Going Against the Grain 2

This portion of Going Against the Grain emphasized the efforts of people all over in the education of black peoples. The author highlights the philanthropic efforts of Reverend Samuel Thomas, Elias Neau, Dr. Thomas Bray, Thaddeus Kosciuszco, Catherine Williams Ferguson, Ann Marie Becroft, and many more. The writer also traces efforts such as Port Royal Commission and different exerpts from the Emancipation Proclamation and President Abraham Lincoln which helped the black community gain literacy. Even when the slaves were under the bondage of  being "contraband", there were still notable efforts of the black slaves succesfully beginning to learn to read and write.

 

 I think it is important to highlight the amount of work that was put into the acquisition of black education, and to note the pride the black community had in seeking and attaining (what we see as) simple knowledge such as reading and writing. When we go back into the historical context of how we as a people struggled to gain the legal right to learn, it shows how ungrateful today's generations can be about free education. As i was reading my exerpt and noticing all of the trials and tribulations people of all different backgrounds and beliefs went through for the education of African-Americans it kind of irritated me to know that I know people who do not go to school because of laziness and lack of concern. It emphasizes the difference in how my generation thinks differently from past generations. It ultimately reminded me of the lack of "work ethic" my father always talks about. Seeing how past leaders literally fought and struggled for many years to even be able to look at a book and then seeing how my generation gets annoyed when we have to touch a book demonstrates the shift in morals between old and new.