In this weeks reading To Be Black, Female, and Literate: A Personal Journey in Education and Alienation, Leonie C.R. Smith reflects on her past being born in Antigua and later moving to the United States. In her story she reveals that her grandparents were illiterate however her parents were able to read and write. They encouraged her to do as well as she could in school. I related to this because my parents cherished education and they told me the importance of an education. I was exposed to education throughout my life. I am the youngest of four and I saw how my three older siblings went to college, graduated, use what they learned in college to make careers for themselves, just as Smith saw her older sisters do.
Smith states that "There was nothing in my schooling that focused on my Blackens or my African past...”(pg. 186) I also related because up until high school when I took my first African American courses, I wasn't taught about the history of Black people in America, except during February(black history month).Another quote that stood out to me in the Smith text was "School was always easy, it was life that was hard..." (pg. 186)I found this to be a very well said statement that pertained to her life because she has been through many hardships, her mother passing away and her father being so depressed about that he "became an emotionally absent parent". She also had to deal with racism during her college years. Smith states "Coming from a country where Black people are the majority, it was strange to be in a country where I was now the minority"(pg. 190). Colleges and universities that are no historically black usually have a small percentage of black students and are predominantly white, and for Smith it was uncomfortable because she was not use to being around another race. Racism in school can be very hard to face. Smith goes into detail that while in college and in earlier years in grade school, she was teased beacause she came from a different background and did not know about the American ways. Cultural differences should not be the determining facture of intellect.
-Candice Frazier
Brittney L. Echols
ReplyDeleteI thought your perspective on the reading by Leonie C.R. Smith was very insightful. Although I found myself not being able to relate as easily. I am the oldest of three, therefore I never was able to see any older siblings experience college and make a living for themselves. I have always been a determined person so encouraged myself to do well in school and excel. I look up to myself and invision where I want to be in life. At times I wish there was a mentor to help or guide me through the process, but like you quoted..."life is hard".