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.