Black Women Leading the Classroom

In Voices of Our Foremothers: Celebrating the Legacy of African-American Women Educators, the author, Sunny-Marie Birney, writes about her personal experiences with her black female teachers and professors. These women had a great impact on her life, allowing her to be awakened after feeling out of place for the majority of her life because she was adopted by a white woman. She chose to study Psychology and African American studies with her professors leading her exploration of African-American culture.

Next, Birney goes on to explain the "Art of Service." She quotes Carter G. Woodson, stating,"The real servant of the people, then, will give more attention to those to be served. . ."(51). This quote shows the importance that the teachers played in her life, giving more attention to her than to themselves. She also refers to a liberal education, allowing for a student to learn information through "authentic learning." She find this style to be the most effective, feeling that education should surround around the student's development with the knowledge. 

She then goes on to describe the carrying and passing of the torch. By this, she is referring to the knowledge gained through education. She relays that the teachers should understand the student's need to be equipped with not only knowledge but also critical reading skills to allow them to face life outside of the classroom. She explains that the black female educators in her life impacted her greatly, leading her to not only cherish the "legacy of acadmic excellence" (55) but to also wants to share with others. She explains that the educational leaders truly served as her mothers, and inspired her to reach for goals that she didn't see herself capable of. 

I feel that this reading shows what a great impact black female teachers are making in the class room, showing a greater amount of care for the students. Through Birney's experiences in the classroom, we see what a great influence black women have made in the classroom with pure dedication. They have influenced their students to achieve new goals and develop greatly, which I think should be commended.