“What you owe my grandmother”

On numerous occasions I have shared the inspirational account of how my mother and father overcame the poverty and oppression of the mid 1900’s in South Carolina to become the first college graduates in their respective families. The magnitude of these accomplishments cannot be overstated when we consider that both were the products of parents that were functionally illiterate. Although I never knew my paternal grandparents, or my maternal grandfather, I spent significant time during my childhood, and as an adult, with my maternal grandmother. I often reflect on the many instances that I would explain the contents of what she would receive in written correspondence because of her inability to read and write. We spent many days discussing her childhood, and what circumstances lead to her inability to attend school. It was intriguing to hear her discuss how this impacted her commitment to ensuring that her children had educational opportunities that were not available to her, and how the economic realities of the time adversely affected that commitment. Of the many memorable statements that she made during her lifetime, I was most struck by her apology for not sending her children to school more often. She told a story of how teachers would come to her home, and ask her to send my mother to school more often because of her academic potential. Inevitably, she would respond that she would try her best.

The educational experiences of my family members were indicative of the circumstances prevalent in the African American community during this era. I consistently remind students of the tremendous educational opportunities that exist today, and the enormous sacrifices that were made in order to secure these privileges. Although I reference my grandmother as a representation of the many foregone educational opportunities African Americans endured, her story or struggle is certainly not unique. In fact, very few African Americans from her era had the opportunity to pursue even the most modest educational endeavors. It is vitally important that we consistently remind current and future generations of the sacrifices that have created the current educational realities. In most instances, the current generation of students will never know the individuals responsible for the educational rights they now experience. Nonetheless, the debt that is owed, and consequently the obligation to maximize their educational opportunities, is no less great. Therefore, what you owe my grandmother, your grandmother, and the thousands of individuals that have sacrificed so that you now have the right to accomplish all that you desire, is to simply, “do your best.”