Conversation 7

Summary

Q1: How is literacy used as a hegemonic tool/ tool of power? By whom? Against whom? Reference at least 2 of this week’s course materials.

There's no doubt that literacy is used as a hegemonic tool in both the historical and contemporary contexts discussed inboth articles "With COVID-19, The African-American Literacy Crisis Will Get Much Worse" and "Why Slave-Era Barriers to Black Literacy Still Matter." In the past, literacy was deliberately suppressed by slaveholders, who sought to maintain control and dominance over enslaved black individuals, showing how those individuals including slaveholders, used literacy as a means of power. This suppression left black communities without access to education and the empowerment that literacy can provide. Fast-forward to the present day, and the disparities in literacy and education continue to persist, mostly affecting African-American communities. The lack of access to quality education and the digital divide, especially highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, serve as modern tools of power that prevent equal treatment. These disparities are maintained by systemic barriers and unequal access to resources, which reinforce power imbalances in education, healthcare, civic engagement, and the criminal justice system. Therefore, literacy functions both as a means of empowerment and resistance for historically marginalized communities and as a tool of power for those in authority, contributing to ongoing racial disparities in the United States.

Q2: What is the argument in the article titled “With COVID, the African-American Literacy Crisis will get much worse”? Support your answer with evidence from the text, and with your own thoughts on this topic.

The article "With COVID, the African-American Literacy Crisis will get much worse" argues that the COVID-19 pandemic is making the problem of low literacy skills among African-American students even worse. The article explains that many African-American students struggle with reading and writing, and this situation is becoming more challenging because they can't access online learning. For instance, "For many students who don't have Internet access, learning has simply come to a halt. African-American students are more likely to be missing out on instruction during this pandemic, since they're more likely to lack the connectivity needed for remote schooling than their White peers.” Low literacy skills make it tough to find good jobs or understand important things like medical instructions on prescriptions. The evidence in the article shows that, historically, African-Americans have faced difficulties in getting a good education, and this problem has continued for a long time. The pandemic has made it even harder because not all students have the same resources. Some students are at risk of falling behind in their studies. It can also affect their ability to get involved in politics or prevent them from ending up in the criminal justice system. So, the article's argument is that the COVID-19 pandemic is making the existing literacy crisis among African-American students worse because of the challenges they face in accessing education, which can affect their future opportunities. This situation highlights the need for changes in the education system to ensure that all students have an equal chance to succeed.

Q3. How can we help establish more equality for the Black/ African-American community in the US?

To help establish more equality for the Black/African-American community in the United States, we need to focus on several key areas. One important step is improving access to quality education. This means making sure that all students, regardless of their background, have equal opportunities to learn. For example, the article "With COVID, the African-American Literacy Crisis will get much worse" shows that some African-American students face challenges with internet access, which affects their education. So, providing resources like laptops and internet access to all students can help bridge this gap. Another crucial aspect is addressing historical inequalities and systemic racism. The article "Why Slave-Era Barriers to Black Literacy Still Matter" points out that during slavery, black individuals were denied access to education and literacy. To promote equality, we should learn from this history and work to eliminate policies and practices that discriminate against Black/African-American communities.