I also saw the self-doubt of white students when they began to measure themselves against the few Asian students in the class, even overhearing one white student mutter frustrated, “Why are they so much better in math?”. So even a gifted white student from a upper-middle class background began to have self-doubt when faced with what he assumed was superior performance and intelligence (based on his stereotypic beliefs about the academic capabilities of fellow students based on their race).

As a bright student myself when integrated with white students in middle-school and faced with competing with other students probably no brighter than myself and certainly no brighter than my best girlfriend (High School of Science graduate) and finding not only how unprepared I had been by my urban school but also how they were treated by the other teachers, I simply gave up. Their parents fought with teachers to get higher grades for their children and teachers caved. If their children got a 95 instead of a 98 on a test, the teacher was blamed for their inability to bring out the best in that student and those 3 points were granted. IIl-prepared with a second-rate education but no less intelligent, no one was coming to school to fight for me and my 85 on the same test.

At work, I have always exceeded goals (once having mine and only mine raised because, as it was explained, I couldn’t keep receiving “superior” ratings – uh?) and expectations (always to my white employer’s utter shock), only to hit the glass ceiling time and again. In order to earn the income I felt I deserved (and earned), I found myself having to change jobs every five years to get myself a higher salary. This short-changed me in the long run as I could never stay with one corporation to earn a decent pension. I cannot calculate the lesser income I have earned over my work-life because of this. Only recently I was passed over for a promotion for someone white with years less seniority and who rated number 12 while I was rated number 3 on a work-related test for the position. How could that happen? I am too tired to fight (and now too old to quit to get for myself my well-deserved promotion). Now my only desire is to be able to retire and to never again have my self-worth and monetary worth arbitrarily decided by someone who cannot see me for the forest.

Enough about me. If anyone has any doubts about his findings – take a look at sports where Blacks dominate, particular basketball. There is no reason whatsoever why white males should not be just as good or competitive in this sport, but I would bet my last dollar that many of them believe that they cannot compete in this sport and fulfill a self-defeating prophecy. (And have read comments to this effect over the years – why should they bother since the Black guys are going to beat them anyway.) Any race can do less well than they should when they come to believe that they are inherently inferior no matter what the endeavor.

Oh, and like a previous poster who received no help (while attending college while a white student was encouraged and coddled) – I know I’ve earned everything I’ve worked for and no one can ever tell me that if I had the same abilities and intelligence but were a white male that things would have been so much more different.

And, what I would like to learn more about would be how to build self-confidence and power when one’s group status is “targeted.” Also, I would like some tips on how to be a more effective ally when I am a member of a more privileged group – i.e., man in relationship to female colleagues.

I am saddened by the third post above. I am attending grad school and am black and have had no issues with favoritism or discrimination. I think that maybe your challenge in getting assistance can be tied more to your negative attitude.

My old Dad, skidding logs in the local hardwood forests behind a part-Percheron horse named Diamond, 45 years ago, could probably offer some insight. Sometimes, late into a hot, muggy morning, old Diamond would stand knee deep in cool, rushing creek water for five minutes or more with sweat literally dripping off his belly, but he wouldn’t drink. Just wasn’t thirsty, yet. Didn’t need water. Would drink water later, maybe, but didn’t need any right now.