Nota Bene:
I will be alluding to battles regarding education in which racism played a large role. I will be going through tricky territory here, as I'd like to consider both this memoir and Sapphire's Precious. Both the real and fictional women of these works rely upon education to improve their lives and broaden their thinking. This is my true point. Mentions of race, racism, etc as it figures into both stories is important but not the main idea.
Although it is not the only method of reading It Is Well, it adds an extra resonance to discuss Ms. CJ's memoir in terms of her particular experience as an African-American woman in the 20th century. She seemed like an individual proud of her family and her identity, and lovingly open to other perspectives. As for Precious, the author demands we confront uncomfortable ideas regarding race, class, and various social labels we depend upon in this culture. In an effort to unite these seemingly divergent perspectives, it is my intention to deal with race in these works as sensitively as possible when it arises, taking it as part of a larger context, neither avoiding nor obsessing. Please come with me on this discussion and contribute your take on things!
There’s a lot to discuss in Ms Cheeks-Johnson’s memoir, but the theme that spoke to me the most was education. “Ms CJ” placed a tremendous value on formal education and the informal, invaluable learning that takes place in daily life. Her sense of curiosity was encouraged from a young age, and it carried her through her young adult years and onwards. Reading this, I got the sense that she never stopped learning, that she never sat there at any point and said “the hell with it, I don’t want to know”. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grands all took their academic lives seriously and parlayed them into successful careers.
I, being fixated on literacy and education, find this a wonderful story. I’d like to pass it on to people, to keep Ms. CJ’s message going. But I am not unaware of the uneasy history formal education has in America. In fact, I’d argue it’s still uneasy – a glance at the headlines will prove that. Are we fighting different battles than her generation did, or are they just in new clothes?
How much stock should we put into education? If you go through all the legally required years, get the diplomas and whichever degree is necessary this week, and find nothing at the end of it all (and a load of debt on your back) – is this the proper path anymore? I’m honestly putting these questions out there to pique you. Personally, I believe in this route. I share most of Ms. CJ’s values regarding education and the cultivation of the mind – keep the brain active, keep the curiosity up, keep conversations going even with those you disagree with. I support higher ed, and (yes!) I believe in the psychological/spiritual benefits of educating yourself farther than the bare minimum. Challenge, grow, and enjoy, I say! If you want it, go for it. Still, I want to engage the potentially troubling aspects of the theme, even if they are absent in the memoir.
Reading this book with my education filter on reminds me of reading Precious, more specifically online forum comments on Sapphire’s use of education themes. One commenter railed against the racism (!) of educating “Precious”, and the portrayal of that process as her ticket out – out of her abusive family, out of the ghetto, out of herself. This has rankled with me for months, and it again came to the surface reading Ms. CJ’s account, wherein schooling was not just a necessity but a joy.
The fictional world of Precious and the real world of Ms. CJ both revolved around expanding the mind, and engaging with new experiences. It Is Well, starting 100+ years ago in the American South, seems the opposite of the gothic urban world in Precious. Racism shows in both stories, but Ms. CJ’s recollections are of loving abundance (if not materially, then emotionally), hope, and determination. Precious’ world seems like thorough despair, but her character is sustained with a quiet hope for her life and her children's.
Why have I bought these two things into conjunction with each other? What can be gained by discussing Ms. CJ’s Masters’ degree and the fictional GED classes of Precious? What could these two books possibly have to say to each other?
Ms CJ, in her recounting, mentioned but never dwelled upon the obstacles her environment presented to a young African-American woman pursuing degrees, career, and family life. Sapphire’s character goes through a tough progression of suspicion, guarded curiosity, then acceptance of her basic literacy instruction (it’s been a while, but I don’t think she dwells much on her race as an obstacle). Both the fictional character and real woman share a desire to improve and continually develop through learning and open-minded inquiry.
Knowing what at least one (anonymous, online, maybe trolling?) commenter has said about the “inherent” (and how debatable is that word?) racial injustice in education, how can we reconcile the legitimate problems with American education with the legitimate values, and then (as the icing) the defensive attitude of some people towards the intellectual path, no matter how “basic” (those GED courses and adult ed programs)? What does this say about America at this point in history?
Do you find Ms. CJ’s path inspiring or do you feel that glorifying education to “lift” yourself into a better life is too simplistic? If you have read Precious, how do you feel about the protagonist's education? How did you feel about Ms Cheeks-Johnson's academic career? Do either of these resonate with anything in your experiences?
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