(ThyBlackMan.com) Just recently I was disturbed after having a conversation with a dear friend of mine who had been admitted to the Louisiana State University School of Medicine. She was so excited, understandably so, about her hard work, studious efforts, and prayer resulting in being chosen to study for her medical degree. As her friend, I was equally excited and tremendously proud. I was disgusted, however, when she informed me that on the first day of her summer session, the instructor conducted a poll.
Apparently the poll asked the students to discuss how many of them felt that their African American counterparts were not as prepared as the white and other students. WTF?? Not only did the poll separate the black students from everyone else, the poll also posed the question as to suggest that it was a given that the African 
American or Black students were automatically less prepared.
While I should not be completely surprised (there are only 2 Black students, both female, in the class-enough said), it is still unfortunate that in 2017, these young women cannot attend their first day of medical school without being reminded that we are still not seen as equals, even though we have proven time and again that not only can we compete, but in most cases, we excel at whatever we attempt (Hidden Figures, anyone?).
While my stance on the school, particularly for this type of activity is what it is, I fully understand that she now has the opportunity to fulfill a dream, so I do not expect her to protest or boycott, but I was pleased that she was able to hold her head high and keep her composure as she and the other young lady were subjected to such foolishness. I am also confident that she will go forth and prove her right to be there as her work speaks for itself.
This incident, in addition to everything else that is going on in the world, and everything else that we as Black people have had to endure, made me wonder…shall we ever truly overcome? Why is it that we continue to have to go above and beyond to prove our worth all the while being victims of appropriation? The simple answer may be, we know our greatness and so does everyone else, which is why they want what we have. There are those who may also ask why try to prove ourselves to other races instead of maybe attending a predominantly Black medical school.
My counter to that would be, why should these young women have to leave their support systems and their homes in order to attend school? I mean should it not be possible that they receive a quality education and be treated as if they earned their seats in their own city? The real answer is that I unfortunately do not have the answer.
What I do know is that as Black people, particularly black women, we are charged with honoring and uplifting each other and conducting ourselves with the dignity displayed by these two young women in that moment. By doing so, maybe we will no longer look to others to determine our worth or to offer their definition on what it means to be prepared.
Staff Writer; Erica Van Jackson
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