Take on some tough questions...And think about two different approaches to life

 

I would add that those of us who are exploited and oppressed often don't identify or self-identify as being exploited or oppressed and that we learn to live with it and take it for granted. Reading can also change our lives by building self-awareness, self-consciousness, and understanding. The act of reading is in itself a radical and scary step for many of us. Try reading just seven pages a day to start and test this.

Dudley Randall's great 1969 poem about a conversation or debate between Booker T. Washington, who favored trying to win inclusion in the system, and W.E.B. Du Bois, who sought to overthrow the system, takes this up in a way. Read the entire poem here. Here are the opening verses:

“It seems to me,” said Booker T.,
“It shows a mighty lot of cheek
To study chemistry and Greek
When Mister Charlie needs a hand
To hoe the cotton on his land,

And when Miss Ann looks for a cook,
Why stick your nose inside a book?”

“I don’t agree,” said W.E.B.,
“If I should have the drive to seek
Knowledge of chemistry or Greek,
I’ll do it. Charles and Miss can look
Another place for hand or cook.
Some men rejoice in skill of hand,
And some in cultivating land,
But there are others who maintain
The right to cultivate the brain.”