[trustfundbaby]

Yet ... many many minority kids grow up with that mindset, and just telling them they're wrong is not going to get them to change their mindset ... in fact it will only make them more defensive and angry at you.

You know what could be productive? Acknowledging that there are more things stacked against them than the average white kid, for example, but that life is kind of like that.

So since nobody rises to low expectations ... they need to set high standards for themselves and fight like hell to achieve those expectations because even though the odds aren't in their favor ... what used to be a 20 foot concrete wall now is nowadays only a little hurdle ... they just have to actually jump

[stretchwithme]

Well, I'm not in the business of telling minority kids they are wrong.

I'm just advocating that we don't reinforce the idea that achievement requires that you must be approved of by the mainstream. It does not. Dozens of other things are more important. Let us focus on those.

[trustfundbaby]

Don't think of it as reinforcement ... think of it as validation ;)

Seriously ... it goes a long way to hear somebody say to you

"you're not crazy, it is a bit tougher out there for you being a minority and based on that you've come a long way"

Thats when you follow it up with

"... but you can go even further"

[stretchwithme]

No, thanks. I'll just continue to treat all people as capable of performing amazing things and accepting them as they develop to whatever extent.

[michaelchisari]

Recognizing the myriad factors involved in social capital, social networks, and cultural bias should not be misconstrued as reinforcing privilege. In practice, it's exactly the opposite.