the student becomes the teacher

The last portion of Going Against the Grain describes how African Americans are responsible for laying the foundation of literacy for themselves. Before public schools the black church and other black community groups educated blacks. It astounding because before and during the civil war time blacks were not even considered to be equally capable of learning, however they ended up not only learning but also teaching.

1871 education for blacks become more available to a mass in Atlanta when the first public school opened.  Some parents were excited about the opportunity to a free education; however wealthier black parents did not want their children going to a “southern designed system.” Spelman is mentioned as a prominent school because Sophia B. Packard and Harriet E. Giles knew that the literacy of African American women was important!  

All in all Going Against the Grain describes how African Americans proved society wrong by becoming literate citizens of America. We not only survived slavery but also affected the world with our literate movement.

When Opportunity Knocks.

        Before the Civil War, African-Amerian Women had to be innovative and secretive when it came to literacy. However once the Civil War ended it gave them the opportunity to establish their literacy to its fullest potential. They started three movements to provide African-Americans with basic literacy instruction: the Sabbath movement, the misssionary movement, and the common or public school movement. The Sabbath movement consist of African-American forming their own schools that were church-sponsered and community operated. The missionary movement (1860's) advocated freedom, justice, and empowerment. They also joined forces with the African-American men and women that were apart of the educational enterprises and became the primary resource for literacy of the South. Through the formation of common or public schools (1870's) the southern authorities regained their power over African-Americans. These literacy movements mark the emphasis on how African-American women often goes the extra mile to make sure her people progress, when there's an open door for an opportunity to better ourselves, the determination of the African-American women always take advantage and build from it.

- Posted By: Monique Henderson

The Past to the Present: Going Against the Grain.

 In todays day an age we have opportunity, 

It only takes but ONE person to stand up and take charge of a situation. When you notice something is injustice, not fair, discriminative, and you have the feeling you can change it around, why not. Prime example  Elias Neau; whom opened up his home in new york for african americans to be taught after their daily activity and deeds were done, to learn school literacy. in 1708 he had numbers over 200 whom he aided in his school, and still after his death his groundwork was still in the process of running and continued to educate african americans . With the aid of just one man taking a huge step for mankind, the world can become a way more better and diverse place. The help of one person whom wants to serve it's peers with the same justice system cause potential for growth and development. Two african american men Harry and Andrew set up a school in South Carolina after being taught in the hands of Elias Neau, this is an example of furthering education, rights, and success. This school that was open held it's main purpose to have those students whom ever wanted to partake in its system to express ones self on the topics of religion and reading. It became a place of shared knowledge amongst others. The same idea of shared knowledge is what first set these two men to begin their school, and the two men that founded that school accompanied their idea of shared knowledge through Elias Neau, and whom influences Elias Neau was the set time of slavery and the injustice of banning literacy and understanding to whom ever wanted to learn. The system of knowledge goes way back to the first trying days of this country. Without one person making a giant step to progress and open gates and opportunity for others to proclaim themselves, how id knowledge suppose to grow, or how are we suppose to develop. Even things we weren't allowed to do, such as gobble down alot of candy at once or even ignoring the sign near the pool that says do not run on the deck. How are we to know the outcome and lesson learnt if we don't experiment for ourselves an go against whats told of us. We learn from our mistakes or develope from them, educating ourselves with an experience and a lesson learned. The steps that Reverend Samuel Thomas,  Reverend Doctor Thomas Bray, and Elias Neau took at the time wasn't just to rebel against the slave masters at that time, it turns out without their courageousness we african americans could be a race with limited information known to our knowledge.  It takes one big gesture, one big step, to change society around.

To Go Aganist the Grain

In chapter 4 of Going Against the Grain, Jacqueline Royster opened with a quote by Maria W. Stewart. "O, ye daughters of Africa, awake! Awake! Arise! No longer sleep nor slumber, but distinguish yourselves. Show forth to the world that ye are endowed with noble exalted facilities” (Royster 108).  Stewart is a very influential woman not only because she is thought to be the first African American essayist, but because she choose to speak out on injustices that faced her as an African American.

Within the first few pages Royster speaks on the literacy of an African American woman and how it has been subject to many intellectuals throughout the centuries. She states “Since the beginning of Africans’ lives in the Americas, African American women have been encumbered by racist, sexist, class-bound ideologies” ( Royster 109). With theses stereotypes plagued upon us it has been very hard for us to prove our worth.  Yet as a double minority we still strive to excel pass those boundaries. Although Stewart had little formal education, she constantly demonstrated her learning in her lectures, referencing the Bible, the U.S. Constitution, and various literary works.

As the chapter progresses she begins to elaborate on slavery and how it has affected the African American woman.  In those days a woman of African descent was only good for two things, working and breeding.  Royster says that this was “A degraded status” She then references to Africa and how we were treated. The African woman was the storyteller; they kept the culture alive and thriving. They were the healers and well respected. However, upon being brought to the Americas there were treated in the worst way imaginable, not only dealing with sexual abuse and harassment, but also having to endure a “genderless” status when it came to work side by side the men. 

As that passage continues Royster begins to elaborate on the three right of every human being. They are life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. She talks of the thinkers that influenced theses great unalienable rights, and how the United States chose to interpret these rights. Jefferson, Mason, and a few others were advocates when it came to the abolition of slavery.  She cites Mason for saying that slavery was “diabolical in itself and disgraceful to mankind” (Royster 119). I know too, that Thomas Jefferson freed all of his slaves in his will. There were a few too that thought slavery was wrong but though nothing to end it, like Ben Franklin, who did not support the emancipation of African Americans.

To go against the grain, is something that we as African American Woman have had to struggle with for centuries and in doing so we have made such immense progress that all we can do is move forward and pave the way for others to follow.

Learning and Being Black

Throughout the chapter Leonie C. R. Smith describes how learning to black in America was and still is a struggle for not only foreigners but also blacks born in America. Born and raised in Antigua she lived for education and exceeded in every class. Her migration to the United States was a drastic change from majority of blacks to being surrounded by whites. Native Son by Richard Wright vividly describes the oppressive factors that the white community has placed on African Americans in relation to social status and education. He relates to Smith by having his main character alienated from his peers just like she was in the classroom setting. Smith tells how the education system in the United States does not expect for children to be able to read and write but instead to be able to retain dates for a test. After she learned the method of “learning” in the United States she easily graduated at the top of her class and went to college. At college she begin to realize that the standards set for African American women was low; “it seemed that a grade of D was what was expected of Black students, and anything above that was suspect.” (193) Smith tells her audience that the work involved with school was not the hard part, the hard part was being strong enough not to fall victim of the standards held for blacks.


All in all, Smith transition to the United States depicts the racism in the U.S. Personally I paid more attention the education difference she explained. As a minority in the southern states I believe that we are deprived of the learning experience. This is because we are not taught how to think, we are taught what to think. Instead of “writing essays and giving detailed explanations of my thought processes” (187) I too was graded off how well I retained information regarding dates and other pieces of information which I do not remember now. This chapter not only says how African Americans are victim to stereotypes and unnecessary challenges but also explains the way that education plays a huge role in being a “free thinking woman”.

Literacy and Black Woman

1996 reported the 25% of the worlds population is illiterate, Woman comprise of 60% of that group and Black woman comprise of 44% of that illiterate group.

The factor of male superiority and male standings is no longer an excuse, for in the society and nation we live in woman hold top leadership positions in our standing as a nation. Woman are present in the white house, government jobs, schooling, and the most high of positions in many top companies and up holdings. Prime historical individual is Condoleezza Rice. She is the second woman to be US secretary of state and holds the highest most powerful position in the presidential cabinet. No way is it possible for her as an African American republican to state her views and uphold her position if she had no literacy characteristics that are stronger and better fixed than her peers. Now as for African American woman it's another standing. The view on woman alone is seen frequently as the second- class citizen (sex-role stereotype). We have come from the roots up from mistreatment. We must over come all negative stereotypes on behalf of our dwellings in knowledge and leadership. And we have taking big steps in society yet many are still holding the image of a drop-out or underachiever happy in the state their living, and not wanting to better ones self. That image consist of stories and examples of woman getting pregnant and dropping out of school, ending their schooling literacy, the illiterate female whom does nothing but lounges at home and makes babies and cleans up the house. Once pregnant or dropped out of school, there is always regime for you to pick up your studies again, and again, and again until you obtain your destined degree. The educational opportunities that once flourished only for men and of white men and woman is now open to the public, no man should knock ones desires down, especially one whom has a right head on their shoulders.

Michelle Obama is especially trying to attack the literacy world for children and adults. To better a nation the Obamas have mentioned and have broadcasted and personally addresses universities and family organizations the stressing of knowledge and education. It's key to progress and it's key to making a difference in the world. As the opposed slaves of this nation by being female and black literacy is a must to uphold power in this nation. We know and must work harder than whats expected and we have head idols to look upon that have laid their marks for us to walk and run rapid on.

  

Blogged by Group Girl Power: Lara, Kristina, and Monique