The Black Box: How High-Achieving Blacks Resist Stereotypes About Black Americans

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the academic and social experiences of nine Black high achievers attending a large public university. Findings indicate that despite their participation in the honors program and high degree of academic ability, Black high achievers felt that they were judged based on prevalent social stereotypes regarding the academic abilities of Black students. These external perceptions pushed students to engage in various behaviors and actively resist stereotypes with their behaviors both in and outside of classroom.