Unearthing Hidden Literacy: Seven Lessons I Learned in a Cotton Field

This article in some ways is an eye opener, because many of us do not realize that some life experience shape us for the rest of our lives. In Lillie Gayle Smith, Unearthing Hidden Literacy, she recounts her days on her aunt's cotton fields when she was child in not so many details, but in a way that lets you, the reader, knows that those experiences taught her a lot. In Unearthing Hidden Literacy, Smith spoke about how up until taking a Graduate course in 2003 on Black Women Literacy, she hadn't realized how relevant her experience in the cotton fields of Alabama exactly were and never saw the need to share her experiences with anyone else. However, during her graduate course she learned to be empowered by her experiences. Experiences she discusses, while making special mention of the ways in which black women are demeaned unworthy and unequally in comparison to males; and black females need to fight back. In fact, in one instance, she recounts being in a certain in course where her male professor when taking answers from students after asking questions would accept the male students without any doubt. But when females answered the question the professor was skeptical of their answers and would ask their male counter parts for confirmation. After a while her peers stop answering the questions and some even dropped out of the course. As a result, initially Smith believed they were giving up because they didn't speak up but she later on realized that, that was just a way in which they were fighting back.

Additionally, although Smith does show many ways in which black females are treated negatively. She also explains how it had some positive effects. Giving examples where black females during their high school years became more confident than their white and Latina counter parts due to their mistreatment. “We have been mistreated for so long that we have come to fight against it. We have gained a sort of confidence from all the mistreatment.” Also going back to her days in the cotton fields, she recounts how being in the cotton fields made her more respectful and accepting of others. Explaining that it was during those scorching days in the sun that she bonded with her elders and the others that worked there. In addition, she learned many lessons from them, some life lessons that she used latter in life.

In conclusion, this article was an extreme eye opener for me.  Since I have never been one to take life experiences for granted, especially ones that have had such a large effect on me. In fact, the smallest of acts can have the most impact on us. Yet, although I understood her acceptance of her classmates not verbally speaking to their teacher about his treatment of them, I do not agree with their actions. If I were put in that position I would speak out and fight to get fair treatment. As long as I am learning and educating myself with the same information as my male counterpart, anything I say should be accepted in the way that his is accepted. Respect should be given to everyone that is deserving of it.