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