[Ahban]

I taught for nine years at a (barely) black majority school. The administration bent over backwards to be "fair"- I am beginning to dislike that word. For example, when we picked the "Awesome" student of the quarter, we picked four. A white male, white female, balck male, black female. The few asians pretty much got the shaft.

Anyway, 10 of 12 cheerleaders, or even 12 of 12 some years, were white. It had nothing to do with racism. The tryouts were judged by cheereleaders from a college in another state. It is just a reflection of economics and opportunuty. Poor white girls did not stand much chance either. It took thousands of dollars worth of dance and gymnastics lessons over a course of years to get good enough to win a spot at the try-outs.

[sweetliberty]

"It took thousands of dollars worth of dance and gymnastics lessons over a course of years to get good enough to win a spot at the try-outs."

Things sure have changed since I was in high school. All you needed then was to be able to jump pretty well, shout loud and live in the right part of town. I think you had to buy your own uniform, but the school provided the pom poms and megaphones.