Against The Grain Of Literacy

"O, ye daughters of Africa... show forth to the world that ye are endowed with noble and exalted faculties...the youth who has a written a thirst for knowledge...mind soars above trifles..Knowledge would begin to flow, and the chain of slavery and ignorance would melt like wax before the flames." - Maria Stewart. To me, this quote alone has a mental input on my mind set. When you compare our ancestors literacy, to out modern literacy, in today's century, we have a large advantage. Our race has been judged and killed because of our class, race, and gender. Our ancestors, both men and women, were killed or tortured if we were caught how to read or write. They fought a long way until we reached for rights. Our past ancestors acquired their literacy through "activism, advocacy, and action." Literacy has brought us woman's rights, movements, and labor. Today, there our some minorities that do not even take education as an advantage. As in the 21st century, I know women who have taken literacy to another level. Literacy has become a tool to become inspiration and motivation to others. My great grandmother was not fully educational literate. Just because she could only read on a third grade level, does not mean she was not wise. I used her literacy experiecnce, and life stories as my motivation to graduate from high and go to college. The quote alone inspired me because it put forth a desire to show equity, wisdom, strength, empowerment and justice. It ties a connection from slavery years to the 21st century.