Steph M 

"As I see it today, the ability to read awoke in me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive..."

-Malcolm X

Allen: A Black Man Who Values Literacy

We often hear the term “black culture”, but what does that really mean? The stereotypical view of black culture would likely include rap music, baggy clothes, gold chains and rims, but clearly not all African Americans value these things. Although some black men may wish to emulate the rappers seen on MTV and in the magazines, Allen is not one of them. Allen, a twenty-four year old African American man, values literacy and education above all things; he only wishes more men of his race shared the same mindset. Allen, who was raised in a predominately black neighborhood, refused to be controlled by material possessions and he sought knowledge as a means of self-liberation and happiness. His interest in Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. were sparked by his mother, and this is essentially where his interest in literacy began.  However, it was his own motivation and hunger for knowledge that carried him through to where he is today: on the verge of receiving a college diploma. Read Allen’s biography and listen to a portion of his interview to see how his literacy experiences have molded him into the man he is today.

Although Allen is just one voice, it is an important voice: a voice that represents the side of the black culture that often goes unnoticed. As an aspiring college professor, I hope to be able to hear the voices of all of my students, particularly those who have a voice different from my own. As an English tutor at Triton College, I encounter new cultural experiences everyday. Allen is just one of the many people who have broadened my views on education and how it affects every person differently. I hope that as a teacher, I will always be able to appreciate and respect the path each of my students has taken to reach college. My greatest hope is that through the process of sharing my passion for literacy with them, they will develop an excitement of their own, much like Allen has.

Allen’s biography and the portion of his interview might help one better understand the complexity of who he is as a person, and who he hopes to become. I am continuing to learn from Allen through our daily exchanges in the workplace, and hopefully my biography and the dedication of this page in his honor show how valuable his view of literacy is to me. I can only hope that this page will touch other people like me, people who are interested in the cultural aspect of literacy, and who genuinely appreciate the literacy experiences of others.

Audiofile:

My audio clip highlights how Allen's literacy experiences were affected by his mother, and how he developed an interest in Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. throughout his childhood. 

http://www.mediafire.com/?di9gzhjnnwh

Biography:

Allen.doc

Seminar Paper:

My seminar paper examines the use of ESL Conversation Table as a valuable tool for literacy. My analysis comes from my own experience as a host of ESL Conversation Table at Triton College. In my paper, I argue that this program should be used in all community colleges and universities in the Chicagoland area that have a significant population of ESL (English as a second language) students.  ESL Conversation Table is a great way for second language learners to practice English in a safe, stress-free environment, and it also helps increase both oral and visual literacy.

Seminar Paper.doc

Contact:

ecsteph19@sbcglobal.net