Adult Literacy

Photo by Chris Johnson

Adult literacy is defined as: Using printed and written information to function in society, to achieve one’s goals, and to develop knowledge and potential. (Literacy in Everyday Life: Results from the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy). However, compared to higher incomes with diplomas and those without, one can think the performance rate is basic at best without diplomas.

The US Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences Statistics from 1992-2003 show a wide disparity of scores among Asian/Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, Black, and Whites in adult literacy skills. I can actually understand the language issues with non-English speaking people but why do the Blacks and Whites have the problem with literacy?

The National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) gave tests that showed an estimate that 14% of our nation’s residents have reading and writing problems. Those that can read have comprehension issues. What’s worse, they are considered illiterate! About 1 in 7 can’t read this blog. How can you fill out any forms if you can’t read or understand them? Now wonder there is such a high unemployment rate among minorities. That coupled with government subsidies doesn’t make things any better. One must be committed and willing to improve their conditions. At the same time, there should be a level playing field, too! These same handouts that are making some folks complacent are also turning their heads from undercover racist actions designed to keep them down.

I don’t have an answer for this. We all can make an effort to keep our children in school and help those that are not able. But, do we want to take the time? Our drop out rate among Blacks in 2008 was 9.9%, 8.7% among males, 11.1% among females. These numbers represent 16-24 year olds who are not enrolled in school and did not earn a high school credential (GED or diploma). The total dropout rate for all Races/Ethnicities was 8%.

“This is a problem we can’t afford to accept or ignore,” President Obama said. “The stakes are too high – for our children, for our economy, for our country. It’s time for all of us to come together – parents and students, principals and teachers, business leaders and elected officials – to end America’s dropout crisis.”

“It is time for all of us, no matter what our backgrounds, to come together and solve this epidemic. Stemming the tide of dropouts will require turning around our low-performing schools. Just 2,000 high schools in cities like Detroit, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia produce over 50% of America’s dropouts… Let us all make turning around our schools our collective responsibility as Americans.” President Barack Obama

It’s good that our President supports this cause but what about us? What can we do?

Tia D - "Myself"

Myself

All I really want

is to just be who I am

Free from any expectations

That is where I’ll stand

I do not live for social norms

I go against the grain

Not to make a statement

They just make me go insane!

You cannot put me in box

‘Though some still often try

And when I do it to myself

“Myself” becomes a lie

Please don’t try to box me in

For this I must confess

When you define the borders

I become myself much less

If who I am is not enough

Then please do not pursue

Cause I just want to be myself

Especially with you.

                                                                                Tia D.  6-5-2011

That Girl - Thanks Tia!

That Girl

Head on her pillow tears streaming down.

She cries herself to sleep.

She feels alone and so insecure

Feeling the lies of this world cutting deep.

She paints her face to hide the shame

from weight she cannot bear

Jokes are made at her expense

She tries so hard not to care.

She’s the one who acts so tough

That most would never guess

Underneath that frail façade

Is hurt she can’t confess.

She’s the girl who will succeed

She’s way beyond her class

But no one knows she works so hard

Just to avoid her past.

I was that girl who felt alone

Who once was overweight

With walls built up to hide the hurt

I always made the grade.

But now I know I’m not alone

Whatever the scale may say

Found freedom in confession

And my worth in Christ will stay.

By Tia Deibert

Cut From The Same Cloth?

Protesters from the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church received a Memorial Day razzing from counter-demonstrators affiliated with a Virginia branch of the Ku Klux Klan

What a twist!  Two hate groups are now turning their hatred towards each other at Arlington National Cemetery!  The Westboro Baptist Church didn’t get love from a Virginian branch of the Ku Klux Klan!  Go figure!  One of the most bigoted churches in the nation is being demonstrated against by one of the most racist groups in the nation.  If you’re not familiar with the Westboro Baptist Church group, they are known for their extreme stance against homosexuality, picketing funerals, and desecrating the American flag.  These folks protest military and celebrity funerals to get media attention.  They are like a rebel Baptist church that has no connections with the Baptists.  Yes, they are an independent hate group as far I’m concerned.  They don’t seem to like or respect anyone if you aren’t a member.  I do mean anyone, including religions.  It’s odd that they do not support racism.  But their founder Fred Phelps is a veteran of the Civil Rights Movement and his Church has tried to distance itself from groups that support racism.  On the day when both groups should be paying tribute and remembrance to our fallen heroes, they are focusing on pettiness and attention.  They are surely exercising their free speech bought by these heroes’ blood.  This is the direction our country is headed and it has nothing to do with the government or the current administration.

Rest In Peace, Gil Scott Heron - (April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011)

Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, 2011

The world is full of disasters, civil unrests, wars, political upheavals, and financial disarray.  Our politicians are arguing and disagreeing over interests that are not best for the nation because they owe their souls to the highest bidders.  Tornadoes and tsunamis are destroying cities and reshaping the destinies of their residents.  Families are being torn apart due to countless reasons but mostly infidelities and financial.  It is easier to fall out of love now than it is falling in love.  Yet, despite it all, there are families that are still grateful that they are still being blessed even when they have lost everything they owned.  Still the sun rises and sets, and during the days and nights we witness beautiful sights and share joys and sorrows.  Today is Memorial Day!  We pay tribute to those members of the military that have given their lives for our country.  Without such gallant hearts, there is no telling what kind of country we would be living in this day.  They fought for this country in the beginning from the Revolution to Civil War and Civil Rights.  Including all other countless battles where people died for believing that there can be a better way to live.  We owe these heroes our respect, honor, dignity, and appreciation.  Let us never forget!  Yes, indeed there are many of us mourning together today.  So while many of us will be grilling, sailing, and drinking keep our men and women in the military in your prayers.  They are risking their all in some very dangerous and hostile places. 

I don't want to take anything away from our military and that is why this is under a separate pragraph.  But there were many freedom fighters, poets, law enforcement officers and others that deserve our tribute, too!  Many are not famous at all.

The Devil Is A Liar!

Accept the truth that Rep. Jim Clyburn is telling the truth that racism is part of the blame for President Obama’s political problems. The birthers never questioned John McCain. The Tea Party never needed to speak out against past presidents but they sure are now. What is getting these folks in an uproar is that the term racists is considered lower and worse than being called liberals. We must acknowledge that some “closet” racists are using smoke screens to say that they are against the President’s policies when in actuality that is what they are hiding behind. Yes, hiding behind his polices when they are able to confront their true fear which is this black man is one of the most powerful in the world. They need to come out of the closet and stop hiding behind excuses, computer screens, and places where their faces can’t be seen. The KKK used to hide behind hoods but at least they began to show their faces. President Obama has been criticized from drinking a Guinness Beer in Ireland to his walk. There have been polls taken every week on what he does. How much under the microscope do the media intend to keep this man? The owners of this conglomerate enjoy fueling the fires of hate because they still want him to fail. Perpetuating lies is part of the agenda for these folks. So what if they bend the premise a little to a lot. As long as it affects someone then the objective is completed. I understand this. What I still don’t understand is the same policies that the conservatives wanted to use before are now being rejected by them when the President wanted to use them. One example is Cap & Trade. Even part of the HealthCare Bill had Republican components. The Democrats on the left moved toward the right and the Republicans on the right moved further right. They would rather cast him as a liberal rather than state President Obama is a moderate. I’m sure you have noticed that anytime the term racist is used by a minority he is slapped with using the race card. I’ve always said this and I am still saying that this is a crock of bull dodo. Face the facts; there are still so many people that would love for black folks to be slaves again! These folks are still full of hate for whatever their reasons for hating blacks are. They feel black people has their place in society and it is definitely not as President of the United States. Have people forgotten Jim Crow days? Are do they want to bring those days back? Have they forgotten that some towns actually celebrated the hanging of a black person and had the whole family attend to witness the death of many innocent people? That very same feeling was passed down from generation to generation. Some people don’t even know why they hate. What’s worse some of these people are saying that happened in the past and we weren’t there. That may be true, but if the past is trying to repeat itself, we didn’t learn a damn thing.