Going Against the Grain

It has always been a struggle for African Americans, particularly African American females, to prove themselves in the world. We have to work twice as hard as the white people to get a good job, maintain that job, and most importantly gain the respect earned from colleagues in the work force. In the article "Going Against the Grain," there is talk about many unsuccessful attempts by black people to gain their rights as citizens. Although most people were against treating African Americans like humans, there were some who felt African Americans deserved to be free and equal. This is not to say that they did not doubt our potential. Blacks have always been known as illiterate because at one point it was against the law for a black slave to learn to read and write. So although there were many who were rooting for our freedom, they still felt we were incapable of learning to read and write.

The most interesting part of the article to me was the story about Maria W. Stewart. She was the first African American woman known to have written essays. I found her story compelling because she was an independent non-struggling African American. Prior to marrying her husband James W. Stewart, she worked as a domestic servant to support herself. She and her husband were members of a small group of elites where they engaged in lively social and political activities. When her husband passed away, he left her everything. Unfortunately, her husband’s white business colleagues wanted everything. So she took them to court. After battling them for two years, she not only found herself stripped of everything he had owned but she was also subject to racial and gender discrimination. Because of this, she decided to go public with it.

I found it brave on her part to take these two white men to court because it was during a time period when slavery was slowing down but it still existed. I’m glad she took what happened to her during the court case public because it shows the world that black women aren’t illiterate and we are capable of standing up for ourselves, our beliefs, and what we know is wrong and unjust treatment.