Dowdy starts off by defining the black woman from the point of view of society. The black woman was viewed as poor, illiterate, and "an overrepresented member of the Society's bottom tier"(15). Dowdy goes on to address the "historical perspective" of black women and literacy. When people thought of women being literate, they usually referred to the white woman. Black women were ignored to the point where it seemed like they did not exist. Black women were only useful when it came to house work and child-bearing. Eventually the black woman realized that the only difference between her and whites was being literate. Women like "Harriett Tubman and Sojurner Truth epitomize the image of what black women endured to become [literate balck women]" (16). Dowdy goes on and talks about the black woman's efforts to help her black community become literate. Eventually programs were established to help the black woman build on her level of literacy.
In conclusion, Dowdy states that, "The black woman has struggled long and hard in an effort to achieve the skills identified with literacy. Unfortunately, if it had to be judged by present statistics on formal literacy, one would be tempted to say she has failed. This is not due to her lack of will; obstacles often greater than her will have been imposed on her every step"(23). This portion of Dowdy's book stood out to me because as I reflect on the hard work of many of the influential black women such as Harriett Tubman, Phillis Wheatly, and Sojurner Truth, I think of the ungrateful African-Americans today who do not take advantage of the education that is offered to them. The African-Americans today tend to complain about attending school and have the highest drop-out rates. Our African-American ancestors took beatings, hazing, and many other forms of torture because of their attempt to become literate African-Americans. Because of the portion of our Black community that lack the desire to become literate, our entire black community is judged and degraded because of the few.
I also agree with Dowdy when she states that "it seems {she} has lost the war of achieving literacy to uplift herself and her race, she continues the battle every day." Although Black women were denied the access to learn how to read and write, she found other areas in which to become literate. Lteracy is not only the ability to read and write but also the ability to communicate. Black women learned to dance and through dance they used their bodies to communicate what they were feeling. Black women also used music and singing as a way of communication.
Dowdy, Joanne. Readers of the Quilt: Essays on Being Black, Female and Literate. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press Inc., 2005.
I agree with the whole concept of your response. Dowdy goes to show how black woman have struggled for their education and now a days students are taking it as a burden to go to school and get a education. I would say even now it is a struggle because even though we are able to get a education we are still being put down. The black community is still struggling as being told we're not going to make it and we're not going to be anybody important. The African American women who came before us fought for their education and it is up to us to continue the fight in what we believe in. Very well said and good picture showing blackwomen giving back and helping the black community.
ReplyDelete