In Going Against the Grain: The Acquisition and Use of Literacy by Jacqueline Jones Royster, revolts regarding the early 1800s are mentioned and emphasized when regarding the black race. White people who lived through the events of that time period began to fear the "sinister influences of enlightened negroes". This quote sheds light on why blacks, especially black women in particular, have intentionally been oppressed through the act of illiteracy. The slave masters felt that people like Nat Turner were able to lead such powerful revolts because they were literate. Literacy does not only involve the skills of reading and writing. It expands the mind to think and analyze the world in new perspective as well as in a progressive way. Because those that led revolts were literate they were able to see that the reality they lived in was not logical, therefore were driven for a change to come about. The same society that was supposedly built upon “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” was the same society that kept people in bondage; it just did not make sense. White slave owners knew this was illogical and inhumane and they also knew that literacy would allow blacks to see this and realize their social standing. Those who went “against the grain” were a serious threat to the status quo that sustained the “dynamic way” of America. This idea is still translated in today’s society. Many of the illogical inequalities that black people face would be greatly lessened if we as a people were more literate. As literate women of Spelman College, we see the obvious injustices that plague our communities when it comes to our economy, health, and educational well being. While being the "enlightened negro" is threatening to the status quo, that is what still oppresses us, it is necessary to want to achieve more for ourselves.
- Brittney L. Echols
I feel that many white people were intimidated by the intelligence and potential of African Americans. White people felt that when blacks becmae literate that they would have more knowledge;therefore enabling them to rebel legitimately against white society. Preventing education amongst African Americans was the most integral part of maintaining their dominant status. By preventing African Americans from education whites socio-economic status was neither threatened nor tarnished.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with this by the fact that black people as a whole oppress themselves. We do not always take advantage and access all of the available resources we have today.
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ReplyDeleteI totally agree that most of the time it we are to blame for our own oppression. We as a race have to stick together and help to uplift one another in order to uplift our race in this society. Those of us who attain literacy have to give back to our community and let help the people who come behind to see how important literacy and education is so that each generation to come will see that education and literacy are a firm foundation to be able to stand on no matter what career you are in pursuit of.
ReplyDelete-Jasmine Nicole Robinson-
I agree that Black people have also oppressed themselves. We make excuses as to why we have yet to rise above our situations but simply put it is because we are holding ourselves back. The time has come for black people to become literate. We can no longer blame anyone else for our failure. It is as if we are babies and we want to be spoon fed for the rest of our lives; eventually, we have to learn to eat for ourselves.
ReplyDelete-Daria Clegg
I completely agree! It vital that we wand to better ourselves and our community. We must always remember that just like Joanne Kilgour stated in "Readers of the Quilt" that when we learn something it should be our aim to share that information to help someone else! Instead of trying to always be the person that gets ahead by not sharing information that could be useful for a particular group; why not try lending a helping hand when ever you see a way to do so. It is our turn now to take our place in this society and live out what God called us to do! I am not settling for less. Matthew 6:33 says to, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you!" I know that God has great plans for each and every person, but in order to live that purpose out we must, put Him first, share and love our brothers and sisters and walk in who we are as an individual. When we do these things then we will never be able to say that it is I that holds me back, we will be able to instead say it is I who pushes myself forward!!
ReplyDeleteRaven Jackson
I do feel that black people oppresse themselves because they dont take full advantage of whats being offered. There are a ton of free classes to expand you literacy in different areas but these programs are not being touched by black people. As my classmate said we need to strive for greatness.
ReplyDeleteI agree that black people are holding themselves back from achieving literacy and educational success. Parents are responsible for instilling the importance of education in a child but as a race we lack in that area. Since I have been going to Spelman College, I have met negative people back at home who refuse to accept what I learned. I have recieved comments like, "oh you think you better than us," which was unnessary. I felt discourage to want to return to my community again.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I do feel blessed to be at Spelman. I am going to have school spirit because I been through a lot to get here. But I do feel in some cases black people do not want to hear well educationed blacks about their educational experiences.
Shaniqua Smiley
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ReplyDelete"Literacy is the most powerful weapon in the fight against injustice." That is a quote my mother has said to me since I was six. From this quote, literacy means more than simply reading and writing, on that I'm sure we would all agree. Literacy embodies the capability to read, write, comprehend and communicate. I agree, the "enlightened negro" or educated blacks are in large part an oppressive whites worst nightmare. Why? Because, the ability of an oppressed but "enlightened negro" allows them to understand the written text that the white man would and did, in fact, use to oppress them. Their comprehension of this oppression would allow them to see beyond what the white man would want them to see, and create their own truth of what was being used to belittle them as a people. Their ability to communicate would allow them to tell their fellow negroes in order to alert them of the oppression and educate them on the importance of literacy and knowledge. In essence, historically as an oppressive, white dominant figure in soceity, who tried to control, manipulate and put down the black race, the worst thing that white man could've allowed to happen was for one of their black slaves to get hold of a book.
ReplyDeleteTaylor Hawkins