We Are Texas East Mall Project

“In some cases, some of the professors expected me to fail. Initially. And when that didn’t happen, I felt that, well, maybe we’re making progress. [They communicated this expectation] with what they said – in private, of course.

I challenged a grade that I received in a course on a test. And I went to the professor and I showed him my test and asked why is it graded as it was. He said, ‘Because that’s what I felt that you deserve.’ And I said, would you know, this is not right. When I look at the correct answers on the key, this is not right. And I said, ‘Would you consider changing it?’ And he said, ‘No, I’m not going to change it.’ And I asked him, ‘Well, why did you do this?’ He said – and I won’t name the school of the university – but he said, ‘To me, the worst thing is a Black professional from this school, or a female professional from this school.’ I said, ‘I’ll talk to the dean.’ And I talked to the dean. And the dean told me, ‘Whatever that professor gives you, that’s what it’s going to be.’ That was the environment.”