At first I had difficulty getting into this book because she seemed to be just rattling off names of family and neighbors, etc. etc. When she started talking about her education and other events in her life then I got interested.
I grew up and lived in the northeastern states (New York and Vermont) so I had very little contact with colored people. They were the exception rather than the rule. I don't recall any of them in my elementary school and only a few high school students. I do recall there being very strong prejudices against colored people expressed by the men especially. Those prejudices had come from personal experiences those men had had with colored people. I gave up trying to change their attitudes. It is often too hard to overcome feelings caused by bad experiences. I developed my own opinions of colored people based on contacts I myself had personally as I grew older, especially with those in the work force. Unfortunately I must say that in the city of Utica by the time I was in high school there was a black neighborhood that was scary to be in and we would keep the car windows rolled up and the doors locked when we drove through it.
This book brought out in a very human way just how difficult it was for the colored people coming out of slavery to deal with the strong prejudices of the white people in the south. The fact that they kept on going and growing in spite of all that was denied them and done to them is a testimony to their courage. I have to wonder how well white people would have done if the roles had been reversed. Unfortunately there were many colored people who made that journey harder by their being submissive and allowing the wrongs to be done to them. But then, fear is a strong persuader.
I find it very sad to see many of the colored people of today who don't honor the battles of those who went before them by behaving in a more educated manner. The author gained my respect by her firm courageous ways. Their riots and killings show a very different picture than the courage of the author. I can understand that they are frustrated, but they hold themselves back by the methods they use.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the different events in her life, and it was interesting to read the language that was used. That language must have made it even more of a challenge teaching people to read and to speak proper English.
Reading what she contended with physically and academically as a teacher must have been interesting for you to read, Melissa. I wonder if you have had any experiences that were that challenging for you as a teacher.
I also found it slow going at first, and it never became a book that I couldn't put down. On the other hand, I found it really interesting. She was one smart, sassy lady, which I loved.
Most of our experiences as teachers are very different. My challenges today are students that don't take me seriously because I am female or, more recently, because of my political ideology. I haven't found it too difficult to overcome, though I have colleagues that have struggled with both issues. The poverty issue does extend across time, location, and level of education. I have students who can't afford to buy the books or miss class because they have to work and can't afford to lose their job. However, my biggest challenge is getting students to focus on the information I am presenting them and to get off of their technology. I can cite study after study to them about how they will do poorly if they are on their cell phone texting instead of paying attention, but the draw of the cell phone is too much.
But, back to the book, I was also impressed by her bravery and persistence. I don't think I would have the patience to find all the ways around the people who wanted to hold her back. I would probably waste most of my time fighting back directly rather than going around them to find a solution. Though she did her share of fighting back directly, too!
The only thing I disagree with you on, B, is your statement on the Blacks today not honoring the battles of those who went before them by their behavior. I think the battle before was for the ability to act as they want. As slaves, they were forced to act a certain way, under Jim Crow they were still being forced to be and act an "acceptable" way. Isn't the goal for freedom? If they have to act educated today to be 'successful' and they act out in a different way, isn't that still fighting the same fight?
Being white, and not really understanding the Black experience, I have to go off of my experience as a female and reflections on the Women's Movements in the United States. The goal of those fights was to give women more options for how they behave, their jobs, their lives. I find it strange for feminists today to criticize women who choose to be housewives or wear dresses, because in fighting for the choice not to do these things it implies a legitimate choice TO DO those things.
Wow, look at that rant! I haven't been in the classroom for several days, it must be showing. :-)
When I said that I find it very sad to see many of the colored people of today who don't honor the battles of those who went before them by behaving in a more educated manner what I meant (and didn't quite get my meaning across) was that I do not find rioting, looting, and destruction of private property behaving in an educated manner. I understand that frustration can erupt into those behaviors but I don't believe it serves their cause very well.
3 comments:
At first I had difficulty getting into this book because she seemed to be just rattling off names of family and neighbors, etc. etc. When she started talking about her education and other events in her life then I got interested.
I grew up and lived in the northeastern states (New York and Vermont) so I had very little contact with colored people. They were the exception rather than the rule. I don't recall any of them in my elementary school and only a few high school students. I do recall there being very strong prejudices against colored people expressed by the men especially. Those prejudices had come from personal experiences those men had had with colored people. I gave up trying to change their attitudes. It is often too hard to overcome feelings caused by bad experiences. I developed my own opinions of colored people based on contacts I myself had personally as I grew older, especially with those in the work force. Unfortunately I must say that in the city of Utica by the time I was in high school there was a black neighborhood that was scary to be in and we would keep the car windows rolled up and the doors locked when we drove through it.
This book brought out in a very human way just how difficult it was for the colored people coming out of slavery to deal with the strong prejudices of the white people in the south. The fact that they kept on going and growing in spite of all that was denied them and done to them is a testimony to their courage. I have to wonder how well white people would have done if the roles had been reversed. Unfortunately there were many colored people who made that journey harder by their being submissive and allowing the wrongs to be done to them. But then, fear is a strong persuader.
I find it very sad to see many of the colored people of today who don't honor the battles of those who went before them by behaving in a more educated manner. The author gained my respect by her firm courageous ways. Their riots and killings show a very different picture than the courage of the author. I can understand that they are frustrated, but they hold themselves back by the methods they use.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the different events in her life, and it was interesting to read the language that was used. That language must have made it even more of a challenge teaching people to read and to speak proper English.
Reading what she contended with physically and academically as a teacher must have been interesting for you to read, Melissa. I wonder if you have had any experiences that were that challenging for you as a teacher.
I also found it slow going at first, and it never became a book that I couldn't put down. On the other hand, I found it really interesting. She was one smart, sassy lady, which I loved.
Most of our experiences as teachers are very different. My challenges today are students that don't take me seriously because I am female or, more recently, because of my political ideology. I haven't found it too difficult to overcome, though I have colleagues that have struggled with both issues. The poverty issue does extend across time, location, and level of education. I have students who can't afford to buy the books or miss class because they have to work and can't afford to lose their job. However, my biggest challenge is getting students to focus on the information I am presenting them and to get off of their technology. I can cite study after study to them about how they will do poorly if they are on their cell phone texting instead of paying attention, but the draw of the cell phone is too much.
But, back to the book, I was also impressed by her bravery and persistence. I don't think I would have the patience to find all the ways around the people who wanted to hold her back. I would probably waste most of my time fighting back directly rather than going around them to find a solution. Though she did her share of fighting back directly, too!
The only thing I disagree with you on, B, is your statement on the Blacks today not honoring the battles of those who went before them by their behavior. I think the battle before was for the ability to act as they want. As slaves, they were forced to act a certain way, under Jim Crow they were still being forced to be and act an "acceptable" way. Isn't the goal for freedom? If they have to act educated today to be 'successful' and they act out in a different way, isn't that still fighting the same fight?
Being white, and not really understanding the Black experience, I have to go off of my experience as a female and reflections on the Women's Movements in the United States. The goal of those fights was to give women more options for how they behave, their jobs, their lives. I find it strange for feminists today to criticize women who choose to be housewives or wear dresses, because in fighting for the choice not to do these things it implies a legitimate choice TO DO those things.
Wow, look at that rant! I haven't been in the classroom for several days, it must be showing. :-)
When I said that I find it very sad to see many of the colored people of today who don't honor the battles of those who went before them by behaving in a more educated manner what I meant (and didn't quite get my meaning across) was that I do not find rioting, looting, and destruction of private property behaving in an educated manner. I understand that frustration can erupt into those behaviors but I don't believe it serves their cause very well.
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