"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.