Fawn Walker-Montgomery: Is there an overemphasis on ‘Black excellence’ in Allegheny County? Part 1

In this piece, I will discuss how Black people have embraced White ideals of excellence and perfectionism.Although hashtags such as Black excellence and Black girl magic highlight Black accomplishments and representation, it’s crucial to acknowledge how this perpetuates White supremacy culture. Moreover, the pressure to adhere to White standards of achievement can detrimentally impact the mental and physical health of Black people. I will be sharing my personal experience of falling into this trap and discussing ways this can show up locally.Throughout my upbringing, I was taught to attend college, set goals, and to be better than the “White people’’ as well as outperform them to succeed. As a result, I obtained a master’s degree and was elected as one of the youngest council members in my community before the age of 30. I subsequently became a trailblazer in many respects. While this may seem like a commendable accomplishment, it ultimately led to feelings of anxiety, burnout, and health issues.Regardless of my achievements, it felt as though my efforts were never deemed adequate, while mediocre efforts by White counterparts were often praised. I came to understand that the definition of success was tied to conforming to a set standard that...