<p>I don't see why it's okay to say "It's no secret that Asians are typically plodders who do math and piano" and it's NOT okay to say "It's no secret that Blacks are typically poor and uneducated." Whenever I've heard them, in real life or on forums, the tone is typically one of vague scorn for either- so why is it different? Why is one socially taboo and the other not?</p>
<p>For the same reasons that compliments are better received than insults.</p>
<p>And nobody says that first one outside of college admission forums like this one, gimme a break. More often it's "Asians are geniuses" or "Asians are good at math and violin" or "Asians are such nerds" etc. etc. Most, whether in a positive or negative tone, say the same thing- Asians are smart.</p>
<p>This really isn't the board for that kind of discussion either.</p>
<p>It's an issue of appearing against stereotype. A black who is not poor and/or does very well in school shows him/herself as not fitting the stereotype you posted, so these factors may work for him/her. An Asian who does very well in math and plays piano fits the stereotype you posted, so these factors won't help him/her.</p>
<p>No one is saying that either of these stereotypes is true. They're simply saying that these stereotypes exist, and that one factor in college admissions is to make yourself look different than your peers.</p>