Ruining Black Excellence and Turning It Into Black Elitism

Slavery & Early Hierarchies

During slavery in the U.S., internal class divisions were imposed within the Black community. Even though all Black people were enslaved on the plantations, they were separated into roles, such as the fields and the house. The enslaved groups that worked in the fields are often seen as working in harsher conditions. This blog post is not focused on the field vs. house debate, but these divisions introduced early ideas of hierarchy within the community.

Post-Slavery

Post-slavery, Black people sought education, built wealth where possible, and created institutions and communities. We created our own systems because we were not allowed to use the systems already built. This was a way to survive and protect ourselves while resisting white rule. But we began to not want to share our successes. We had worked so hard for them. We tried to avoid stereotypes tied to our identity, so we started to shame our own, and the more we acted as members of the white society, the more it felt like we belonged. Black elitism wasn’t created out of nowhere—it was shaped by a system that ranked Black people from the beginning.

Black Elitism vs. Nepotism: What’s the Difference?

Black elitism is the belief that in the Black community, there are some individuals who are more valuable and superior to other Black people based on wealth, class, education, etc. Nepotism is the practice of giving opportunities to people you know, such as friends, family, or those within your network, rather than selecting purely based on merit. However, elitism decides who is better; nepotism is about who is let in. Elitism is harmful because it divides the community by determining who has more power than others. Nepotism is only harmful when you use it to take away opportunities from others for yourself or someone you know.

The Detriment of Black Elitism and Excellence

We cannot call ourselves a community if we try to erase the ones in it. Black elitism favors the wealthy and educated, just as white people conditioned us to be. All Black elitism is doing is reinforcing Eurocentric beliefs on our own. Black elitism, especially in Black institutions like HBCUs, tends to mold young Black adults into this elitist role. As a student at Spelman College, one whose imperfections can often outweigh my voice, I have questioned multiple times why they accepted me in November as an Early Decision applicant, because I don't believe in the “excellence” they preach. I believe it's just a way to divide our community into those who are “excellent” and those who are not. I found out I am not the “average” Spelmanite (AKA who they want us to be); I struggle in some of my classes, I am disabled, and I speak my mind in a way that is not sugar-coated for the white man. But shouldn’t that be what Black excellence is?

No.

Black elitism and excellence go hand in hand. Black excellence was never meant to divide us; it was meant to celebrate our being despite the discrimination we faced. Black excellence became a way to celebrate all the things we accomplished despite the world being against us. However, the more we accomplished, the less it was about making change and more about pride. We put this unrealistic pressure on ourselves because we have to always work twice as hard, but when we base our status and hierarchies on what we have accomplished, I think we just start to sound like we are following the European ideology.

Redefining Black Excellence

I’ve decided that this blog will not end with nonsensical positive affirmations, because this is a systemic issue that branches farther than we often realize. I refuse to go to any institution that, whether they realize it or not, makes some students feel pressured to be “excellent”, not “excellent” enough, or unable to embrace their true selves—not just who they feel they should be. We have to stop recreating the systems that were never built for us in the first place; it is both hypocritical and harmful to our community.

Black excellence should be bold, unapologetic, unique, and embracing of flaws. But if we can’t celebrate our peers then we’re nothing better. The problem was never Black excellence—but what we made it.