Voices of Our Foremothers

Our African American foremothers have played a significant role in our lives.  What they have done and taught has been passed down and helped shaped the way current African American women grow and develop.  In her younger years, Birney didn’t have the access to this leadership and establishment with her white parents.  As a result she felt “motherless”.  While in college she found her long lost mother.  Her professors impacted her life with their close relationship, their caring nature, and ability to allow Birney to become an independent thinker.  Since they helped her enhance her knowledge, she was inspired to do the same for the black community.  “My professors modeled not just exemplary teaching, but also a commitment that uplifted and helped transform myself, and in turn, the African American community” (Birney 50).  It is imperative to be a leader for others, yet it is essential to be a servant for others as well.  One cannot act as if they are better than others, but be on the same level.  This goes along with the relationship between a teacher and their student.  Together they should grow and learn from each other.  Knowledge is more than repeating and memorizing facts.  Learning is being able to expand your mind and think for yourself.  Birney believes that her college professors have given her that opportunity to do so. 

Birney goes on to describe how our foremothers carried the torch of education. Black women have a history of having schools and organizations that implement the importance of education, and teaching children in a way that affects the mind, body, and spirit. For Birney, this type of excellence encouraged her to believe that noting is impossible. Not only was it encouragement for her, but also permission to do the same for generations to come. These foremothers have served as mother to children who seemed motherless by providing education that focused on multiple literacies. They understood conquering oppression, belittlement, and dehumanization through a connected and unified way. They interlocked and created a power that has provided opportunity for Black women to lead and teach in the same manner. Birney's life has been impacted on a great deal because of the women that stood before us. Their strength to teach and learn from one another gave Black women a torch to carry on.

Birney, Sunny-Marie. "Voices of Our Foremothers:Celebrating the Legacy of African-American Women Educators." Readers of the Quilt. ED. Joanne Kilgour Dowdy. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton P., Inc., 2005. Print.