“...they hungered for knowledge in the interest of sustaining both themselves and “the race”” (161).
“The pioneers succeeded in going against the grain of cultural expectations” (161).
Every time I read or hear a story of how a black woman makes a name for herself or how she has made wonderful contributions to society, especially if she is Spelman alum, I feel empowered. Jacqueline Royster motivates and inspires me in “Going Against the Grain.” Black women have been oppressed since we came on the scene. So reading about a black female who has overcome the harsh obstacles that society has flung at us makes me take a sigh of relief. Spelman is, and has been, a place to educate black women, and all races are welcome. Knowing that many African American pioneers, such as Clara Howard, or Selena Sloan Butler, have graduated from Spelman gives me reassurance that we ‘Spelmanites’ are destined to greatness if we really want it. We have to achieve and do well. We just have to. We cannot let any, current and past, of our Spelman sisters down. Even though methods of discrimination of black women have changed overtime, my sisters, we still have to go against the grain. We have to not only compete, but work harder for that job, that promotion, that scholarship which could easily be handed to that non-black female. Before you know it, one of us will be president.
We can do it.
We will do it.
We are taking over.
We can do it.
We will do it.
We are taking over.
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