Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumBlack Education, HBCUs, and Philosophical Debates

Read the passage below from *A Voice from the South* by Anna Julia Cooper, published in 1892:

'I demand for the girl of my race a full, fair, and equal chance. I ask for her that her education shall not be limited to the domestic arts, nor shall it be treated as secondary to that of her brothers. The home is the unit of society, and the mother is the maker of the home. We cannot build a strong, refined, and self-reliant race if we neglect the intellectual training of the mothers of that race.'

Based on the passage, Cooper’s educational philosophy most directly challenged which of the following?

  1. A
    The belief that early Black churches should limit their role to spiritual salvation rather than educational and political advocacy.
  2. B
    The focus on industrial and vocational training as the primary means of economic progress for Black Americans.
  3. The prevailing tendency among early Black educational leaders and institutions to prioritize the higher education of men over women.Answer
  4. D
    The efforts of mainstream white feminist organizations to integrate Southern schools and universities.

Answer

The prevailing tendency among early Black educational leaders and institutions to prioritize the higher education of men over women.
The correct option is correct because the passage explicitly demands that the education of Black women not be treated as secondary to that of men, highlighting Cooper's direct challenge to the common practice of prioritizing the training of male leaders and clergy in the late nineteenth century.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the core argument and subject of critique in the excerpt.
The author is demanding equal educational opportunities for Black women and criticizing the view that their education should be secondary to that of men or limited to domestic work.
This establishes that the passage is specifically addressing gender disparities in post-emancipation Black educational opportunities.
2
Evaluate the choices to determine which historical trend or practice fits this critique.
The practice of prioritizing male education over female education within the Black community and its institutions directly corresponds to Cooper's critique.
This shows that the argument for the equal intellectual development of women directly challenged the contemporary preference for educating men as the primary leaders of the race.

Key Concept

Gendered perspectives on educational access and the debate over the intellectual development of Black women in the post-emancipation era.
Rate this question

Topics

Black Education, HBCUs, and Philosophical Debates

More questions from this topic