Going Against the Grain by Jacqueline Royster

In “Going Against the Grain,” Jacqueline Royster also discussed the importance of education. In the essay she talked about how, “African Americans understood the implications of literacy and learning in political, economic, and social progress” (123). Royster discussed how African Americans knew that if they were ever to have a bright future in the United States then they would have to get their education. African Americans viewed education as a tool that was absolutely necessary in life in order to be successful.

            I found this part of the essay particularly interesting, because I think that urgency to receive an education has been lost in the African American community today. Royster also talked about how African American’s were denied education. She discussed that by being denied to education African Americans were able to see the importance of it, “They could see clearly – from the extent to which they were denied access to it- that education could make a difference for individuals and for whole communities” (123). I think that today we do not value education as much as African Americans did during that time period, because we are not denied access to it. Unlike African Americans during Emancipation, we have numerous opportunities to receive an education. The problem today is not, “How am I going to get my education?”, but rather the lack of motivation that has overwhelmed our society.

            Our generation has been spoiled, because we have never really had to overcome any obstacles in order to obtain an education. This part of the essay made me ask myself two questions. First, should our generation have all of the privileges that we have taken away in order for us to appreciate them? Second, will our generation ever return to the mindset that our ancestors had in terms of our views towards education.