Reply #49: I didn't say that the language is the ONLY thing

[bluewave]

I agree with the rest of the things you point out: the challenges, no role models, etc. There is an enormous number of factors, from societal to educational. The language thing, however, seems easily correctable. Simply teach it. You're giving them a much better chance from the start.

The anti-intellectualism is simply something I observed at a mostly white public HS a few years ago. I'm no scientist, I'm not making a scientific hypothesis. But I observed it with regularity and one of the black exiles become one of my best friends.