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The Average Black Girl Research Paper

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A piece of text that influenced my ideas on black stereotypes and achievements was “The Average Black Girl” by Ernestine Johnson. Before I heard this performance, I used to believe it was a compliment when people talked about how I couldn’t be considered the typical black girl, despite being a pure blooded Nigerian, because I didn’t act black. Acting black was defined by speaking incorrect English, failing classes, being loud, taking drugs, having siblings from different parents, listening to rap songs about gang violence, shoplifting and above all else, hating books. When I got to the U.S and was given that mold, I immediately rejected it saying that I didn’t fit it, because I loved reading. Why else would I have had a walk-in-closet sized collection of books in Nigeria, check out books so often, my current school librarians know my name …show more content…

I couldn’t be black because I wasn’t failing my classes, I might have done a terrible job on my History Document Based Essay, but I ultimately didn’t fail the entire exam. I disavowed being black “because I [was] so well spoken [and] poised” and instead created a new caste for myself, African. Being African wasn’t the same as being black or white, no they were so different in my eyes because, being African meant you were forced to speak correct English because you were not allowed to get below an 85 on your exams. Being African meant succeeding in all your classes because you were ranked and anyone ranked lower than 10th position was punished. Being African meant you were quiet because someone in your class was always writing a list of noisemakers to scolded by your advisory teacher. And so I went forth into the world with this new caste, designed for blacks that didn’t fit the mold and was so sure of it until I heard the spoken word performance, “The Average Black Girl” by Ernestine Johnson that made me realize how much of a hypocrite I

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