3) Discuss your experience of taking one of the literacy tests from Activity 4. Provide examples of questions and your responses.
When I took the literacy test I was confused with some of the questions. For example, question 20 says “Spell backwards, forward.”
My first thought was who cares, my second thought was that this is a trick question due to the comma because I can do either or and be correct or wrong depending on who is grading the test.
2) 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.
Literacy has been used by the rich white folk to keep black and minorities from advancing in this country. For example, that stupid literacy test asking “Spell backwards, forward.” it prevents minorities from using their right to vote because they may have messed up one question.
4) How can we help establish more equality for Black/African-American community in the US?
I think we can establish easier access to libraries and books that make people interested in reading. Also, teaching the parents the current younger generation the value of being literate because it is literally liberating and freeing.
One thought on “DB 7”
I like how you phrased your answer to #2. I think that it’s interesting that rich white people have so much leverage against black people. They can keep them from passing literacy tests way too easily. This is still an issue today because so many positions of power are held by white people.