My eyes strained to focus as I looked at my computer screen. I became so disengaged by the rhetoric of the literature I was reading that I developed an urge to just throw the computer out of the window. Maybe that was a bit overdramatic. I actually ended up taking a break and then started studying for a different class. One look at LATTE and I was actually excited for the first time in weeks. I was excited because the topic directly critiqued meritocracy. Meritocracy is considered the foundation of the “American Dream,” but what is it exactly?   Merriam-Webster defines meritocracy as a system where success is based on demonstrated abilities.

In other words, this is the idea that no matter who you are, where you are born, or the color of your skin, you have an equal opportunity to achieve success based solely on your intelligence,  hard work, and dedication. While theoretically possible, considering friends, family, and national statistics highlighting disparities between Black and Brown communities, meritocracy seems disconnected from reality. 

Vox’s Glad You Asked series  caught my eye immediately. A video titled “Is Meritocracy a Myth?” answers the question with hosts Fabiola Cineas, Lee Adams, Cleo Abram, and Christophe Haubursin. They specifically talk about education as it is supposed to be an equalizer but yet is not. Fabiola shares personal experiences. Despite having a high GPA in middle school, she went to one of the worst high schools in New York City known as Murry Bergtraum. Because the NYC system for getting into high school was somewhat similar to a testing process, once seats were filled, there was nothing anyone could do.  

Luckily for her, she was able to take an entire course of Scholastic Assesment Test prep through an outreach program during high school. Then through the POSSE Foundation, she was able to gain a full-ride scholarship to university and continue elevating herself.   

Yet this is not a story all can tell — the one of rising through their trials and still succeeding. In fact, she talks about the idea that a meritocracy has worked for her benefit to an extent. Growing up as an inner-city girl from Brooklyn, New York and being in the position she is now is clearly an illustration of that. Yet she explains, “I’m conflicted because I am the exception … like should I be up here talking about this?”

Immediately after an introduction, viewers are introduced to a unique perspective of meritocracy through a board game. The game’s name is Rigged and the goal is to get to Glad You Asked University. It is similar to the Game of Life, there are pathways set out for you and along the road there can be some bumps. There is a juxtaposition in the game with one side being Pleasantville and the other being Smallville. All four hosts play this game and we watch as they discover their fate by picking up a card, and then based on their background and income, they can automatically move three or four steps ahead, or they must start at the very beginning of the “race.” Whenever opportunities, serendipity, or challenges arise, each host has to take detours that stall their progress or can skip to the front of the line. 

There is a stark difference between Fabiola’s path and Lee’s. While Fabiola has two parents who are lawyers and also randomly gets to inherit 40,000 from a distant uncle, Lee comes from a low-income family, didn’t go to Pre-K, and then in middle school starts to doubt himself and act out. 

They both react to these new and often unexpected moments in their characters’ lives in the game. For me, this was a great interpretation of real life, where events and moments out of your control can impede your plans and dreams. The video goes on to give a brief synopsis of the history of meritocracy and then features an interview with Professor Daniel Markovits,  from Yale University, who also happens to be the author of “The Meritocracy Trap.” He explains,  “Unless you are either super talented or super lucky if you are outside the elite, probably hard work is not going to be enough.” Probably might even be an understatement. The false concept of meritocracy leads to people working as much as they can and doing everything within their ability to be the best, and yet there seems to be no fruit of their labor. 

Fabiola transitions into discussing the ways that merit is measured. The top answer is through tests. What surprised me was learning that the average American kid takes around 112 tests throughout grades K-12. 

What did not surprise me was when she talked in more detail about the SAT the statistics showed Black and brown students underperforming. According to the  National Center for Education Statistics the highest scores were by White and Asian students and the lowest were by Black, Hispanic, and American Indian students. 

Quite clearly one’s race, socioeconomic background, gender, so many other factors affect their ability to become successful or attain the long-sought-after “American Dream”. To have a great career, one needs to have a decent education or apprenticeship to learn. 

To gain admission into that program or university, one needs to have the best SAT or American College Testing scores or demonstrate their superiority in some way — they are the best of the best. To gain the best scores, one needs access to tutoring or prep. I think you can tell where I am going. 

In essence, meritocracy appears elusive not only in America but possibly worldwide. I guess we have to wait and see.