From the minute I was conceived, my chances at living a life that holds the same value as others within society quickly diminished. I would be the target of gendered racism, which is the societal oppression of women of color (Feagin 2012:46). I am an African American/ Black woman who derives from two strong black immigrants with roots in Honduras, Trinidad, Jamaica, and Barbados. My parents made it their mission to provide my brother and I with the best childhood and educational tools possible. This goal came with a couple sacrifices and hardships that I had to face head on. Tracing back from history till now, the fight for an education that’s not only exceptional, but also equal, proves to be an ongoing battle.
Before the Civil War, most southern states made it illegal to educate slaves, but many enslaved people did learn to read and write. Although during the post-Civil War Reconstruction era, the number of schools and the literacy rate for African Americans increased, …show more content…
Starting from prekindergarten to the beginning of secondary school, all of the teachers, staff, and peers in my elementary and junior high school belonged to a subordinate group, which is a group that is singled out because of physical and/or cultural characteristics and whose members become objects of discrimination (Feagin 2012:12). For a young child of color who is still developing mentally, having teachers that look like you is important. Many times, these teachers are able to identify with the uniqueness of the students’ cultural heritage. In the schools I attended, my peers and I were taught from early on to take pride in our racial and ethnic backgrounds by singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” often referred to as the “Black American National Anthem,” at assemblies and learning about the various social activists that were involved in the Civil Rights Movement, during Black History
Before the Civil War, most southern states made it illegal to educate slaves, but many enslaved people did learn to read and write. Although during the post-Civil War Reconstruction era, the number of schools and the literacy rate for African Americans increased, …show more content…
Starting from prekindergarten to the beginning of secondary school, all of the teachers, staff, and peers in my elementary and junior high school belonged to a subordinate group, which is a group that is singled out because of physical and/or cultural characteristics and whose members become objects of discrimination (Feagin 2012:12). For a young child of color who is still developing mentally, having teachers that look like you is important. Many times, these teachers are able to identify with the uniqueness of the students’ cultural heritage. In the schools I attended, my peers and I were taught from early on to take pride in our racial and ethnic backgrounds by singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” often referred to as the “Black American National Anthem,” at assemblies and learning about the various social activists that were involved in the Civil Rights Movement, during Black History