Why use a "Guide to Living an American Life" When You Are an African American?

In the text, “To Protect and Serve: African America Female Literacies” by Elaine Richardson the idea of women expressing themselves through literacy is highly supported. Having literature that not only reflects an African American’s point of view but an African American woman’s point of view is needed for the domestic world. In the article Richardson states, “African women controlled the domestic sphere. The women took care of their own children as well as others.” Having the accessibility of African American literature builds a black women’s knowledge of the importance of how to be a nurturer and protector. In this article, Richardson explains through the additions of other text, the struggle and debate African American women have when it comes to telling their story. White supremacists have a great influence on today’s society that they somehow convince black women today that the lives that their ancestor’s have fulfilled were meaningless. Women seem to have a sense of being story tellers. In particular, elders such as grandmothers and great grandmothers have a passion for telling stories of their past. These stories are not told just so they can have something to do or more or less be entertained in with the company of another but it is to be heard. Our African American mothers and grandmothers have such meaningful and life-fulfilled experiences that need to be share and embedded into our minds so that we will never forget. We shall never forget who we are or where we came from. Listening and learning from African American literacy reminds us of who we are and what are responsibilities are as African American women. As the article is title, we have to protect and serve! Not by the American terms of our country but for our families and your legacy. From my personal experience, listening to the long and dragging but above all interesting stories and experiences of my grandmother and mother, I have realized by purpose in life. “Should we respect our language and ways of knowing as little girls or in our homes as we develop into women? Or should we gradually have our minds erased with each passing year of formal school?” This quote taking from the article raises an important question. I believe we shouldn’t. If we let the American literature control our thinking and lose our knowledge that we have gained from our African American women we will be nothing. Think about it. A doctor can’t read the manual of an architect to do its work and we as African American can’t be filled with the “Guide to Living an American Life” to understand our purpose and who we are as African American women who protect and serve!