Due to a negative stigma that has been established about African Americans, many live their entire lives trying to "refute the degrading, humiliating and offensive racial images and stereotypes" that have plagued their race in scientific fields and in other areas of life. The images that are perpetuated have caused frustration as well as aggression in many African Americans, and this baggage has an effect on their consciousness, especially when "the drive towards achievement and accomplishment that the African American professional inspires is overwhelmed and distorted by the social reality it conceals." This article attempts to encourage African American students and other students in scientific fields not to give up, by providing them with information that can prove to be useful for effectively confronting the negative stereotypes they may face within the halls of higher education that distribute assertions of inadequacy and also declarations of entitlement. The ultimate goal of this article will be to shed light on this climate, the infrastructure that currently exists, and to show that this infrastructure is a major contributor to the lack of participation by African Americans in scientific fields. In this article, the author shares his personal story of being in a doctoral program in science at a predominantly white university (PWI). Although this experience is a part of his past and he has since achieved other accomplishments, he thought it was a story that needed to be shared. Sharing his experiences will hopefully let other African American students know what to avoid as they navigate their way through their scientific programs and life.