For decades, society has pushed the idea that a college education is the key to success. Black women took that message to heart, becoming the most educated demographic in America.
But now, as degrees are being devalued in public discourse, one digital creator is calling out what she sees as blatant hypocrisy.
In a recent episode of her Instagram series, 92 Seconds of News, influencer and digital creator Nikki Free questioned why the narrative around education is shifting just as Black women have broken through systemic barriers.
“Black women saw education as a tool for economic empowerment, a way to break generational cycles and gain access to high-paying careers. We did everything we were told to do—earned degrees, climbed corporate ladders, launched businesses—and now, suddenly, degrees don’t hold the same value? That’s hypocrisy in its purest form,” she argued.
She pointed out that while Black women have invested heavily in higher education, discussions about alternative career paths and the declining value of degrees have become more prominent. The timing, she suggests, is no coincidence.
“These conversations weren’t loud when white men were using Ivy League degrees to gain power. But now that Black women have earned more degrees than any other group, America is suddenly questioning the value of a college education. Sound familiar?” she was blunt.
Drawing parallels to history, she referenced how the rules often shift when Black people excel in traditionally exclusive spaces.
From Venus and Serena Williams facing increased scrutiny in tennis to Ruby Bridges integrating an all-white elementary school under hostile conditions, she noted a pattern of systemic resistance whenever Black individuals succeed.
“First, they denied access. When that failed, they devalued what they once claimed was essential. Now that Black women have claimed our seats at the table, we’re supposed to believe college doesn’t matter anymore? This isn’t about the value of education—it’s about controlling access to success,” she said.
Despite these challenges, her message to Black women remains one of resilience and determination:
“Keep stacking those degrees, that knowledge, and that power. No matter how much they try to devalue it, they can’t stop us.”
