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SELF-IMAGE
POUSSAINT

man let them into his schools, restaurants, theaters, etc., even though they know that the white man does not want them. In the South and in the North, many Afro-Americans resent the indignity of being in the eternal position of "begging for acceptance" into the white man's institutions. Many black youth are today unwilling (no matter how impractical it sometimes may seem) to sacrifice their psychological integrity in order to move more easily in a white world.
Even the recent civil rights laws did not effectively change the pattern of white relationships with blacks. It became apparent that integration, especially in schools, was not to be integration in a real sense at all, but merely token placement of Negro children-that is, "one-way integration." Since integration is only a one-way street that Negroes travel to a white institution, then an implied inferiority of the black man is inherent in the situation, because it is he who must seek out whites to better his position. This implies that only he can benefit and learn; that he has nothing to offer whites; that whites have nothing to learn from him or from his presence.
Since the number of Negroes at any white school is usually token, particular hardships are created for these individuals. They immediately find themselves surrounded by students who are generally the products of white (racist) homes. In this setting, since all people want to belong, many blacks must become experts at "being liked and accepted."
Many Negro students who seek complete assimilation thus become preoccupied with "proving" to white people that they are "just like all other human beings," and worthy of being assimilated. At the same time they are expressing their willingness to give up most elements of their black identity. This in itself means that to them they are giving up something of little value.
In seeking acceptance among whites many blacks expend a great deal of internal energy trying to prove that they are "all right." Sometimes they must even show that they are special and highly superior Negroes. Black youth resent this type of psychological pressure from whites. Sidney Poitier in his current movies plays this role of the all-perfect, noble Negro. These roles have inspired many humorous remarks among Negro people. For instance, in his new movie about an interracial romance, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" black youth have quipped, "Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It's Superspade!"
Therefore, in such integrated situations, if the self-esteem of students

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-12 23:26:09 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-13 10:23:16