Finding Your Purpose Through God

In “Going against the Grain” by Jacqueline Jones Royster, the writing vividly express the strength of Black women and their fight to strengthen their race’s and gender’s literacy. In particularity she titles a piece of her work, “Coming to Voice: Maria W. Stewart, a Case in Point,” in which it explains how Maria Steward became a political and economic activist speaker.  Maria Steward became such a prominent pioneer in public speaking for black women all because of her obedience to God and her gift of encouraging women and blacks to take a stand for their equality. Before becoming a public speaker, Maria Steward lost her husband along with everything that he possessed.  Because she was black and a woman, she was not given justice in turns of what belonged to her. Her husband’s white business colleagues took everything that she owned and left her with nothing.  In the text it states, “She chose to cling to her spiritual beliefs, finding a strength and solace that compelled her to confess publicly her faith in Christ. . . Stewart had the desire to speak out publicly about discrimination and injustice and about the need for political and economic activism.” In this quote, we discover that Steward found out who she really was and her purpose by finding God.  In learning about her life I found it amazingly beautiful that beyond all that she went through she found someone who has always been there for her: God.  She began to realize that all that she is and is capable of doing is all due to God’s purpose for her. As a Christian and reflecting on this the first question that comes to mind is: Why is it that we forget who God is and that he is the created of all that is and all that will come?  I feel that for some people just was with Maria, we will begin to recognize God’s presence when we lose something that we admire or love that blocks out everything else. When that opaque object, that blocks our vision, is gone or lost out vision begins to increase. We are now able to see the things that were there in the beginning. When Stewart began to see God, she began to see herself and what she was able to do. She was no longer living in her husband’s shadow but she began to make her own footprints. She began to understand that without God, she wouldn’t have the strength that she possessed to not only make her better but to make the lives of others better!

African Americans Were Not Alone

Kaitlyn Jackson

In this final portion of the article "Going Against the Grain", the author talks about the educational institutions African Americans made for themselves, and some with the help of Literacy Activists.  Particularly, the instutions founded in the late 1800s, when slavery was coming to a close.  Three of these activists were Sophia B. Hackard, Harriett E. Giles and Father Frank Quarles.  Sophia B. Packard and Harriett E. Giles were two white women from Massachusetts who decided that it was time that African American women be educated.  They founded Spelman College in Atlanta, GA on April 11, 1881.  It was at this point in the reading that I truly gained an understanding and appreciation for the founding of my school, Spelman College, Morehouse College and other historically black colleges and universities.  African American literacy has become something that we take for granted.  But, in reading "Going Against the Grain", I have realized that it was not something that was just handed to us.  It is because of our determination and the work of people like Sophia B. Packard and Harriett E. Giles that African Americans, especially women, have the ability to read and write.  Yes, African Americans were gaining literacy on their own through their masters and secret African American schools, but without the help of the Literacy Abolitionists, African Americans would not have the social and functional literacy that helps them survive in today's complex society.  During the times of slavery, African Americans had their own form of literacy, but I think that with that literacy alone, African American society would not have been able break into the rest of society.  Literacy Activists taught the African Americans of that time to read and write, much like parents and peers teach children, so that they can survive in the community.  This example defines social literacy.  Without social literacy, we would not be able to be members of this complex society that we, African Americans, survive so well in today.  So, I thank the African Americans who began the literacy revolution and the Literacy Activists who helped them reach their goals because without them, Spelman College would not exist and I would not be who I am today.  

Literacy Activists and the Beginning of Higher Learning

After reading the second quarter of Going Against the Grain, there were two interesting topics that stood out to me.  One of the interesting topics was the three literacy activists and what they did to promote the teaching of African Americans.  Slaveholders felt it was necessary to have laws that prohibited the teaching of slaves to read and write because these were skills that were considered to be contributed to disorder and they maintained the levels of obedience.  The three literacy activists were Reverend Samuel Thomas, Reverend Doctor Thomas Bray and Elias Neau.  The one who kept my interest was Reverend Samuel Thomas because after 10 years in South Carolina his successes consisted of “… twenty African Americans who could read and write and who knew the English language well; at least one thousand who could read the Bible; and a cadre of white plantation women who were enlisted in the educational cause and who worked with him.” (Royster 130) I never knew of these literacy activists and Royster tells us about their mission to come to the colonies and work among African Americans and Indians.

                The other interesting topic was the start of higher learning for African Americans.  African Americans had access to higher education after the Civil War and the opening of Atlanta University for African Americans.  Royster introduces us to Adella Hunt who is biracial and the granddaughter of Nathan Sayre and Susan Hunt.  Adella enrolled at Atlanta University and graduated in 1881 from the Normal Department.  She was one of the first African American women to receive a degree from Atlanta University.  Stories like Adella Hunt’s began to be coming from other institutions such as Oberlin College, Wilberforce University, Fisk University and many others.  The institutions that offered educational opportunities to African Americans are now what are known as HBCU or Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Survival in the present and Prosperity in the future--Going Against the Grain

“O ye, daughters of Africa awake! Awake! Arise! No longer sleep nor slumber, but distinguish yourselves” (Maria W. Stewart) This quote resembles love, power and a calling to all women of African descent. In reading Maria Stewart passage, in the opening fourth chapter of Going Against the Grain, I felt a connection with the tone of her voice, as she emphasizes her passion behind each exclamation point. I thought to myself well if this is the opening up of chapter four, then I’m sure in for a nice treat.
In pages 108-125 Royster paints an outline of African American women, how they had a spirit of activism, “ an agenda for new world survival” fought within the slavery community, as well as the how these women had a quest for literacy. Royster also touches on the history of the country and how our forefathers were opposed to slavery but only few acted against it. Reading these pages left me feeling prouder to be an African American woman. Because these women that had been beaten, looked upon as capital, sexist, racist, class, and the list continues; however these unique special women during the slavery period did not break down, instead they “…re-created themselves under the oppression in ways people did not expect…” This notion is so profound, for it examines why African American women have distinctive survival characteristics and how they always seem to astonish the world time after time.
Although Roysters examines women of African descent during, I feel that some of the quotes mentioned could easily be emphasized in today’s day and age- 21st century. For instance, “…Survival in the present and prosperity in the future”. When it comes to survival women of color plan out their agenda’s. The agenda of making do- not breaking down completely, even with struggles and hardships, and the agenda of foreseeing prosperity- keeping faith that a brighter day is soon to come. The feeling that I grasped from the reading was strength. Strength in black Americans were strong in the slavery days and still is today.

Education: The Passing of the Torch

In the essay, To Be Black, Female, Literate, A Personal Journey in Education and Alienation by Leonie C.R. Smith, Smith describes how she understood the importance of literacy in her early childhood but focusing on black women literacy wasn't considered. Since everyone in her class was the same race, it never occurred to her nor was it brought up. Growing up in Antigua she understood that literacy was important. A life lesson that she learned was never giving up on education. She expressed how her father was very intelligent at a young age but as he had gotten older and finances became rough, he was had to eventually give up on his education to survive. But years later when it came to raising his children, he expressed to them that the best way to survive is to get an education, not the other way around. Growing up, Smith stayed in the public educating school system which was under the British English influence. She did not think about how important it was not to only be literate but to be black, a woman, and literate until she came to America. Although Smith lived in another country, there are still some people who live in America that really do not understand the importance of being a black woman in literacy. Now the question I raise to you is; Why do those who are aware of the ethnical and culture differences fail to understand the importance of their cultural and gender literacy?

In the text, Leonie Smith stated, "Education is the key that opens the imaginary door to success. Education, therefore, is supposed to uplift us from misery -- to improve our economic situation in life." This statement explains briefly that education without any doubt will improve the economic situation of an individual. So if black women in America learned how to become literate and earned a degree, they would not be as low as they are on America's economic scale. From personal experience, I have witnessed black women giving up on literacy. Growing up in the urban city of Newark, New Jersey I have heard women say that their only want to be a wife and a mother. They believe that men are supposed to get the education and work the real job. That mentality that they have limits who they can be. Truthfully they have given up on themselves in the inside. They need to learn and understand that they can't give up and count on someone else to provide for them. Even if they do inspire to be care takers, they still have to nature their children. They still have to be literate to teach their children what they will be deprived of in public school systems and society.

Striving Forward: Black Women and Literacy

     Black Women are said to represent strength, endurance, risk and poverty yet she is the most ignored within the structure of society according to Darling from her excerpt Literacy and the Black Woman. Why is this so? How could it be possible for Black Women to have these high attributes and qualifications, but at the outlook of her entire well being, she is overlooked by society? Why are Black Women a member of the underclass? These questions along with others were fumbling around in my head as I read the first page of Literacy and the Black Woman. And just like a fairytale ending all of my questions were answered as I kept reading. The answers to the posed questions are as follows… Black Women must attain the literate skills that are offered. Black Women must endure her long journey as a lessoned learned. Black Women must not stop at her working progress, once she has hit rock bottom. And if she continues to strive for herself, then more changes will be made, and these questions will no longer define black women.

The shocking statistics in the excerpt widens the arena of Black Women and Literacy. “…25 % of the world’s population is illiterate….Black women comprise 44%....” (Darling, 19) The statistics shows that women of color are in need of help, but I desperately believe that only we can help ourselves. There is nothing that a black woman has not been through-- her journey is and was long, filled with positive energy as well as negative energy. But to the oppressors astonishment Black Women press on through all of their struggles. Some women are going to accept the roles that the media publicize such as: video vixen, crack head, illiterate and the list continues; however it is up to us (black women) to strive forward, for a better outlook of our own race and classification. As a result to these ingredients, Black Women look good and feel good and that is where and how we like it.