Going Against the Grain

    African American women have always struggled to find their place in society. Going Against the Grain extensively explores the history from where it all begin. Even during slavery, African American women felt the need to redefine themselves in a society where they were used and abused. This essay also delves into how the black women found value in herself in the mist of being a slave. It explains how she was a vital part of the community because one of her main roles was to birth future generations of slaves. Literacy of black women is introduced in this text fairly early speaking about the need for black women to redefine themselves as  human beings with a purpose. Literacy was a space for them to cast out all of the negative stereotypes.