Going Against the Grain is a brief history of Black American literacy, beginning with slavery and gradually working towards the present. The author began the essay with a quote from Maria W. Stewart the first African American woman essayist. The quotes calls the "... daughters of Africa, awake! Awake! Arise! No longer sleep nor slumber,but distinguish yourselves." Stewart challenges Black women to create their futures and to never rely on the achievements of the past.
Stewart's call to action relates to Spelman's motto and my motivational theme. Spelman continuously pushes it's students to "Be the change we wish to see in the world." So we can cease working because Spelmanites before us have succeeded and we must make our own success. This quote makes me think of the Spike Lee film School Daze. Lee confronts the many issues and lifestyles of attending an Historically Black College or University. The film concludes with Laurence Fishburne proclaiming through out the campus for every to "wake up". After reading Stewart's piece I believe Spike Lee was alluding to Stewart's demands for African American women and men to take what is given and create new paths for future generations. Ultimately Maria W. Stewart and Spike Lee want the present and future generations of the African American people to never forget their history and never take for granted the future.
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