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I’m a sophomore architectural engineering student at NCAT 💛💙 I was always told that I talked too proper for a black girl or I talked like a white girl all the way from elementary school to about my freshman year. So unintentionally, I started to try to tweak my voice in order to fit in and talk like what was deemed “normal for a black girl”

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In middle school I went to a school with pretty much even diversity, but the classes I was in were mostly white. I think not seeing a lot of people that look like me in my classes made me feel small, even though I knew how smart, important, etc. I was. But in high school all of my science teachers were black women and they were all huge influences on my life. The way the expressed themselves so unapologetically really encouraged me to do the same.

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Hello! My name is Kendall Johnson a Junior Public Relations Student. I just want to share how constantly I have been told I look mean by people who don't truly know me does take a toll  at some point. Because Im curious if the people who make such comments ever think about how that could make someone feel. I've always been told to smile even if I'm upset because I'm a lady even though my brother didn't have to, I did have to conform to this and other harsh standards purely because I'm a black young lady.

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I experimented my first black female educator in Pre-K and and my second in 1st grade. I identify this as a counter story because they were apart of the first idea of representation for me. As I shared in the discussion, my Pre-K teacher pushed me beyond where I was supposed to be. Students begin “learning” phonics in Kindergarten and the center I attended allowed me to start phonics as a Pre-Kinder student. At an early age I knew that someone in my educational circle cared and valued my development as a young black girl.

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Group 2

I am an accelerated senior pre law student from Baltimore, MD. I am currently applying to law school and my counter story is increasing the percentage of black women attorneys. It is currently around 2%. We need more representation within the legal field, especially due to mass incarceration and the disproportionate numbers of black and brown people affected by the legal system. I plan to create a YouTube channel to inspire other young black girls to pursue fields typically dominated by white men. I mentor weekly in Greensboro to inspire the black children within our community to break stereotypes by pursuing fields that we do not typically see ourselves within.

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I grew up going to a predominantly white school.

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Forcefully adopting characteristics that I do not necessarily identify with is something I have fallen victim to. I have decreased myself on many occasions to "fit" the narrative.

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My personal experience in regards to education inequities derives from my Southern background. Due to my Southern upbringing I fell victim to demoralizing stereotypes, did not learn my history in public school and did not receive the same opportunities as my white counterparts. My past experiences have fueled my passion for politics, law and education.

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Since I was a kid, I have always been one of the few black swimmers in my swim meets and I have always been asked, "Do you like getting your hair wet?"

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I went to a predominantly white middle school were I was frowned upon for being black and being myself. I was also discriminated upon when it came to playing sports.

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I am a senior , Mechanical Engineering student. My experience has been the same throughout my life since 10th grade when i had my first Engineering specific course. Being one of the only , if not the only , black female engineer  in the room. Getting my voice heard , and getting the predominately white male field to even treat me with the same respect as my peers , is the challenge I've faced. and will probably continue to face as i further my career. As many times as i prove i belong,  I'm always challenged to prove my worth and skills more than my peers

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Being the only black student - Laia Garland 

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Being the only black student - Laia Garland 

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As a student I have always been in advanced courses and throughout most of my years in school I was the only black student and often I was labeled loud and aggressive because I’m a very passionate person. Instead of allowing those thoughts from peers and teachers to affect me I continue to be vocal in and outside the classroom which has altered many relationships I have with others but, I pride myself on being authentic and standing in my own voice.

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As far as the stereotypes around black women are concerned, I feel that as a black woman I have every right to be angry. We are continuously not taken seriously and are deemed as less than even when we are the culture. We have contributed everything to this nation and the nation would not be what it is without us.

I have experienced the angry black woman stereotype for simply expressing my emotions and frustrations with inequality at a predominately white school.

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I have experienced

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I have had multiple african american teachers in the past and experiencing that compared to my whi

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I went to a predominately white, single gender catholic high school.  I was  asked by a honors science professor my freshman year to never take a science class because I didn't belong there. I was discouraged for years ,but ultimately I did not let her keep me down. Today I am a honors junior chemistry student.
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Jordan Oliver
My environment growing up was very nurturing and my parents always ensured I had role models and mentors that would guide me. I actually faced adverse conditions while being in college. As an student in ROTC I have found myself thrust in the middle of a “good ole boys club  “ where they expected me to fail. I faced the opposition head on and continued to be unapologetically myself and my efforts were eventually recognized.

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My experience was in high school, I chose a STEM pathway for my classes. I was one of two black girls in those classes and I was looked at differently than the other white students. It was as if I was expected not to do well in the STEM pathway.

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"Black Students are Bad at Math" (Naki Franklin's Story)

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"Black Students are Bad at Math" (Naki Franklin's Story)

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At my predominantly-white and wealthy northern VA high school, nearly ALL of the Black students were placed in the lowest math classes possible (lower than their grade levels) while our white peers were placed on advanced tracks. I had to battle administration with my family for them to let me take advanced math classes. In a school where there are about 5-7 Black students in a grade size of 100, the lowest math classes are made up of Black students with about one occasional white student.

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My counterstory was that I went to a predominately white high school, but I wasn’t lost in the mix and myself and two other black females were able to graduate at the top of our class (valedictorian) and then I chose to go to an HBCU even though they are “looked down” on and seen as “less than” where I’m from by many people.

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I went to a very diverse elementary school, but was always looked at as gifted until I went to a predominantly white middle school where they looked at me like I was placed in certain classes on accident and this is where I first got in trouble for doing or saying things I always did. I countered this when I went to a majority Black high school where I was awarded for my behavior and grades, and gave me many opportunities to advance in education and professionally. I also received many micro aggressions from many races towards my name and hair.

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In elementary school, I did not have many black teachers. I had a middle school counselor who actual took interests in my interests and directed me toward a youth group for minority girls, black girls. In this program I met my most prominent mentors to this date. they told me I could do anything I set my mind to. They opened up so many opportunities for me.

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As the only black girl in my classification

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My first white teacher called me "sassy". Keep in mind, I was only in Kindergarten. At the time, I didn't think much of it. However, looking back, I am definitely disappointed that she mistook my leading and passionate nature for something so negative.

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Growing up as a dancer, many of my instructors were white females. I was always told to suck my butt in as I had a little more back there than my other white counterparts. This brought about many insecurities. Coming to A&T, I had the opportunity to take Dr. Stevens class. Dancing with an African American female instructor allowed me to see that I cannot hide what God has blessed me with, and dance is more about the technique and execution than how your body is shaped. I do not have to feel ashamed. Truly empowering.

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Confidence in all fields - Chanell Mangum

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Confidence in all fields - Chanell Mangum

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3rd grade to 5th grade is known for being a critical period for students as they start to take standardized test and dive into deeper knowledge of topics. My mother saw that was not gaining the attention or confidence in my work in 3rd grade so she moved me to an all black school. For the next two years, I was blessed to have two black women to teach me all the subjects which made to grow to love science, math, and history. These teachers and their classroom experiences gave me the confidence in my work and my intelligence so when I went to my predominantly white 6-12 school I was able to understand myself, be confident in who I am, and where I am going.

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I went to a predominately black high school in regards to the students, however, most of the teachers and faculty were white. I became very close with the school's activities coordinator who was an African American woman. She helped me continue to be the top of my class not only academically but being one of the most involved and well rounded students.

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I attended an predominately white high school. I tended to find myself being an ambassador for my race. This then drove me to attend an HBCU and own my leadership skills to create everlasting change.

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I went to a Christian private school in the suburbs of Atlanta. I was told that I was too loud, aggressive, and I was constantly belittled. After leaving the private school in the 10th grade, I transferred to a prestigious predominately white public school and thrived. I enrolled myself in dual enrollment courses during my Junior year and encouraged my fellow black friends to take education into their own hands. I pushed myself to overcome the daily microaggressions from playing softball and lacrosse while graduating Magna Cum Laude. I graduated with more college credits and higher course grades than those who doubted my knowledge and ability to learn. I was able to build myself up prepare myself for the hardships that I will face in the Biology field and I am still encouraging others to educate themselves and defy the odds.

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Sydnee Wallace-Predominantly Black Experience 

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Sydnee Wallace-Predominantly Black Experience 

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I grew up in a predominantly black area. Prince George’s County, MD. I have had the pleasure of having many black women as teachers, counselors, leaders, supervisors, and mentors. By experiencing this, I have learned to always be comfortable using my voice. I have always believed that we are capable of every and anything, even as the double minority. Because of my experiences of being able to be comfortable, I have always had the confidence of knowing I can do anything I can put my mind to. The black women in my life have always encouraged me to be a leader.

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Going to a majority white middle school, I often found myself struggling to fit in and wanting to do anything I could to feel accepted by them. In the beginning of middle school, I straightened my hair and damaged it so much I had to cut it all off. I hated my curly hair and would rather have damaged straight hair than healthy curly hair. I stopped talking as much and silenced my voice so I wouldn’t appear “too loud”. I appreciate going to a historically Black high school and being surrounded by both students and teachers that embraced their Blackness and encouraged me to embrace mine.

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One of my first experiences with micro aggressions happened when I was in 6th grade. My elementary school teacher would never choose me to answer questions in class, and would call me “dumb” and “not as intelligent as the other students” in her classes. I can see how her comments caused me to not be as vocal and blend into the crowds.

As a counter story and on a more positive note, I’ve been blessed to have a Black female HBCU grad as my physician for most oft life. Having her as my doctor not only  inspired me to be a doctor, but also let me know that I can get just as great of an education at an HBCU than at a PWI.

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My counterstory is that I found a Black women engineer as a mentor, and she is the reason I transferred to A&T.

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I was surrounded by Black educators until I got to high school. When I got to high school, the entire demographic shifted. However, what I learned throughout primary school and from my mother motivated me to excel. I was the only Black girl at my internships, but I walk with my head held high knowing that I deserve to be there because of the values instilled in me by my Black educators and mother.

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I am a black women trying to become civil engineering project manager

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Being in the technical field I experience prejudice all the time at work. From my boss treating me differently from my male coworkers to the slight comments made by my coworkers regarding my hair and choice of college. It took awhile for me to learn how to manage the treatment and find a black female mentor who coached and uplifted my confidence to stay in IT/Compute Science.

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My experience was coming to A&T being in a male dominated field. I found my importance in physics

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My name is Emiyah Duckie. I am a senior Information Technology student. I attended primarily white schools up until college. I was the only black girl in my accelerated classes and I often felt targeted by classmates. Attending an HBCU has allowed me to embrace my true self without recieving micro aggressions from peers.

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I went to a predominantly white school and I was told that soccer is for white individuals and not African American individuals , but in spite of that I decided to play and succeed anyway.

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My experience was coming to an HBCU and being surrounded around ambitious young black women.

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My experience was my teachers not believing in the potential I had, this resulted in me not being offered the same opportunities as other students.

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My Experience came from going to a predominately black middle school and having all White teachers. In this case it was very discouraging to see that something African American could be taken over and have no African American leaders.

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Growing up always being interested in becoming an Athletic Trainer, I was always discouraged by my trainers, prospected colleges, and peers to try another profession due to race and/or gender.

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I went to a predominately white high school and was usually discouraged by other white teachers to not go into STEM because it would be too "hard". Even though my tech ed teacher was a white man, he encouraged me to continue in STEM because it is important to have more black woman representation in the field.

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I chose to study Professional Theatre instead of Business. I am always told that acting is not a "real career". Its also very rare that you see performers of color on Broadway.

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My experience during my early childhood education is I was given predominately white teachers. A lot of times I felt as though I could not particularly relate with my teachers because our experiences of the world were so extremely different. Some teachers used to comment on my hairstyle because it was so different from mine which would often upset me making me want to withdraw from discussions at times.

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My micro aggression experience has been that I talk proper or I talk like a white girl.

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Being an education major, I see the issues within the education system every single day through my clinicals. As a student, I was always told to not speak as often or to hide my knowledge. As a teacher,  I plan on always encouraging my students to always advocate and express themselves.

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Moving from up north to down south, I would always be told that I “talked white or proper.” The counter-native to that was when I a teacher that I had, told me that there’s no such things as talking “white.” Pronouncing things the correct way does not belong to a race or a color.

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My experience came from the only black teacher that got fired for helping other students that she had not taught.

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My experience is attending a predominantly white high school and legal studies academy in Virginia Beach. While the white kids were often handed opportunities, I had to kind of place myself in spaces and create a name for myself. Once I did it took me far, but I had to work hard while others had it handed to them.

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During my senior year of high school, I had the opportunity to tour the office of a Big four accounting firm. The partner of the firm was an African American man. Seeing an African American in one of the highest positions at the firm, is what encouraged me to pursue a career in accounting!

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My experience is for the majority of my life I was told I spoke like a "white girl" not being aware that people were equating "white" with speaking "proper" or "educated". This caused me to believe that black women don't speak in an educated manner.

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My mentor has her own service organization that I came up through and have come back to speak in over the years. I was inspired by her and my own passion for mentoring to create my own college readiness program. It felt so empowering to have the blueprint from such an amazing black woman and her advice has kept me going and working even when I doubted my ability to make a change.

- Jordin Cosby, Junior Criminal Justice and Psych Student

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My experience was the one you mentioned earlier with being very tall and everyone thinking I played basketball

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My experience was when I was six years old and I was the only black girl in my girl scouts group. One of the moms said I spoke well for a young black girl.

-Tajah Tucker, Senior Psychology Student, Chicago,IL

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My experience was during my internship. I was the only black female intern surrounded by all white interns. When I spoke amongst them publicly for the first time, they were shocked that I spoke clearly and well. They starred at me in awe. I felt super uncomfortable.

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Being told, I was problematic or I had an attitude problem throughout grade school

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I never knew that I had an interest in math until my first Black math teacher in 8th grade.

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It is critical that we have a black woman voice in political spaces. Before enrolling at NC A&T, my input for my politics were heard in predominantly white spaces. I was constantly referred to as "difficult" for not agreeing or sharing the same experiences as my counterparts. Studying poli sci at A&T has shown me comfort and made me feel my voice was heard in politics.

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My experience comes a lot from my looks and my intelligence. As a black girl in a predominately white school and taking the highest honors classes, many of the other kids wondered how and why I was able to do so. White kids would question my intelligence and wouldn’t trust my work. Black kids would also try to demean me because of the way that I looked. I am darling with curly hair, so there was no way I was fully black. They would also call me white washed or Oreo because I was an honors student and spoke eloquently. Little did they know I could code switch at the drop of the hat! These were actually some reasons why I wanted to attend an HBCU, to be surrounded by people just like me.

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Choosing the field I am pursuing is predominately white males and females.

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I went to a predominantly black school. But I once I got into my engineering and physics courses, I was in classes filled with males or white peers. They would always question my good grades and wonder why I was doing well. My counter story is when I met my mentor who is a black woman in architecture (which is a a predominantly white male field). She embraces her natural hair, her speech and her style in the workplace.

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Growing up I enjoyed wearing high top gym shoes and I was not a girly girl , so my family told me not to do or wear certain things because I looked like a boy and that I may be into other girls.

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I was able to complete a successful internship as a  Solutions Engineer at NetApp Inc. , despite that I currently study Biomedical Engineering. In this program of the three interns selected I was the only African American female alongside of two males.

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My first time feeling seen and valued in an educational space based on who I am, was during my Junior year of High school. Ms Haigler made me feel worthy and respected in the classroom. She is one of the reasons why I want to teach.

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My elementary, middle, and high schools were predominantly white. Coming to A&T was an eye opener for me. I was no longer one of the only black people in my classes. I am surrounded by empowered, smart, and driven black women and men.

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My counterstory took place when I had the opportunity to shadow a black female cardiologist. She motivated me to stay on the pre med track and continue my journey in becoming a black female physician.

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Growing up in a predominantly African American community then moving to a predominantly white community was a big shift. Being question why I was in certain classes and excelling as well as looking around and seeing I was the only African American female in my classes bother me. As a first-generation college student, the knowledge of African Americans pursuing high education was not a reality I was used to. When applying to colleges the only schools that visited my school and advocated for students to apply where PWI's doing my research and staying in the guidance counselor office luckily I was blessed to have an African American one, I was able to research HBCU's tour and become an HBCU now I have the ability to advocate for HBCU's, breaking generational curse, and also giving back to my high school by starting an HBCU panel to visit high school juniors and seniors so they are educated on the opportunities that HBCU's have to offer.

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I went to a predominately white high school and a PWI my first year of college where I was often silenced and could not express myself in the way I wanted. I found home at NCAT and was able to express myself and create/expand my ideas and dreams to make them a reality. I not only felt uplifted and able to express myself, but I also wanted to be able to do the same for others.

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Choosing to go into the Finance field which is a predominately white male industry

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I went to a southern baptist predominantly white christian school and was constantly told I didn't act like other black people or I was "articulate"

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Attending college despite being labeled as an "aggressive student" after a suspension which caused me to flag colleges and universities upon applying for being a "threat".

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My experience as an observant person often leads to me being seen as mean or you should smile more, when in fact I am trying to take in the current environment so I can act accordingly.

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My experience as a black woman in the agriculture has always been that people are surprised that this is the field I want to pursue. Often asked if I'm sure or if I have any experience in the industry because it is predominantly white.

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I am a junior Pre-Law student from Detroit, Michigan. My experience is people telling me that I sound to proper to be from the “hood” and that I can come off as a white female when talking in certain conversations. So in middle school I would notice how other girls talked and try to change things about myself. But when I finally started to realize that there was nothing actual wrong with the way I talk.

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My experience was when i was younger i used to do ballet and i was one of the only few black students and our instructor would always try to belittle the black students making it seem as if we were not worthy enough of being in the front on stage or having a dance solo.

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My experience would stem from me working at an predominantly white place of business and being one of the few African American people who were employed there it forced me to make room at the table for myself. They would always    not take me serious when it came to anything I did but I demanded respected in every room I entered.

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When I was in elementary school I attended a predominantly white school with very few minorities in general. I, of course, didn’t always recognize when I was experiencing microaggressions or being stereotyped at that age because I didn’t understand how much the color of my skin influenced the way people saw me and acted towards me. In high school I became very involved in many different clubs and organizations and by the time I graduated saw more and more African American and minority students running for office for more orgs. Since at our school we hadn’t in the past seen such colorful involvement but it was probably only because we were made to believe we couldn’t or shouldn’t.

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From grade school to present day, I have always been told that I talk too much/too loud and I ask too many questions. I am so glad that I didn’t allow my peers and other adults to persuade me that my voice or opinions didn’t matter. My ability to have dialogue with different age groups and ethnic backgrounds have allowed me to secure job and volunteer opportunities both in my hometown and at school. Never silence your voice for anyone!!

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I am a Junior Animal Science and Laboratory Animal Science student. My experience is that I grew up in a predominately black schools (middle and high school). My teachers on the other hand was mostly black in middle school so my experience was very helpful. In high school, is where I experienced most of my micro aggression and education inequalities. In high school, some saying I would get from people is "why are you in this class," or "you don't belong in this class" because it was an AP class. Another saying outside of education was in reference to my hair. I would get I'm not black because I have "good hair". What is the definition of "good hair"?

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Being labeled as problematic throughout grade school due to my questioning of my grades or my asking of questions in class or even excelling in classes that I "wasn't supposed to excel in"

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In elementary school when one of the caucasian students would talk to me or ask me something and when I would always be the one to get in trouble when I responded

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My counter experience was playing volleyball, a predominately white sport. Almost every year, I was the only black girl on my team and sometimes dealt with my teammate's racist families. I was however, as a black girl, one of the few players from my club to play Division 1 volleyball.

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Good evening! My name is Kierra Jefferson and my experience would have to be the stereotypes I have faced as a young black woman. I am judged everyday by my hair, the sound and tone of my voice, how I present myself. When I am constantly seen as the "mad black woman" I am actually the intelligent, headstrong, and confident black woman. And I can't thank my HBCU enough for exposing me to the real me! 

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Good evening! My name is Kierra Jefferson and my experience would have to be the stereotypes I have faced as a young black woman. I am judged everyday by my hair, the sound and tone of my voice, how I present myself. When I am constantly seen as the "mad black woman" I am actually the intelligent, headstrong, and confident black woman. And I can't thank my HBCU enough for exposing me to the real me! 

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Since I was young, I always had a soft voice, and spoke very proper, and I can remember all through middle and high school being told, "you talk so white," as if a black girl cannot speak proper and educated.

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I moved to NC from NYC when I was just a freshmen. It was my first semester and I was really upset I moved away from my family that I love. My family were my friends. After a while I was intimidating and no one wanted to be my friend instead of one person because I looked like a "mad black girl". I really was just a girl who got taken away from all she knew and had to start over. My counter story is when everyone grew to like me because I was myself and that's when I knew I had hope for myself for a black girl in white world.

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My experience with micro aggression is that I talk proper or I talk like a white. That will always rub you the wrong way simply because, I do not want to be compared to anybody, especially white person. I also felt as if, what does it mean to "talk black".

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I’ve always been told that I look “mean” and that I should “smile more” by both black and white men. At the same time, I always got ridiculed for my big lips and smile. It made my self confidence lower a lot. That was until I met my black track coach & black dance teacher who always encouraged me to smile because it was so beautiful. They built me back up and made me realize that I truly am beautiful whether I am smiling or not. They helped me learned that beauty comes from within.

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My experiences were being the only black girl in the Advanced Placement classes and having my intelligence questioned by my peers. I was also the only black girl on my travel soccer team and had many first-hand experiences with micro aggressions.

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Jaquayla Hunt: Senior- Information Technology

Growing up I was always told that I looked mean and that the way that I spoke to people or expressed my opinion was rude. I currently  experience that today. The way I handle it is by asking how, I like to hear the how, on why someone believes my tone or normal face expression is coming off as aggressive or unapproachable. It is exhausting having to constantly explain myself to individuals who don’t understand and misjudge me but I don’t let that stop me from being me. I’m proud of who I am and I continue to stay true to myself.

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My experience is for the majority of my life I was told I spoke like a "white girl" not being aware that people were equating "white" with speaking "proper" or "educated". This caused me to believe that black women don't speak in an educated manner.