The meaning of academic achievement for African American students was studied in 2 populations, a sample of 145 (53% males, 47% female) African American middle school and high school students in an African American Academy summer enrichment program and 45 African American high school seniors (36% males, 64% females) in a summer program for students trying to gain college admission. Student attitudes were measured with scales that assessed the feeling that academic success equals selling out and that it represents acting white. No evidence of pervasive academically alienating beliefs among African American adolescents was found. However, a sizable proportion of students sampled did indicate some level of agreement with such beliefs. It may be that students in these summer programs place a higher value on academic achievement than does the general population. A strong relationship was found between academically alienating beliefs and a feeling of being threatened by seeking help. This finding may suggest that for African American students seeking help threatens their self-esteem and confirms the cultural stereotypes that African American students cannot succeed. Two tables summarize study findings. (Contains 7 references.) (SLD)