[NFBMV] Dr. Peters paper

Sun Jul 10 23:26:12 UTC 2016

                                The Plight of African American Women in the
21st Century:

Educational Inequalities;

African American Women with Disabilities and the Origin of Education

by

Carolyn Peters, Th.D., MSW, LSW

Spiritual Counselor

College Hill Community Church (PCUSA)

1547 Philadelphia Drive

Dayton, Ohio 45406

 <mailto:Drcarolyn-peters at att.net> Drcarolyn-peters at att.net

937-657-5134

As the days, years, and decades evolve in the 21stcentury, like centuries
before, we face new expectations, challenges, barriers and various obstacles
one can think of that affect how we live and learn.  Everyone has a point of
view based on their own experiences, upbringing, geographic location, where
the stories and testimonies of inequalities are prevalent. I strongly feel
that the basis of education is founded upon our faith in God. What drives
each of us?  What are we made of? Why will some become formally educated and
others not? What is our destiny, individually or collectively? How do we
proceed to answer the questions, as we determine what path we are willing to
take?

When it is determined that a career is of utmost importance, what are the
key elements of that decision: prosperity for self, family extended family,
church, community?  The list goes on and on.  Then, we think of the
challenges we are up against; considering the plight of any group or groups,
lack comes to mind.  How do we change and become the difference, the way out
of poverty or lack?  Do you have a plan?  Let us look at the origin of
education, and determine our plight through the 21st century.  As parents
and [the village], we are responsible for the spiritual, Christian, and
religious education of our loved ones.

Educational inequalities with African American women are identified at
different stages of one’s perception of a disability, which is often
acquired at birth, or because of a health related issue.  The disability can
be visible or invisible, affecting mental health or physical health.  When
seeking employment, to enhance financial status to live the life you wish,
one must have training and education. The African American woman who needs
adaptive equipment and reasonable accommodations to obtain the education she
desires can meet challenges and barriers to obtain it.  Lack of knowledge
promotes illiteracy, not knowing how to navigate systems, or make clear
connections to resources.

In years gone by, people used to abandon children with disabilities,
incarcerate others, or declare them medically unstable and commit then to
asylums to ensure they did not reproduce.  After World War II, veterans were
coming home with multiple disabilities and the country began looking at
rehabilitation. 

American’s with Disabilities Act was established 25 years ago.  It has
afforded individuals with disabilities reasonable accommodations, and much
more.  The National Federation of the Blind started advocacy over 75 years
ago, teaching braille, mobility training and above all encouraging
individuals who are blind or visually impaired to live the lives they want
to live.  Learning braille allowed literacy, thus paving the way to
increased independence, in acquiring education, training, and mobility to
obtain employment and higher education.  Outcomes of these advocacy groups
brought about other associations, such as Disability Rights Ohio, Law and
Policy Center, Inc. Also, every state in the US as vocational rehabilitation
service, such as the Opportunities for Ohioians with Disabilities, and many
churches have established advocacy groups; example Presbyteriab with
Disability Concers.

Educational inequalities can present in many different ways: poverty,
discrimination, stereotyping, stigmatizing.  Just to name a few; every
African American woman has her own story to tell.  As an African American
woman, who started losing her vision at age 53, and diagnosed as legally
blind at age 55, my biggest concern about education; was becoming illiterate
to print.  Like many African American women, education was paramount in my
life’s desires.  Therefore, I decided it was of the utmost importance for me
to achieve and attain a doctorate degree in theology; for my spiritual
wellbeing, as well.  With the desire to become a theologian, my visual
impairment was the challenge of a lifetime.  I might add that it was
especially difficult to learn and pass Greek and Hebrew.  Not knowing the
difficulty of finding gainful employment doing what I wanted to do, and
living the life I wanted.  Employers see disabilities not abilities; and,
where does the rubber meet the road?  Women with disabilities need adaptive
devices to assist in receiving educational opportunities, obtaining
gainfully employed, to remain hopeful, while alleviating the stress of the
plight for our families and ourselves.  There are many organizations to
support inequalities in education available.  African American women look at
education as an opportunity to improve the quality of life for ourselves and
loved ones, notwithstanding the barriers and challenges, every step of the
way.  You ask what makes an African American women continue struggling to
attain an education, instead of conceding to the disabilities or the
challenges it brings?  Survival--some of us see education as a means to an
end.

The National Association of University Women lives up to its mission.  As an
African American woman who happens to be blind, I have been entrusted as
President of the Dayton Branch, in Dayton, Ohio, serving on many committees;
currently, serving on, NAUW National Chaplin Committee and NAUW Position
Paper Committee.

The origin of education begins for believers, in the Holy Bible.  As young
adult women, who grow up in the church, our morals and values about our
spiritual life is founded on the principles and scriptures in the Bible.
Our parents, families, culture, ethnicity, history are all the things that
make us who we are spiritually.  We can find scripture that provides us with
information in making choices or decisions to help keep us grounded in our
faith.  There are many scriptures that address disabilities and education;
allow me to share a few.

John 9:1-3 - Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.
2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his
parents, that he was born blind?”  Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his
parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

Mimi commentary on: disability;These verses translate to us that Christ saw
the man, a disability is not cruel and undo punishment nor is it a sin.
Jesus, chose not to point blame. Unlike the disciples then, when faced with
disease/disability, we often ask the Lord, why me, Lord what did I do to
deserve this? Others, might say; it runs in the family; how soon we forget,
Jesus brought us light in our darkness. If only we could see the light at
the end of our tunnel.  To God be the glory.

Luke 14:12-14

Psalm 139:13-16   

 <https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-1-17/> Daniel 1:17 - As 

for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning
and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all to wisdom than gold! and to
get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

Mini commentary on:  Education; 

Daniel and his friends stayed withy their religion, and God rewarded them.
Learning starts early, yet it is never to late to learn.  In developing a
prayer life, God will reveal wisdom and understanding.

 <https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Proverbs-4-13/> Proverbs 4:13 

 <https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/2-Timothy-3-16/> 2 Timothy 3:16 

How would you translate the scriptures?

In conclusion, African American women with disabilities continuously face
educational inequalities in the United States of America.  Their belief in
the origin of education through their prayer life and a life of faith
sustains them.  Knowing there is someone who loves them, and will not
forsake them.   

References

All scripture quotations taken from the King James Version. Retrieved from
https://www.biblegateway.com/

Americans with Disabilities Act. <http://www.ADA.gov> www.ADA.gov 

Blake, Rollings Stephanie; Nayor of Baltimore, MD. Inaugural speech Decemver
6, 2011 The State of African American Women

Bureau of Labor Statistics.www.BLS.gov

Disability Rights Ohio Law and Policy Center,
Inc.www.disabilityrightsohio.org

Google Books. How Pay Inequity Hurts Women of Color | Digital Dead End:
Fighting for Social
<file:///C:\Users\volunteer\Downloads\Digital%20Dead%20End:%20Fighting%20for
%20Social>                                 Justice in the. Retrieved from
https://books.google.com/

<http://hellobeautiful.com/2014/09/26/naacp-publishes-report-on-effects-of-e
ducational-professional-inequalities-for-black-women/> NAACP Reports
Educational Center for programs. Retrieved from
http://www.naacp.org/programs/entry/education
<file:///C:\Users\volunteer\Downloads\%09http:\www.naacp.org\programs\entry\
education%09> 

National Federation of the Blind.https.//nfb.org 

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities. http://www.ood.ohio.gov

Peters, Carolyn. Knowing When to Go. 2012 (
<mailto:drcarolyn-peters at att.net> drcarolyn-peters at att.net).

Presbyterian with Disability Concerns. <http://www.PCUSA.org> www.PCUSA.org

Steele’s Article: “Threat in the Air”. Retrieved from
https://www.americanprogress.org/

Virginia Eubanks
<https://www.google.com/search?sa=X&biw=640&bih=296&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Vi
rginia+Eubanks%22&ved=0ahUKEwiDx-DJnrbKAhXElIMKHRR_BfAQ9AgIOTAE>  - 2011 -
‎Social Science. Educational Inequality between Black or African
American women and men and Latinas.      

© Copyright 2016 Carolyn Peters

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