Some of my finest childhood memories are about learning to read. I remember sitting down with my dad and reading a book about the founding fathers of our country. I was home-schooled for second and first grade so I learned to read and write at home. I can’t really imagine learning how to read in the context of school. I guess that’s why children’s book author Emilie Buchwald once said; “Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” I think my parent’s influence set the stage for my life long love of reading and writing.
When I think back upon my life many of my memories would be completely lost without literacy. I grew up in the library. Every Saturday my mother would take my sister and me to the Little-Rock public library. We would pick out a big stack of books to take home to read that week. Having grown up that way it is hard to imagine being illiterate. So much of who I am would be lost if I could not read. I wouldn’t have the same confidence and self esteem. I wouldn’t have been able to survive school. I wouldn’t have taken an Honors English course in 8th grade; I met one of my best friends in that class. I wouldn’t have joined an after school book club in 8th grade. I wouldn’t have taken AP Literature or AP Language and Composition in high school. I definitely wouldn’t have taken a class about Shakespeare last semester and I definitely wouldn’t be in this class.
Beyond just the effect illiteracy would have had on my course in life and English academics, all of the other areas of my personal interest and education would be nearly impossible with out literacy. I don’t know how I would have graduated high school with out being able to read. I wouldn’t have been able to perform in Drama without being able to read my lines. I am not only actor, but a writer and a filmmaker. I wouldn’t be able to write a story or script for one of my films. I wouldn’t be able to write newsletters for my production company. I wouldn’t be able to read and discover new ways to make films. Without literacy my hands would essentially be tied behind my back.
Going through life illiterate must be much like singing in a choir without being able to read music. I was in high school choir and now I am in my church choir, and I don’t read music. I have to listen to a song over and over again to learn it. One day I hope to learn to read music and open my eyes to another language. I desire music literacy. And just as I must inconvenience the music teacher to essentially spoon feed the music to me in only an auditory manner, an illiterate person must have to likewise inconvenience the world around him.
Literacy is essential to having a full life. It is necessary to efficiently gain knowledge. Being illiterate would essentially handicap you in a modern society. That is why during the age of slavery slave masters would not allow their slaves to learn how to read or write. The former slave Frederick Douglass put it this way; “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” I am thankful for my literacy because it is my strength and my freedom.
Ben Andrews - I heart MEDIA 