"Teaching to Learn; Learning to Share"

August 15, 2009 the Spelman College Class of 2013 started their journey on becoming “Free Thinking Women.” We entered a course called African Diaspora and the World where we started reading and analyzing the Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Friere. In this article Friere discussed how these days many students have become trash receptacles which take in information without recycling and using it again to change their environment. I found it most interesting that Christina Mcvay says, “I learn from my students. I’m never going to pretend to be an expert on Blackness. And they appreciate that. They get to be a co-teacher, you know?” (McVay and Kilgour Dowdy pg 91). This particular fact caught my attention because she learned so much from her students and what she learned she was able to apply to her life which made her teaching experience an even better one.
When it comes to education it is always important to apply what you have learned and to use that information to motivate others. This reminds me of what. Joanne Kilgour said and that is that, “Black women find themselves seeking ways to share their knowledge and widen the degree of agency that they exercise in this society!” The way that McVay taught her students allowed them to become positive, knowledgeable people in our society. The teachings required them to accept who they are and to share that part of them with their surroundings.
My mentor Evangelist Bridgette Wright once told me. “that when you find out who you are in Jesus, embrace it and walk in who you are!” Looking at education in a different perspective is always important in life. McVay’s student’s were taught to look at English with a fresh perspective as opposed to only following others opinion of English. This life changing perspective not only allows an individual to learn to appreciate something for themselves, but it allows them to appreciate what they have to share with the world.
All in all, it is important to remember that everyone has a particular purpose in life, and when you live out this particular purpose you will enjoy life even the more.

Reflection Number Two

Leonie C.R. Smith’s To be Black, Female, and Literate: A Personal Journey in Education and Alienation was a moving essay about a black girl’s pursuit to discover and rediscover literacy, self worth and independence. Smith evaluated her life experiences in Antigua and in the United States. In Antigua she was at the top of her academic class but in the U.S. she was labeled illiterate. Smith says this was because she was unfamiliar with the material or the new testing format. In Antigua she felt comfortable with her appearance because everyone looked similar to her. In the United States the definition of beauty was changed and she was no longer considered the normal idea of beauty. Finally in both Antigua and the United States Smith displayed extreme independence. Whether she was migrating to a new place or dealing with racism at a white majority school, she continued to be in her abilities, have faith and hold on to her cultural values.
I really enjoyed the reading because of the level of intimacy in the writing. No one was telling me, “O white people are like this” or “O black people are like this”. The essay was about a black woman’s personal account and I was more accepting of her story because of this factor. Smith simply said, ‘This is what happened to me’, and it made her story more real to me. I could feel her emotions as I turned each page and I felt as though I could relate to this black woman. For instance, when spoke about her rebelling at a young age or how she felt alienated in a room filled with white people or even the comfort she felt around other black people, I could see myself.
Smith’s story was an eye opener to how real racism is. I feel as though everyone, particularly black and white people, could benefit from this piece of literature. Being more aware of how we treat each other and how we respond to how others treat us, are two lessons I was reminded of after reading this selection.

Literacy and Black Women Reflection

I was familiar with most of the information presented in Literacy and the Black Woman. Though I found it somewhat negative, it gave me a new perspective on some of the issues facing black women. Let me start by saying it saddened me to learn that the majority of women who were unable to read and considered illiterate were of African descent. I was surprised that illiteracy was still an issue among the black community. In the article it pointed out that Illiteracy is hard to eradicate when children have no one to read to them or expose them to literature.
Through this article I found that this is one of the reasons why illiteracy continues for generations. Not a lack of ability but by a lack of exposure. While reading the article I couldn’t hold back the feeling of helplessness. The only thing I could think was how I wanted to help these illiterate people but I’m not sure exactly how. I also feel upset because I am in school striving for higher education and there many who don’t even know how to read a children’s book.
Another interesting fact that I gained from reading the first chapter was that many women live too far away or don’t have enough money to go to school. The United States contrasts this because most schools are placed near neighborhoods so families can have easy access to them. In addition public schools are free and open to every child.
Although there are many roadblocks for illiterate black women I feel there is a glimmer of hope. I think some type of global intervention should be implemented to help increase the literacy rates. Literacy is an important skill that everyone should have but there are so many simple things preventing that from happening. I believe that the world would be more productive if everyone was literate.