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.