Our Obligation to Protect the Mother Tongue

All the way up to the time the child goes off to school the “mother tongue” has already taught the child life lessons and literacy skills. When the child gets to school they are then introduced to the white language. The white language is the language that society has created and expects the African American student to adapt to.
We as African American must protect the “mother tongue” just as the author contends in the reading. Learning proper English is essential to life but one must not forget about the language you were first taught. In the reading the author gives a solution to protecting the e “mother tongue”: black teachers.

Richardson,”black teachers who can codeswitch can help students to decode texts and contexts, offering them models of learners who go both ways-across the borders.” She is saying that teachers can be that bridge in between the two languages they can link both worlds for students. Service comes in when the child continues you to teach the “mother tongue” to their children. So continue to protect

"To Protect and Serve African American Literacies"

This reading was the best reading I have read in this class. The reason I love it so was because it was so real. Also I have learned another type of literacy: Mother tongue. The author’s main point or thesis is: mother tongue literacy is central to literacy education. Mother tongue is the mother’s way to transmit their language into their children who develop facility with it. In “To Protect and Serve African American Literacies,” Richardson conveys, “Women is the child’s first teacher, who protects it even in her womb and begins to socialize it.

When a child is first born he/she learns from their parents or mother (most likely). Even in the womb the baby is familiarized itself to the voice of its mother. All the way up to the time the child goes off to school the “mother tongue” has already taught the child life lessons and literacy skills. When the child gets to school they are then introduced to the white language. The white language is the language that society has created and expects the African American student to adapt to.
We as African American must protect the “mother tongue” just as the author contends in the reading. Learning proper English is essential to life but one must not forget about the language you were first taught. In the reading the author gives a solution to protecting the e “mother tongue”: black teachers.

Richardson,”black teachers who can codeswitch can help students to decode texts and contexts, offering them models of learners who go both ways-across the borders.” She is saying that teachers can be that bridge in between the two languages they can link both worlds for students. Service comes in when the child continues you to teach the “mother tongue” to their children. So continue to protect and serve the language that has shaped the African American community.
By: Shaniqua Burton

'She was workin like foreal': critcal literacy and discourse practices of African American females in the age of hip hop

Main question: How do young African American females negotiate stereotypical representation of African American culture, gender, labor, and sexual values in rap music videos (Richardson 790)? Four African American females aged 17, 19, 19, and the author 43 produced the discourse presented in this study. The video that was analyzed was Nelly and the St. Lunatics’ ‘Tip Drill’. Throughout the whole reading the three lady’s degraded “working Women” I was especially out with these comments:

BE: I think Nelly wouldn’t say, ‘It ain’t no fun if the homies can’t have none.’
ER: uh hmmm
ED: right.
BE: One who he thought was class, a girl who he really wanted to talk to, he wouldn’t say that.

I was angry because here are three young ladies judging a fellow sister. It should not matter if the girl was “class” or not what Nelly stated in his video was wrong. Yes, I understand these women put themselves in this place but for those ladies going along with what Nelly said is crazy. I feel as black women we go through enough and you never know someone’s situation. So to be judging women you do no t even know is not real to me. Then later in the interview one person say that they like the video. The video is just music. Wrong, along with that music came some woman’s pride. Even if the woman enjoys being called a ‘Tip Drill’ at least show her the respect that she does not show herself.
My answer to the main question that the author is trying to find is: Young African American females are worse then males at stereotyping black women. Think about it where do the men get it; from other women. A black woman is a black woman at the end of the day whether she is a stripper of a dance teacher. Both deserve respect from other black women.
By: Shaniqua Burton

Lessons from Down Under: Reflections on Meaning of Literacy and Knowledge from an African-American Female Growing Up in Rural Alabama

Literacy is not just being able to read and write. As shown in the reading, “Lesson From Down Under: Reflections on Meanings of Literacy and Knowledge From an African-American Female Growing Up in Rural Alabama,” the author Bessie House-Soremekun describes her literacy. While living in Alabama after the Civil Rights Movement House-Soremekun developed several forms of literacy.
Formal literacy was a form of her literacies learned from her family. Formal literacy refers to the various types of knowledge and knowing that is acquired through formal educational modes and activities (e.g., attending school and reading texts) (House-Soremekun 60). House-Soremekun had a middle class family that valued education highly. All her family went to college and became teachers. Reading became the author’s favorite hobby; which made her so advance in school. Her teachers also helped in shaping her literacy in particular though was her first grade teacher Mrs. Annie P. Sykes. The author stated, “Many of the things I learned in her class remain with me even today” (House-Soremekun 60). The author was so intellectual that her fourth grade teacher wanted to skip her one grade, but her mother denied the offer. Her mother felt that children needed to stay with there own age group.
As the author continues to speak on her literacy and how it was obtained I thought of my own. My mother is a strong woman. She is even stronger in the lord. She taught me the importance of having a relationship with God. By her instilling that in me I consider myself religion literate. That same woman also was unable to finish college because she became pregnant with me. So she instilled in me the importance of a college degree. My point is just as the author is trying to convey your upbringing and family shape your literacies. So don’t hide your background embrace it for it is the reason you are who you are.
By: Shaniqua Burton

Black Literate Women:can speak and it shall be heard.Heard for she knows of what she speaks.On rare occasions when she does not she find out

“You need to be educated so you can be this influence so you can help others. So you can go out and not be somebody’s quota. So you can go out and be able to stand and be who you are and also be a great influence.” (Vania, fall 2002) The greatest gift one can receive when graduating from College is not the degree (even though you will be excited) it is those times you set aside self for others. In this article Robin Wisniewski is conducting a research about transformation. Transformative College literacy was the title. She created a peer counselors group starting out with four people and expanded to fifteen. Two young women were the focus of her studies which was to see how the peer counselors would be transformed from just literate but a literate black woman. Lauryn and Vania were the two lucky peer counselors. Lauryn and Vania were totally different women, different backgrounds, different majors, and ideas. So this gave the reader two different perspectives. Peer counselors job is to help with what ever the student is struggling with or need more understanding. Wisniewski proposed the Pedagogy theory were the teacher is not only that but also the student you have to both be open. The two peer counselors talked about how they gave their students more help when they themselves involved their own personal life. These ladies realized that being a literate black women did not only mean being able to know and speak of what you know. It also means speaking what you know to others so in return they can speak of things you have not yet heard. By: Shaniqua Burton
April 5, 2010 7:17 PM

Black and on Welfare

“Women should be tough, tender, laugh as much as possible and live long lives. The struggle for equality continues unabated, and the woman warrior who is armed with wit and courage will be among the first to celebrate victory” - Maya Angelou

From the reading of Black and Welfare I pulled this quote because it stood out to me. Not only because Maya Angelou said it, but because of the volumes it speaks without even knowing the person who wrote.

Maya Angelou says that the woman should be tough and tender. Many women especially african american women, are forced into the role of mother as well as father. A mother and a father have different ways of loving their child. A father has a more rough and 'tough' approach to caring and loving their children. Mother's are the compassionate caring and sympathetic side of the parental spectrum. Angelou also gives hope to the woman by proclaiming women to be "the first to celebrate victory". I see this statement as encouragement for women to continue being the warrior that they are.
-C.R.

“One must be supported by a history of excellence such as the legacy of African-American women educators.” (Sunny-Marie Birney)

Sunny-Marie Birney, who wrote that powerful statement, was a young woman who was motherless. Imagine a moment without your own mother. Even though they are sometimes a little to much, what would our life be without them. Our lives would have forever been changed. For the place that we are now would have never been reached without the help of strong black mothers. Well in Sunny-Marie’s case she did not have that mother in her life. She was adopted by Euro-American parents. Yes she had love and a mother figure, but she did not have that strong black mother to embrace her blackness. Sunny-Marie wrote that she felt out of place, alone, and without value. It was not until she went to college that she began her journey to finding what she had missed out on all those years. Sunny-Marie’s desire and yearning for that black love was filled through her teachers. You see, African American teachers teach with a certain perspective. They see a young black female student and see their own child. This is a greater experience for they will not only teach you but nurture you. The void that weighed Sunny-Maries heart was filled with black teacher who cared. Not only was it about literacies but the mind, body, and spirit that the teachers expressed to her.One must be supported by a history of excellence such as the legacy of African-American women educators. We all are reaping the benefit of our mother’s, grandmothers, and great grandmother’s support. For these women too were educators they may not held a teaching degree but they educated us on our mind, body, and spirit. Just like Sunny-Marie we too would have felt out of place, alone, and without value but we had these excellent black women to guide us when we were adopted by the Euro-American world. We too had educators who shaped us into the young intelligent women we are today.

"People Think We Sit Back and Wait on a Check"

I enjoyed reading the text Black and on Welfare. I agree with several points that the author makes, though I did not find them shocking. I hate the assumptions that go along with black women on welfare. I have also heard the negativity that is associated with being on welfare. What I find shocking is that, welfare programs were established during the Great Depression for white people.
In her essay, Golden explains the stereotypes and disrespectful gestures that black women on welfare receive. She says that people assume that welfare recipients are unmotivated, unskilled and uneducated. This is the stereotype that is associated with black women that receive government assistance. Black women are also accused of bringing fatherless children into the world. I can relate to this myth. One of my best friends is a single parent of two. When people see that she is on welfare, they look at her as if she is worthless. They associate her with being lazy and a stereotypical single mother. What these people fail to realize is that, in spite of having two kids at a young age; she is finishing her senior year of college and on her way to medical school. She defers the assumption that women that receive welfare are uneducated, lazy, and unmotivated.
In the essay, Sandra Golden explains that Black women have relied on church for spiritual and social renewal. Since, black women on welfare are discriminated against and disrespected, their self-esteem is lowered. She says that the social interaction in church activities help build confidence and a sense of belonging. By participating in various ministries, the women build confidence and meet other women. These ministries give them a chance to exemplify leadership. I agree with the fact that it is important that black women rely on religious institutions to provide support.
I also agree with the fact that churches are a great source for black women. I have seen the influence of church organizations that support poor black women. My church is located in the poorest zip code in my county. My church has developed a company and other programs to reach out to this community. We have established specific programs to help single black mothers. We offer assistance programs, child-care services, job training, tutoring for children and adults that want to further their education. My church has many “success stories.” Several of these women that lead some of the specific programs are single black mothers that have participated in the same programs. My church also offers special outings for these women.

Jerrika Leslie

Reel Women In Film

Black women have always struggled with literacy. From slavery, black women have been faced with the option to gain an education or take the maternal role in society. Reading the different synopsis of each movie in, Reel Women: Black Women and Literacy in Feature Films I noticed that in majority of the movies, Black women were portrayed as illiterate. Each were faced the lack the advancement of education that others gained since emancipation. (Dowdy 177) Although, many had the opportunity to gain literacy, the results did not benefit them all because the lack of support and opportunities for Black woman during the 1900s. Even still today, Black women are constantly battling between education and social status due to the double negation we face in society as being Black and a women.
I remember reading Color Purpleby Alice Walker in high school, and despising her for writing in a vernacular of a ignorant Black woman. It bothered me, that a publishing company would publish such ignorance,because not all black women were plagued by illiteracy. The true meaning of the story,that against adversities, Black women always rose above them. It was not until the end of the book that I realized how her choice to write in that vernacular, had an overall effect on the novel. She was expressing the Black women in the early 1900s, which contrasted with the literate Black woman today. Black women have come a long way since emancipation, although it has been a struggle.
Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg are two influential black women that are respected throughout society. Each have reached respectable social statuses due to their work toward literacy for blacks. They work in not only film, but literature depict that against the odds, Black women can succeed.

Our Stereotypical Roles in Hollywood

After reading the article Black Women and Literacy in Feature Films, I was able to learn a lot from Dowdy’s position. In the reading Dowdy explains to us how mainstream media and Hollywood are depicted by stereotypes of Black women. She says that in films the women are usually dark skinned and they have the traits or cultural symbols that viewers identify as being black. These symbols make it easy for viewers to see the typical stereotypes. Black women are always portrayed as a mammy, sapphire or jezebel. They are also portrayed as nurses or cooks for white people.
I agree with Dowdy’s position on the stereotypical black roles of movies in Hollywood. There are rarely, if any movies that portray black women as positive, successful, independent women. Instead, we are seen as being poor, addicted to drugs, promiscuous, and ignorant. Although it is true that some black women are drug addicts or poor; it is not inclusively just black women. There are women and men of other races that have these same characteristics. The fact that the only people cast for these roles are black women, this leads the rest of the world to believe that all black women act one particular way or have the same negative characteristics. In the end, other people around the world or left to think that the phrase black women has a negative connotation; because they don’t have any other examples.
Dowdy goes on to explain the plots of nine different movies over a 16 year period. ( 1985-2001) After reading the summaries of the movies, I was able to see that they were very similar. Although the leading role was a black female, they all shared a common flaw. They all were illiterate. (Except a schoolteacher). Since the women did not have a degree or even a diploma, they were portrayed as being dependent. The movies made the black women seem as if they couldn’t succeed or accomplish anything without the help of another white woman. In my opinion, it is vital for black people to get more involved in the media, so that we can monitor what is being put out to represent all of us. It is up to the actors and actresses to turn down the stereotypical rules and demand a positive and influential role.

Jerrika leslie

"It is not the color of the skin that makes the man, but it is the principles

I read the last section of this reading, and the following quote stuck out most to me: "It is not the color of the skin that makes the man, but it is the principles that form their souls..." Basically, Stewart is stating that we as African Americans have to find ourselves. We have to search ourselves to figure out what makes up our souls. After finding these principles, we will realize that our souls have an equal value to other races. Once we realize that we are of equal value, we will demand our rights. She also says that we can not wait for someone else to do for us, what we can do for ourselves. Stewart gives us a call to action. She wants us to realize that we have be responsible for ourselves. We have to become interested in ourselves before we can expect anyone else to have an interest in us. This statement is similar to what I have been told throughout my entire life. My parents always taught me to be responsible for my actions and to respect myself. I was always told that in order for people to respect you, you have to respect yourself first. I was also told that I am old enough to figure myself out and know how I am. This is similar to what Stewart was saying about Blacks doing for themselves and finding themselves; because no one else cared to do so. Stewart also uses religion in this section. She states that when we become interested in ourselves and walk in God's way and ordinances, He will raise us up and befriend us. She calls for us not to just sit around and hope or wait for someone to better us. It is up to us to do something, to change our circumstances. Stewart says that to do this we have to have a compassionate heart, a principled soul, and an active mind while living by God's word.
J.L

Taking Our INHERTIENCE Back

Numbers 27:5-7. 5: So Moses brought their case before the lord. 6: and the Lord said to him, 7:"What Zelophehad's daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father's relatives and turn their father's inheritance over to them". After God spoke it it was given. Zelophehad's daughters got their inheritance. This bible verse is the first thing I thought about after reading Coming to voice: Maria W. Stewart, a Case in point. Maria was married three years before her husband passed away. He left her one-third of his estate. Her husband's white colleagues were determined to take all of it. Maria battled for two years before being told she would receive nothing. Maria W. Stewart was a black, literate, intelligent woman. Her desire was to speak in anyway possible about the injustice that black literate women faced. In the era that Maria was in was after the Civil War. Times where blacks were finding the need to educate their race while expressing the feelings. Maria took everything that she had faced and wrote about it. “Religion and the Pure Principles of Morality: The Sure Foundation on Which We Must Build.” Was her first published essay by the Liberator. From then on out Stewart spent three years as a public figure. Stewart although it may have seemed like her life was rough she was blessed. One unlike slaves she could read, write, and express her experiences and her race experiences. And although whites had stole her inheritance and put her down she received something better. “In December 1879, Stewart died in this hospital, but not before she had submitted and won a claim to receive a pension as the widow of war veteran, based on federal legislation passed in 1878 permitting such claims.” This proves that what God has for you no man can take it away. Also when God says it it must come to pass. Slavery took three hundred and some years to come to pass but it did. Just like Maria W. Stewart everything she went thru shaped her to use the talents God gave her to encourage a race that needed uplifting. God gave each Spelmanite the charge to use everything wehave learn and experienced to take back our race and inheritance.

I am the Awaken Daughter

This reading made my appreciate my roots and my title as a young african american woman. The author taught us to not be ashamed of our past, but taught us the true significance of literacy to a young black woman. I have two strikes against me as society might say: I am Black, and I am a Female, but after reading Going Against the Grain I realized that these two traits should encourage me to work even harder than I would if I was a white male.
I feel empowered to use literacy as a weapon not as a hinderance against me. In the text, the author speaks about how literacy was used against the black woman as a way to put us down. These women realized that the one weapon they used against us could also be used against them. So these women educated themselves with information about racism and sexism. Spelman College is a prime example of the tradition and legacy passed on from the black female before us. This illustrious college teaches us to be free-thinking women of the future. Since we are preparing to become that, we can never forget our past and the people of the past who would whole-heartedly agree with the statement of becoming free-thinking.
In conclusion, I would like to say thank you to the black females of the past present and future who are strong advocates for literacy and free-thinking for women all over.

When There Is A Will, Some Black Knows How To Read It.

Theres a saying that goes, "when there is a will there is a way". The portion of the article that i read focused on blacks gaining literacy through different outlets. During the 1800s and early 1900s, blacks began gaining literacy through their superiors. Becuase blacks were looked down upon, whites did not feel the need to hide anything from them such as books, the Bible, or legal documents. Ignorance made it possible for blacks to learn because white did not think they were capable of learning. While others believed that literacy would allow Blacks to revolt and rebel against their superiors and take over.
Little to their knowledge, blacks began teaching each other how to read and write. Soon, schools began opening which allowed blacks to learn. Though there was much persecution for this, blacks never gave up the write to learn. The necessity to learn became the true outlet from oppression because of the opportunities it allowed for black women and men. Public, Sabbatical, and Private schools began opening which focused primarily on the literacy and trade. Literate Blacks began to open doors for other blacks through teaching schools, missionary, and seminaries. These schools allowed blacks to gain literacy in different ways that once were not possible. Literacy allowed newly freed blacks the chances to better themselves, allowing many of them to further there education if allowed. Spelman seminary, Salem Normal School, and Miner Teachers College were a few of the early schools that empowered blacks that are still decades later working to advance blacks in the world through literacy.

Slightly Broken, but not Bent Out of Shape

This week’s reading was To Be Black, Female, and Literate: A personal Journey in Education and Alienation. In this reading Leonie C. R. Smith reflects on her childhood in Antigua. She also reflects on her transition from Antigua to the United States.
In this essay, Smith tells the reader that her grandparents were illiterate. Her parents were literate and very intelligent, but for family reasons they could not complete their education. While growing up, Smith’s parents instilled in her the importance of education. I can relate to smith’s story. Although my grandparents and parents were literate, no one in my family completed an education beyond high school. My parents started college, but did not finish. Growing up, my parents always told me that I had to go to college and continue my education. Now that I have made it to college, they are focused on me completing college and continuing until I receive my Doctorate.
Smith also talks about the school systems that she attended in Antigua. In Antigua, a British colony smith tells how she had never learned about her blackness or African history. I can relate to this as well. I did not have a classed focused on the history of people of African descent until ADW. The only time Black history was taught in my school was during February. During this month, we only learned about MLK and Rosa Parks. I had to do research on my own to find out about other black leaders.
During Smith’s life she experienced several challenges. Her mother died when she was young and her father was too depressed to stay an active parent. After moving to New York, she was constantly teased and isolated. Although she experienced a rough time during her childhood, it wasn’t until she entered college that she experienced racism. She attended a predominately white school, and shared with the reader the problems she had to face. She was often told that she didn’t belong, she was accused of cheating and the other students would not even acknowledge her presence. The cancer of racism infected her academics, sports teams and her social life. Although she experienced racism in college, it did not get in the way of her goals of earning a degree. She did not allow the ignorant actions of her peers break her. On page 195, she says “my experience left me slightly broken, but not bent out of shape.”

You’re Either Born with It or Your Not

After reading the interview conducted by Joanne Kilgour Dowdy to document the thoughts of Christina McVay one word came to my mind; real. The first lesson that I got from this was that there are people that are genuine and real about their work. Christina McVay was that person. She answered every question truthfully and straight to the point. At first I found it ironic that a white woman could teach black women about black language. Boy did she set me straight. Then I thought how many times as black women do we ourselves prejudge. We all do. This reading even though it focused on Black Women and Black Literature put a mirror in my face. Why should it matter if a white women or black women teach English? As long as that teacher has a passion and truly cares about the lives they touch and change. That is the most important requirement. During the course of the interview Dowdy did ask corning question. I felt Dowdy did this to see if McVay was genuine with what she was doing. Mcvay expressed that her first love was language, her second black culture. She even gave us a snippet of her background to show that it is not always where you come from. I feel this is another reason that she is a great teacher to black students. For black students are sometimes ashamed of their background; thinking that limits who they are and what they can do. McVay turns thinking all the way around for her students. For example, she says in the interview that some students felt that black language was improper and something to be ashamed of. McVay helps students embrace themselves and culture. All the while being real and never losing her self in the process. The second lesson I learned is that God gave each person his/her own spiritual gifts and talents. If your gift is not teaching do not do it. Or in our situation as students if you are not good in a specific major why major in it. Do what you love and love what you do; because Mcvay said it best "you’re either born with It or your not".

By:Shaniqua Burton

Going Against The Norm

As I began reading this excerpt written by Sharon M. Darling, I began to visualize black women in the eyes of my grandmother. Darling's excerpt had many great points which reminded me of many different talks with my grandmother. She has always been a strong, achieving, and feisty Black woman who has never allowed anyone or anything come in between her goals and dreams. No matter the situation, my grandmother has found a way to achieve her dreams, just as many other Black women. Learning to read and write are merely small achievements which paved the way for Black woman during present day and the future. I can recall my grandmother on more than one occasion drilling into my head the importance of education, family, and integrity. Even still today, I can hear her voice, "yelling college is the most important step a female can take because it was not an option when she was younger".

My grandmother is 84 years old and was born and raised in the South. Her parents had 10 children and were nowhere close to being financially stable. Her parents constantly told her to become a teacher to support yourself and your family, but she refused to conform.Although she went to college, it was not easy and her parents expected her to become a teacher so that she would educate her brothers and sisters, although she wanted to become a chef and travel the world. My grandmother just as many black women went against the grain to pursue their dreams and ignore the critics and demands of others. Black women have been ignored and belittled because of the color of their skin. Many refused to just sit back and be controlled, they acted against the struggles and challenges that were thrown her way. My grandmother like many women refused to be held back from their dreams which in my opinion has been the mind set of Black women for decades.