Black Girl Problems: Confessions of Being the Only Black Girl In A White Class

Imagine being in class, and the topic of slavery comes up and the whole class turns around to look at you as if you just came back from picking cotton at the plantation. Then they expect you to somehow educate them on the black struggle and what it is to see white privilege from the outside, and they expect you to also defend the whole black race.

This is a black girl problem as well as a black student problem.

Personally, I suffer from this situation on a daily basis. I am the only Black student in one of my classes and when controversial topics are brought up, I get angry, but also sad when I have to defend my entire race on my own. This is especially difficult when you can’t cover every topic yourself because you’re not 100% knowledgeable, or you’re too passionate. Sometimes when speaking on racial profiling or politics involving race, you feel like the best answer is to keep quiet and wait for class to end.

When talking about race and the politics that evolve from race, I personally feel that those who are the only black student in a class tend to get the bad end of the stick in multiple situations. Is this fair? Absolutely not. Especially when the professors allow the conversation to go out of context. Chantel Osborne, a Junior here at New England College, experienced being the only black girl at her school. Chantel spent her whole academic career, kindergarten to senior year of high school, in a predominantly white school and here is her experience:

D: How did it feel being the only black student in your class?

CO: It was very hard, especially when we spoke about racial topics. They only taught it from a white perspective. A lot of the time when you are the only black student in the room, there is no one there to support you. Even if a white student tries to support you, they don’t know how it feels at the end of the day.

“Why do you talk like that? You sound white, white girl.”

“You’re like the only smart black person I know.”

D: How did you feel it affected your performance in class?

CO: Honestly, I feel like it made me want to work even harder. Society often views Black people, specifically Black women, as less than. With that being said, I always had to work harder and over compensate to compete with my white peers.

D: What would be your advice to other black students who might have to be the only person of color in their class?

CO: My advice to them would be to always stay positive, even if it seems like the hardest thing to do. If you feel like you’re not getting the support you need, don’t shy away from the idea of becoming close with a teacher and confide in your friends and family. Another piece of advice would be to make friends with a white student in the class, even if it is just one. You will feel way more comfortable knowing there is someone in the room that you can trust and rely on if need be.

D: Do you feel like being the only black student in your class has impacted you socially now that you’re in college?

CO: Somewhat, going to a predominately white institution like New England College, I feel like I have been prepared for this my whole school career. I have learned different tricks to help me in the situation of being the only black kid in a class. Students of color who attended schools that had a population of mostly black students will often feel far more uncomfortable than me.

Students who feel like this article is relatable to them should never ever feel ashamed of their race, gender, or religion. You should embrace who you are and what you stand for. Being the only black student in a classroom does come with bigotry and racism and stereotyping, however you can rise above that hatred. Black students do not think this is the only race related challenge you will encounter during your educational career. Be graceful, be intelligent, and rise above the madness which you cannot control. And by how you react, you show what type of character you have, and character is everything. So my advice to you is to stay Black, stay beautiful, and stay bold, elegantly.