Education is the key to opening the door to success. In the article, “To Be Black, Female, and Literate,” Leonie C.R. Smith recalls all the hardships she faced in her life trying to obtain her education. As a young child she saw how her family's wealth was taken from them, because her grandmother, who was illiterate, was conned from her estate by a woman who could read. Since than her father pressed education onto Leonie and her siblings even after difficult obstacles got in the way, including the death of her mother. Leonie shares with us the racism she faced trying to get an education in the United States and realized what it meant to be a black woman in America New York , being an immigrant from Antigua . Alienation from her white peers and professors based on her race was a struggle for Leonie, but she was committed to her work and continuously landed in the top of her class.
Leonie’s story can relate to many faceless African Americans throughout history who fought for an education due to their race. Not only do African Americans have to fight for their education, but they have to work twice as hard as their white counterparts. It is a universal rule that every black child has been taught. African Americans are born into inferiority and it is our job to prove our superiority through our knowledge. Leonie constantly proved herself even when she faced the worse situations. I share mutual feelings towards discrimination in the classroom as Leonie C.R. Smith did, because I attended a predominantly white school for ten years. Even though I had many friends I did feel like an outcast numerous times and if I was struggling in a class they were quick to put my needs aside with a nonchalant attitude. Hopefully in time negative actions toward black students will change, but stories such as Leonies' reminds me how blessed I am to acquire an education and she gives me the will to keep on going even when times get rough.
Leonie’s story can relate to many faceless African Americans throughout history who fought for an education due to their race. Not only do African Americans have to fight for their education, but they have to work twice as hard as their white counterparts. It is a universal rule that every black child has been taught. African Americans are born into inferiority and it is our job to prove our superiority through our knowledge. Leonie constantly proved herself even when she faced the worse situations. I share mutual feelings towards discrimination in the classroom as Leonie C.R. Smith did, because I attended a predominantly white school for ten years. Even though I had many friends I did feel like an outcast numerous times and if I was struggling in a class they were quick to put my needs aside with a nonchalant attitude. Hopefully in time negative actions toward black students will change, but stories such as Leonies' reminds me how blessed I am to acquire an education and she gives me the will to keep on going even when times get rough.
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