What is Hidden

In reading Unearthing Hidden Literacy: Seven Lessons I Learned in a Cotton Field by Lillie Gayle Smith I noticed how working in the cotton field was tied into an everyday encounter. In the beginning it is very evident that Smith did not like talking about her experiences in the field. 



Smith then begins to talk about professors and the sexist attitude displayed. She gives the example that then a man would answer a question and it would be considered "gospel and complimented"for its "accuracy," while when a woman answered a question it was constantly rebutted and a male student would be asked to "confirm it." This caused some of the women  to drop the class which made Smith raise the question, "Why don't they resist this behavior?" Then it came to her that they did resist in their own way. Instead of sitting around and being told their answers weren't good enough they could go where their opinions would be respected. Smith then equates this to working in the fields. Picking cotton was something that both men and women could do and not raise an issue (Smith 39).


To me I view it as a women is able to work just as hard if not harder to but yet her opinion is not valuable. Of all the lessons that were taught to Smith during her time in the field this one struct me the most. How can you work along side someone and not even consider their opinion. This injustice is not acceptable.

-T Thomas