A Literate African-American Boy: Fact or Fantasy?

If life imitates art, as the aphorism goes, I sure wish the boy drawn in a C.F. Payne illustration would become real like Pinocchio. The illustration depicts an African-American boy standing on a street corner engrossed in reading a book while a crowd of people behind him is enthralled by the latest technological gadgets displayed in a store window.  When “Word Power” first appeared on the back of an issue of Reader’s Digest, I was immediately struck by the powerful yet relevant message that reading a book still matters in today’s digital, video game-leavened society. Marita Golden, author of The Word, eloquently states the importance of reading a book.  She said, “The seductions, innovations, and revolutionary changes brought forth by the computer chip do not erase the fact that the bound book remains one of the most convenient and impressive of technological inventions.”  She further describes what reading a book does for us. “It provides a private, intimate, sensual experience that results in expansion of the mind and enhancement of the soul,” said Golden. 
​​

Read More