"Going Against the Grain: The Acquisition and Use of Literacy"

In the 1800s African Americans were primarily concerned with the advancement and betterment of themselves as a culture. Some were freed, and some were still enslaved; but all had an obvious thirst for knowledge. Even during enslavement, they would form creative ways to educate each other secretly without the overseer having knowledge of it. They would sing songs of encouragement and strength in their native languages, that the overseer was most commonly foreign of. Some enslaved children would stand outside their master's child schoolhouse and eavesdrop to gain some information. The tactics they took in order to learn and expand their knowledge indicates how important it is to take advantage of the present day resources and opportunities available.

Education and literacy remained important in the African culture. It was a way out, or at least a closer step to fleeing from the oppression they endured. During this time there were three different types of schooling. There had always been the Sabbath education system, during the Civil War came Missionary schooling, and once integration came, Public schooling was an option.

Sabbath schooling was implemented prior to as Royster calls it "free" or "public" education. This education was primarily church- sponsored. It often followed the traditional Bible school, or was an extension of it. It was primarily taught by African Americans (primarily church mothers and deaconess') in the evenings and on weekends.

During the Civil War, northerners and church organizations invested in African American literacy through what was called Missionary teachings. This extended normal activities and caused them to be intellectually beneficial.

The final method of schooling available for African Americans that came last was public education. Most African American parents that had the resources to enroll their children into the public school system chose not to. They did not favor this method of teaching because although integration was supported and implemented, did not make everyone a fan of it. Everyday they were sent to school, blacks would face harsh racism and brutality from White Southerners; whether parents, faculty, or peers. As if this weren't enough to have to bear with, African American parents knew that even in a racially mixed institution, the black curriculum and education was obviously inferior to that of the white students. They were given more opportunity, resources and better environment.

With all of these three different types of schooling considered, I feel that African Americans had everything fighting against them, and still fought to overcome the negative. This part of the article, explicitly gave me reason to absorb everything I can, as much as my capacity allows, so that I may achieve great things for myself and my ancestors.

Transformative College Literacy of Literate Black Women Peer Counselors

While reading about the schema theory, I thought about what I learned in ADW last semester, about the construction of knowledge. Like the schema theory, in a dialectic-learning environment, students apply what they already know to what they are being taught. The best teachers teach in this way; their discussions about intelligent topics run smoothly and are filled with new knowledge. There are many discussions held in class that the class cannot participate in because they don’t watch the news or read it. A lot of young adults do not watch the news enough so are unaware about current events that are going on in the United States and other countries around the world. When watching the news, you receive vital information, something’s are major and some are small pieces of information that can help with your everyday life. I will admit that I am apart of the many young adults that don’t pay attention to the news like I should.

Learning in a schema theory or dialectic learning environment helps the mind to expand more and retain information. It helps students to think critically, solve problems, and hold intelligent conversations. This leads me to the first thing talked about in the text, wisinewski says, “If you’re ignorant of everything that is going on and you have no idea and you’re just walking around, then how can you say we need change, or we need this and that?” (wisinewski 69). I agree with this one hundred percent. Walking around not knowing about anything doesn’t contribute anything to this country. Being a critical thinker allows an intellectual to be able to hold their own point of view on things; they don’t just “hop on the bandwagon”. It is very important to have a personal point of view, or you will get walked over. People like this are considered pushovers.

Going Against the Grain: Real Women

Going against the Grain by Jacqueline Royester brought us back to slavery life for women. A statement was mentioned about former President, Thomas Jefferson, who had a distaste for slavery. From my knowledge of past literacies, I learned that even though Jefferson was said to be against slavery, he had slaves of his own. In addition, he engaged in sexual intercourse with some of his female slaves. Women had no rights, less than if they were black men, or even poor white men during that era. Elite white men created a social class for America, and black women were the lowest of the low. They were not even considered woman, as the notes state “elite white women being the “lady””.

I picture myself during those times. How would a person being of African American descent act now, having learned of slavery hundreds of years ago? I praise black women activists who during the Civil Rights Movement did not tolerate mistreatment and inequality. Rosa Parks proved she was a human just like the white men and women and refused to give up her seat. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony created the first women’s conference at Seneca Falls, New York. Many women later stood up for all black women.

These women all define strength and endurance to me. The women in slavery who took pain and oppression, and continued to live; and women who stood up, spoke, and acted out against the evils of slavery, inequality, and segregation. I feel they all were very courageous and went through events that I do not believe I could have handled personally. Having lived through either time period is frightening and takes women who must do what she must to live. If I could, I would applaud each and every woman who lived life fighting against those wrongs.

Literacy and the Black Woman

Literacy and the Black Woman was written by Sharon M. Darling and discussed the identity of women in society and their relationship with literacy. She spoke about how the black woman is now comfortably considered to be at risk and poverty stricken. However, at the same time she is still seen as the power source in the family. Throughout this article, Darling speaks about the Black woman and her literacy from a historical oerspective. She provided proof of the importance of the literate black woman, as well as posed the question of what was to be done to resolve the issue and some programs that would help in doing so.

In the historical perspective Darling shared, she explained the nature and severity it was to become literate during the times of slavery and tremendous hardships for not only people of African descent but of the female African. Although those times were extremely difficult for the male, it was equally, if not worse, for the woman. The man was considered a "workhorse" while the woman was a "workhorse with liabilities" and those liabilities were the children she bore.

Darling expressed the need for black women literacy in the text by citing terrible percentages in society. 25% of the world's population is literate, 60% of that illiteracy rate is women and 44% of the women illiteracy rate is black women. Horrible percentages such as these vividly detail and support the fact that literacy is that extremely important in all communities.
This then leads to what should be done about the alarming illiteracy issues, and Darling suggested societies to put in place adult literacy programs and Head Start programs for the coming generations.

I found this article very compelling and important. I was intrigued by the basis of literacy related to the black woman and all the problems and issues that were negatively related to her. The text made me question, what would life be if I did not seize the opportunity of a great education and knowledge construction. My answer to this would probably lead to sheer silence and speechless.

Black Women/Black Literature

Black Women/Black Literature is an interview between Joanne Dowdy and Christina Mc Vay. Mc Vay is a white woman who is fascinated with and teaches a course on Pan-African studies. Christina loves the black oral and written language. Not only did she study the African language, but she majored in German and Russian as well.

I was very intrigued at the way she became interested in African American studies. She was socially deprived, by choice, after she was forced into a catholic boarding school. She met her best friend, who was African American, because of a common interest in not wanting to be in their situation. They both loved to read, and started reading books about Malcolm X; this began Christina’s fascination with the subject. Malcolm X would be proud to know that his book influenced a white woman to fall in love with African American literature.


It’s funny how Christina thought the black studies program was for black people only. If she had chosen to be a part of the black studies program, what type of environment would she have been in? I could actually see why she would have felt a little uncomfortable in taking class in the black studies program. The class would have been filled with a bunch of black students and she would have felt out of place. I don’t think it really would have mattered that she was a white woman in the class. The African American students probably would have commended her for that and had no problem with it. I also believe that in today’s society people would not second-guess studying something of a different culture from theirs. This society has developed and become more open-minded. There are too many mixed children walking around today to have a close mind against other races.

"To Protect and Serve" by Elaine RIchardson

The quote “to protect and serve” is referring to the languages and literacies of the African American female being recognized and preserved in society. Richardson speaks on the term “mammy” which refers to the faithful, obedient servant, a language policy black women use. Most black women relate themselves to this term, a term used during slavery. Terms like “mammy”,” bitch”, and “wench” all belittle black women. Black women still continue the mindset of inferiority in society by using terms like these. I feel this is sad because it is true. I know many black females who have called themselves “bitches”, or have called another black female a “wench” or “bitch” as well.
Richardson says some literary policies black women use are: storytelling, code style shifting, signifying, and silence and speech. Unfortunately, when we do come across a black woman that is eager or “persistent”, she is avoiding the normal black woman’s’ fate. So really a black woman’s fate is usually the opposite of persistent, which is lazy, relenting, surrendering, and yielding. These policies are looked down upon in society.  All forms of literacy within the black, female communities show signs of inferiority, wrong, or not good enough. We are taught to change our speech, the way we act, hobbies, etc…Likewise,  “African culture forms adapt to meet the needs of this racist society” Richardson states. The way a black woman dances, acts, styles something about her, and sings isn’t attractive to the rest of society or liked because it is different.
But why should any culture have to conform, or change its ways, to any society, as long as that culture’s ways are safe, and abiding by the laws of the land? I believe the African-American woman’s traditions and culture does need to be preserved. It has a right to be given a chance just as any other culture in the American society.

To be Black, Female, and Literate

'To be Black, Female, and Literate' is a narrative written by Leonie C. R. Smith. This narrative was written to detail the life Smith encountered and her relationship in gaining an education throughout the complete journey. Smith begins explaining to the audience of her born life in Antigua. While living in Antigua, Smith reflects on the importance of education her parents enforced on her because of the limitations and restrictions they were faced with, as well as those before them. Smith draws her audience into the story with captivating expressions detailing the trials and tribulations she and her family were forced to overcome. Despite the countless hurdles life had thrown at Smith and the rest of her family, education was still highlighted and maintained.

Later in the narrative, Smith explains the transition she made when she moved from Antigua to America. Smith moved to Brooklyn, New York to live with her sister for better opportunity and an escape from the British English education system. Smith explained that she had always excelled and remained in the top three percentile throughout her educational career in Antigua, so when she arrived in New York she had expected to be admitted into the corresponding grade according to her age, or otherwise advanced a grade. However when she was denied this, and rather demoted, she refused to attend school until she was admitted into her rightful grade.

Endurance and challenges Smith made such as this shows her passion for education and in my opinion, a subconscious way of proving herself adequate. Smith expressed the overlapping combination of being black, female, and literate and how important it was to emphasize all three correctly and accordingly.

While reading this article, there was one question that came to mind. The first thing I could think of is how I would feel and react if I were in the situation Smith lived and endured. Honestly, I could not begin to fathom how I would feel if I were in the situation Smith lived. I can only simply applaud her for how she handled every situation that was thrown at her. I feel that Ms. Leonie C.R. Smith is an excellent example of how to live while maintaining the importance of being Black, Female and Literate.