Final answer:
The author may be surprised due to the student's unexpected level of insight, which deviates from the historical norm where black history was often poorly taught or overlooked in the curriculum.
Step-by-step explanation:
The author may have felt surprised after she asked a middle school student about black history if the student's response showcased an unexpected level of complexity or knowledge, indicating that the student's awareness exceeded the author's assumptions about the education system's delivery of black history. This could be a reflection of the: gradual improvements in how history textbooks are addressing the mistreatment of African Americans, the student having access to sources outside the official curriculum, or the impact of local educators who play a crucial role in their communities. In schools where segregation occurred and African Americans were often omitted or misrepresented historically, any depth of knowledge a student possesses could be surprising given the historical context of miseducation and the lack of representation of black perspectives and achievements in many educational materials.