TED-Ed: Ode to the Only Black Kid in the Class by Clint Smith

The transcript delves into the complex identity of a Black student in a classroom setting, highlighting the cultural expectations and stereotypes they face. It examines the social dynamics and duality of identity, discussing how success and failure are perceived differently. The narrative also explores themes of visibility and recognition, emphasizing the challenges and pressures of being both seen and unseen.

What historical struggle is the Black student said to embody in the classroom?

• The Emancipation Proclamation

• The Harlem Renaissance

• Brown v Board of Education

• The Civil Rights Movement

Which authors and figures is the student expected to be knowledgeable about?

• Hemingway and Fitzgerald

• Shakespeare and Dickens

• Morrison, King, Malcolm, and Rosa

• Einstein and Newton

How is the student's identity described in terms of societal perception?

• As a single, unified identity

• As purely white

• As two Black and two white all at once

• As purely Black

What is suggested to be the reason for the student's success?

• Hard work and dedication

• Affirmative action

• Luck

• Family support

When does the student become visible to others?

• In the school cafeteria

• During exams

• During classroom discussions

• When the Friday Night Lights are turned on