Um ... because the word 'pride' is being used for its secondary meaning, i.e., "a sense of allegiance to and unity with a class or group identified by nationality, race, language, sexual preference or other characteristic, most  often articulated in fashion of asserting that group's claim to equal rights, respect and dignity?"

By separating oneself out as belonging to a group you make it seem as if there should be an issue around your 'right' to equality.

In the case of the students, they were using it as an excuse for poor performance ("I'm the way I am because I'm native, and that's the way it is").

A side effect of the "pride" teachings was a sense of solidarity among the program participants. While this was viewed as positive by the administration, the participants were selected because they were poor performers (gang bangers). Their sense of pride/solidarity isolated them from potential peers that could have had a positive impact on them.

To summarize the attitude: I can't hang out with "rich whites" because I'm a "poor red" and they are performing at "white" levels, while I am performing at "red" levels.

My statement was repeated throughout my class in an effort to change that attitude. If someone even hinted at their performance being related to their race, I wanted to point out that I didn't give a rat's ass. However, if they did achieve, I wanted to recognize their personal achievement.