Exception

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HiThey were surprised that I was smart,competent, and capable because they didn't expect that ... I get high praise sometimes because I think they didn't expect anything. When I can speak English and do whatever I'm supposed to do, people are just overwhelmed. I then become the exception.--- Does the last sentence mean that she is treated as if she were exceptional?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Yes, but with this meaning of 'exceptional'.

No-one can run 100 metres in 9 seconds, except Mary. Mary is the exception.

Now consider your example. Almost no-one can speak English or do whatever they are supposed to do. She can, so she is the exception.

You might say 'she is exceptional', but this word also suggests that she is very, very good at what she does, and this may not be the intended meaning here.

Best wishes, Clive

Newguest · Answer

I understand. Thank you, Clive!

Newguest · Answer

They were surprised that I was smart,competent, and capable because they didn't expect that ... I get high praise sometimes because I think they didn't expect anything. When I can speak English and do whatever I'm supposed to do, people are just overwhelmed. I then become the exception. Such reactions may exist only on the surface - that is in relation to shifting standards whereby this woman is regarded as excellent for a black woman.

--- Does it mean that such reactions (thinking that women cannot be competent) are "superficial"?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

They were surprised that I was smart,competent, and capable because they didn't expect that ... I get high praise sometimes because I think they didn't expect anything. When I can speak English and do whatever I'm supposed to do, people are just overwhelmed. I then become the exception. Such reactions may exist only on the surface - that is in relation to shifting standards whereby this woman is regarded as excellent for a black woman.

--- Does it mean that such reactions (thinking that women cannot be competent) are "superficial"?

Not exactly. It means that their reaction of thinking that my skills are good may be just 'superficial'. They might just be thinking 'As a black woman, she has good skills, but her skills are worse than the skills of white women'.

On the surface - I wouldn't exactly say this means 'superficially'. It means that something 'appears to be one thing, but is really another'.

Best wishes, Clive

Newguest · Answer

Clive Such reactions may exist only on the surface - that is in relation to shifting standards whereby this woman is regarded as excellent for a black woman.

Hi Clive

Can you try and somehow paraphrase the last sentence (as accurately as possible), as I still have problems with correct understanding of it?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Hi,

They were surprised that I was smart,competent, and capable because they didn't expect that ... I get high praise sometimes because I think they didn't expect anything. When I can speak English and do whatever I'm supposed to do, people are just overwhelmed. I then become the exception. Such reactions may exist only on the surface - that is in relation to shifting standards whereby this woman is regarded as excellent for a black woman.

Can you try and somehow paraphrase the last sentence (as accurately as possible), as I still have problems with correct understanding of it?

I agree that it's a bit hard to understand.

When I speak English and show people I can do things, they think I'm a very special person.

But this compliment isn't as good as it sounds on the surface. They really just think that I'm a very special person compared to other black women. Not compared to all women, including white women.

The 'shifting standards' phrase is a bit hard to interpret. My guess is that the writer means this.

How white people think about black people is changing (ie 'shifting').

They used to think that no black woman could be excellent.

Now they think that a black woman can be excellent, compared to other black women.

They haven't really got to the point yet where they think a black woman can be excellent compared to white women.

Best wishes, Clive

Newguest · Answer

Thanks Clive!

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