In the first episode of Thriving & Surviving in Privileged Spaces, we spoke with Mark Robinson and Ray Smaltz. Their book: Young, Black and Privileged in an Unexpected Place of Privilege is now available for purchase. At the end of the episode Mark was describing his experiences with the teachers at Dalton. In the Conclusion of Thriving and Surviving, we pick up the conversation with Ray’s experiences. Ray had the build of an athlete and he talks about the assumptions white teachers and administrators had about why he was at Dalton.
For all young Black students secondary school is the step for what doors will be opened for them moving forward. Both Ray and Mark experienced negative college counseling, discouraging them from applying to competitive colleges. Thankfully, neither of them took that poor advice. But, its telling that even in a school that preps high school students for college, their guidance counselor decided they didn’t need to be competitive. Even the most privileged Black students have multiple traps and land mines to avoid. Many of the Nubian Tigers had the same experience. Our guests conclude by sharing how they think their experiences could help young students today, regardless of whether they are in private school or in the public school system. Hope you enjoy the Conclusion of Thriving and Surviving.