Going Against the Grain

The historical view in which women's literacy is shaped throughout this passage provides readers the foundation to understanding the literacy of African American women. One must be able to understand the history and social changes of the African American culture in order to comprehend the meaning in the writings of African American women and how these writings and literacies as a whole have transformed. The very beginning of African American women's history was to define themselves as human beings and have the opportunity for literacy and learning. Being that the African Americacn race was in an oppressed state, women aquired their literacy through activism and action. "African American women's literacy is a story of visionaries" meaning that because of the lifestyles they were subjected to living, their writings were more imaginative, inspirational, and a way for them to escape reality. The passage describes African American women as the center of the economic status in African socities by being the breeders during slavery. African American women can in this sense be defined as the central meaning to literacy. They were the mothers and nurturers of literacy in their communities.You must incorporate who these women are, their characters, their lifestyles, upbrings, and situtaions in order to understand their literacy. These women carried a legacy of being healers, supporters, and sense of responsibility to their communities. This shaped the way in which women would acquire their literacy. Expression became their main tool. They knew literacy was their way to incorporate themselves into society. However, their story of aquiring literacy is more of a struggle as activist for justice, empowerment, and change. I appreciate how the author incorparated small facts of women's literacy especially during the time of slavery. For example, the story of Lucy Terry, the first enslaved women of African descent to write a poem. These facts provided me with more appreciation for African American culture and an understanting of our history, especially that of black women. 

-Courtney Sykes