Courtney Daniella is an accomplished young woman. Her beauty and lifestyle YouTube channel has more than 30,000 subscribers, and she has more than 5,000 followers on Twitter. Oh, and she’s also studying Human, Social, and Political Sciences at Cambridge University. No big deal.
Despite her success both in academia and online, Daniella says she still faces a lot of hate from trolls online who say the only got into Cambridge because she’s black. So she responded to those trolls with the most perfect tweet thread.
She begins by saying, "Do you know how many times I get comments on YT and even @'d about how 'lucky' I must feel to got to @Cambridge_Uni and how the 'quota' needing to be met was my biggest helper [?]"
Do you know how many times I get comments on YT and even @'d about how 'lucky' I must feel to got to @Cambridge_Uni and how the 'quota'...
— Courtney Daniella (@_CDBoateng) July 29, 2017
... needing to be met was my biggest helper. Or some sort of diversity outreach / initiative. Even had a comment on my video from...
— Courtney Daniella (@_CDBoateng) July 29, 2017
...A young white male who expressed his fear of not getting a place at Cambridge because 'his place' would be occupied by 'people like me'.
— Courtney Daniella (@_CDBoateng) July 29, 2017
Daniella basically says that just like every other student at Cambridge, she earned her spot at the school. She told Metro that despite her academic achievements, she still meets a lot of resistance just because of who she is.
"When people think of the Cambridge student, they do not only think of someone who has achieved A*AA (in their A Levels), but that student has a race and a gender – a white male," she told Metro UK. "Everyone outside of that immediately has their achievement questioned."
In her tweet thread, she makes sure to mention that she aced her A levels, which are equivalent to AP tests and courses in the United States. Oh, and she throws in a snarky GIF for good measure.
And I just look at these things and think rah, but I got the grades. Avg 92 in AS, Did the interview and got the A*AA pic.twitter.com/y71YhBtXeR
— Courtney Daniella (@_CDBoateng) July 29, 2017
Daniella’s message is clear: She belongs at Cambridge. "Again its the idea that 'we' as [black and minority ethnic] students should be grateful that elite universities will even “give us” the opportunity to study there," she told Metro. "Implying that we are less deserving or simply incapable of actually meeting the grades and earning our place."
So if me with my intelligent, highly favoured, melanated, confident and well spoken self being at Cambridge makes you uncomfortable...
— Courtney Daniella (@_CDBoateng) July 29, 2017
You need to fix your problem. 'Coz more of us are going to be rolling up and getting those degrees, MPhils and PhD's. Don't be bitter. pic.twitter.com/Y6dC9glrUF
— Courtney Daniella (@_CDBoateng) July 29, 2017
Daniella’s thread of truth hit home with a lot of people. Her first tweet has been retweeted almost 2,000 times, and amassed more than 3,000 favourites. Plus, other Twitter users sent Daniella messages of encouragement. There was no room for trolls on this thread.
Yesss you tell em sis! People mad ignorant for the way they generalize us and think of us like that shit ain't easy its called dedication💕👌🏾
— Kira🖤 (@Kira_tzxo) July 30, 2017
You go girl! We need more diverse environments everywhere, ignore comments, in fact prove them wrong!
— lolkin (@lolaaskar) July 30, 2017
Daniella told Metro she hopes more black girls will consider applying to Cambridge. Here's hoping her tweet thread inspired some future students.
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