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.