successful, I think a lot of it is culture/upbringing. I went to a HS ranked in the top 15 public schools in the U.S, everyone was at least upper-middle class, most were upper class. It was a small grade, we all knew each other from Kindergarten to 12. Maybe 10/127 kids in the grade were black, maybe 2 hispanics. I know for a fact only 1 ever took an AP class, whereas over half my grade took at least 5 (the school offered 15). None in my grade were in the NHS, or any of the Honor society clubs. They were very active in athletics, though. They were overrepresented in remedial classes. I don’t know why. Sadly, it made it easier for certain stereotypes and jokes to flourish in my grade…maybe it was just my class. I noticed in other grades it didn’t exist to this extent (meaning urm’s were inducted in junior NHS and French honor society rather than just basketball and track). </p>
<p>Class has nothing to do with it, they’re all rich - one was even the son of a famous rapper/actor and probably richer than all of us. Just based on my very limited, anecdotal experience, class has less to do with it than upbringing and culture. Raise a child of any color to value education and academics, and he will. The average kid of one race is born with the same potential as the average kid of another. upbringing and what values are instilled in us make a big difference. My dad came to America from a 3rd world country as a child, and most kids in his crappy Bronx HS didn’t make it to college…he worked from 14 until…now (recently left job). He got into Columbia,but went to a CUNY because of money. He managed to graduate with honors and make $120K…upbringing can occasionally overcome class. I understand why poor people are less likely to succeed though. I’ve noticed a lot of very successful black students are the descendants of African immigrants rather than african-americans who are descended from slaves…interesting. African immigrants are actually a very successful minority.</p>