In the essay “Going Against the Grain,” author Jacqueline Jones Royster sets a strong tone of empowerment to provoke the uplifting of African American women. Focusing on the opening lines of her essay, she quotes author Maria Stewart by saying “Oh yea daughters of Africa, awake! Awake! Arise! No longer sleep nor slumber but distinguish yourselves…Knowledge would begin to flow, and the chains of slavery and ignorance would begin to melt like wax before the flames.” This quote was meant to speak to and encourage not only the young women of the past, but the young women of the present and future as well. Our foremothers so diligently worked to ensure that we would understand the importance of becoming intelligent literate young women to break free of the chains of oppression. However they also knew that simply being able to read and write was not enough. We as black women had to be literate in many other forms of literacy in addition to the obvious to even measure up to the white community. That is why we as a black community set up schools specifically for our youth so that they would not be mislead by their biased white master instructors and African American history would not be neglected. Having institutions especially for African Americans (HBCU’s) sparked inspiration, motivation and a desire for education. As a young black woman, I aspire to continue this legacy of intelligent black women that so many powerful and intellectual black women and ancestors have set forth for me. I understand the importance of opening my eyes and why we as black women have to go against the grain and “distinguish ourselves “As an active and aware member of society and I believe that as a student at Spelman College I am on that path of excellence.
-Saba Tesfamariam