Vicki Spears was born in rural North Carolina in 1971 to a teenage mother. She was raised by her mother, aunts, grandparents, and neighbors who instilled in her strong African American values of faith, character, and strength. Spears desires to become an educator to preserve African American culture and pass on the lessons of her upbringing to future generations. She is currently studying at Shaw University, an HBCU founded after the Civil War, whose mission is consistent with her goals of empowering students through education, faith, and service.

1. AUTOBIOGRAPHY 0
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Ms. Vicki Spears
ECI 634: Diversity in Education
Summer 2014 – Dr. Juanita Linton

2. AUTOBIOGRAPHY1
Born Black in rural North Carolina in the early 1970s had its quirks. Black children of the
70s were raised with the morals, ethics, and tradition of the African American culture that
produced new aged scholars, servant-leaders, bridge-builders, and gate-keepers. Character and
work ethic was the core of African American teaching principles and were considered the utmost
of importance. Even more, Black children of the 70s reaped the harvests of the Civil Rights
warriors. Innovation and opportunity blossomed during that time which allowed the chance to
pursue the American Dream; we were able to take advantage of adequate education, affirmative
action, and other headways that were paved by our ancestry freedom fighters.
Vicki Marietta Spears was a product of the 1970s. Like many other African American
children, she was born out of wedlock to a teenage mother in rural North Carolina on November
20, 1971. Vicki knows all about the cliché, “It’s takes a village to raise a child” because she was
reared not only by her mother, but her aunts, her grand-parents, friends of the family, and
neighbors. They all poured the spirit of faith and triumph into her soul molding her into a woman
of character, strength, and endurance. Somewhat aware of life’s challenges, the village prepared
Vicki for a journey of the unknown. Ms. Lavida Harris summed up the strength of a Black
woman in her tribute to entitled “A Strong Woman vs. a Woman of Strength.” It reads:
“A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape,
but a woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape.
A strong woman isn't afraid of anything of strength, but woman of
strength shows courage in the midst of her fear.
A strong woman won't let anyone get the best of her, but a woman
of strength gives the best of her to everyone.
A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future.
A woman of strength realizes life's mistakes can also be God's
blessings and capitalizes on them.
A strong woman walks sure footedly, but a woman of strength
knows God will catch her when she falls.

3. AUTOBIOGRAPHY2
A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face, but a
woman of strength wears grace.
A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey,
but a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she
will become strong.”
The village understood that times were changing for southern African Americans. That is,
no more field labor confinements; no more sitting at the back of the bus; no more separate but
equal. They realized the essence of African American culture was jeopardized by the
forthcoming assimilation, but they also discerned the importance of this change. That’s why
through adversary and opposition, the village strived to nurture the soul of the African American
woman; we would become the gate-keepers of African American culture by teaching our
children the significance of faith, commitment, and purpose. The legendary Maya Angelou
expressed the soul of African American culture in the poem “Still I Rise” which reads:
.You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

4. AUTOBIOGRAPHY3
As a mother, wife, sister, and daughter, Vicki labors daily to be the model woman of
character, strength, and endurance that she was destined to be. She’s committed to faith, family,
and education. Her faith is what carries her and gives her the strength to achieve because without
faith nothing is possible. Holy Scripture expounds on the substance of faith with elder testimony
in Hebrews 11. Whereas, Hebrews 10:38 specifically reads, “The just shall live by faith.”
This faith was instilled in Vicki early in life and has become the core of her subsistence.
Vicki is now an aspiring educator studying at an HBCU that was founded in 1865
primarily to provide theological education to freedmen after the Civil War. Shaw University
seeks to empower students with a sense of moral purpose based on Christian principles that
provide guidance for intellectual and personal growth. The motto of the University Pro Christo
et Humanitate (i.e., For Christ and Humanity--that religion and learning may go hand in hand,
and character grow with knowledge) is consistent with its mission. The University also
recognizes its responsibility to instill in students, the importance of making a difference, not only
in their own lives, but in the lives of others, by partnering with local communities to provide
services that improve the human condition and contribute to the betterment of society.
Vicki desires to fulfill her ancestry calling by serving in the field of Education. Through
her life experiences as an African American woman living in rural North Carolina, she has
gained significant knowledge to share. Like the village taught her, she desires to teach future
generations. Preserving the lifeblood of African American culture and wearing the crown of faith
is her mission. She will accomplish this mission through diligence and resolution because there
is no other option. After all, as a model woman of strength, “grace” is what keeps her and the
will of God is what guides her.

5. AUTOBIOGRAPHY4
REFERENCES
Angelou, M. (1978). And Still I Rise retrieved from http://www.poemhunter.com/best-
poems/maya-angelou/still-i-rise/
Harris, L. (2006). A Strong Woman vs. A Woman of Strength retrieved from
http://www.tributetoblackwomen.com/poems/strongwoman.htm
Hebrews 10. (2014) retrieved from
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2010&version=NKJV
Shaw University. (2014) retrieved from
http://www.shawu.edu/ContactShaw/Contact_Shaw.aspx?id=1247