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.