Why Many Black Children aren’t reading | Ty Allan Jackson | TEDxNorthAdams

It’s easy for black children growing up in America to name their favorite athlete, pop star and actor but what about their favorite author? All children grow up aspiring to be like the person they idolize, but if children do not see themselves reflected in literature how can they make that connection? Could the secret to getting children to read more often exist in the world of celebrity and pop culture? In this talk children’s book author Ty Allan Jackson makes the connection between illiteracy and the lack of diversity in children’s books and authors. He argues that the key to increasing literacy rates could be found in treating authors like the rock stars that they are.
Author + Founder of Big Head Books This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@terrenceduren2984]

Starts at home. Parents need to be the main motivation for their children reading. Set the example at home parent(s). Let your children see you reading....

[@searose6192]

Why does it have to be hip hop stars slapping their name on a book? Why not create a literary culture and allow the literary stars to rise to fame off the brilliance of their written word?

[@Bluesteye]

Hip Hop Rhetoric is what gets adults and children engaged. It is also a tool to use in literacy. I study it as a graduate student. The artists tell counter stories to resist hegemonic structures.

[@kyliecoyne8399]

@@Bluesteye Beautifully put.

[@searose6192]

@@kyliecoyne8399 Word salad, not eloquence.

[@streetstamptv6387]

Facts Let the rappers Rap and we need to push the talented Authors not rappers writing books. But Actual Authors

[@searose6192]

I concur.

[@sangmoon2464]

The core problem is with the parents. Too many of the parents don't have the motivation to push their children to be better.

[@ckrgksdkrak]

Or they never had parenting classes… the govt doesn’t care.

[@bb3ll07]

Never show up to meetings but try to fight teachers at the end of the year when the kids is about flunk their grade Happened to a teacher at my school yesterday… the mother cursed her out so bad but her son has missed over 15 days of school 😮

[@mikeforner7797]

I don't believe that "hip hop artists" need to be a part of getting your child to read. The schools can only do so much. It is the parent(s) who have the most control. The library. The Library has many stories and adventures available. My Mother brought me to the Library at a young age. I remember not wanting to be there at first, but when you discover the worlds you can enter....WOW! Books make the world huge!!....showing you endless possibilities for your own life and the ability to dream. True today as it was yesteryear...READING IS FUNDAMENTAL & KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

[@TesterBoy]

It’s too bad not enough blacks agree! The era of big government is responsible for this tragedy. Johnson was a pathetic president! And throw out those bums Sharpton and Jackson!!!

[@muskepticsometimes9133]

Reading actual books is important. Studies show kids do better reading books not off a screen. The big problem is unrestricted device access for kids. This is a problem for all kids

[@HerbswithAsia]

I’m African American from one of the the poorest neighborhoods in Pennsylvania. My father took me to libraries and museums every weekend. We went to children’s literature section and read books for fun. I also grew up listening hip hop and other genres of music. My parents didn’t depend on anyone else to teach me to read. They took it upon themselves. And with their hard work I excelled in school. So instead just pointing the fingers at so many things that can influence kids,We also need to have accountability in our community as well.

[@rascallyrabbits2573]

I was shocked that the first problem was that books aren’t accessible, That is a crock!

[@DarthVader1977]

Channon Christian Medical Examiner's testimony.

[@VedorianObiora]

Wow, it pains me how few views this has. It makes what he is saying speak even more volume.

[@hellonomasonto]

Can you believe it! 3 years later and it's only 9,8 thousand views. Wow, I'm just so saddened, actually

[@ambitiousbeauty1013]

Even if they're aren't bookstores, doesn't schools have libraries kids can get books from?

[@AgentArcadia]

Ty is a local legend. Proud to have him in my community

[@sheteg1]

Parents got to read to kids to make them interested in reading.

[@DarthVader1977]

have* to

[@evanwalker3782]

Reading forces you to use your imagination. I’ve been reading since a child. Started with the Fear Street books by RL Stine.

[@Mseleku1]

This is one of the most crucial issues which ironically tends to be ignored! Parents should assist their kids at home by reading to them bed time stories religiously❤. I was teaching in college and it was so disheartening to see that even students at that level couldn't read for comprehension 😢and their sentence construction was woeful. Something should be done immediately to mitigate such inadequacies.😮

[@DarthVader1977]

"The Bell Curve" by author Charles A. Murray.

[@texasgirl73goodjob46]

My parents ENCOURAGE ME TO READ

[@kenyonbissett3512]

LaVar Burton was on PBS for years, promoting read with “Reading Rainbow.” Many famous actors, actresses, singers, dancers, etc. Lou Rawls, Matthew Broderick, Barbara Felton, Phylicia Rashad, Julia Child, Dr. Jane Goodall, Patrick Stewart, Philadelphia Zoo, Ed Harris, Gilda Radner, Jason Alexander, Helen Mirren, Gregory Hines, Olympic athletes, Eartha Kitt, Angela Bassett, New England Aquarium, Chinatown, Bill Cosby, Raul Julia, Isabel Sanford, and 100s more. If stars can promote milk, they can promote reading. In middle school it works to tell them you don’t want someone to cheat on purpose or unknowingly because you can not read or can not figure out mathematics. By 8th grade they understand that issue. I talked about a contract for my mortgage that because I read it through I found $5,000 in errors in my favor. I want that for them.

[@brickdebrick2167]

He wants Cardi B to be an "example" for children? An "example" to read? The singer who sings "WAP"? LOL🤣

[@FlamingCockatiel]

Pop culture needs to smarten up.

[@daviddub]

It is not likely that Pop culture smarten up. It is the part of culture that appeals to short term pleasure, and negates long term responsible. That is why it is POPULAR culture.

[@DarthVader1977]

@@daviddub smartens* up.

[@markrobbin]

Too much Cardi B and Lil Wayne. Too little Charles Dickens and Mark Twain.

[@keshavrao212]

Agreed

[@searose6192]

I was a voracious reader as a child and I don't think I can name a single book who's characters reflected my race. That is not a hurdle in any way.

[@mrvn000]

I was born in Uruguay, but my readings were about con boys in USA. So race is not a great deal.

[@aauthorleeful]

I loved this Ted talk. I have a few cents to add, and as a mother of 5, I know a little bit 😉. I will hopefully say I agree with every single thing that he said but let's dig a little deeper. In the blocked community parents don't promote. Reading like they do for their children to be popular athletes superstars and feel some kind of way even those parents who tell the kids to study and you can. Be doctors and lawyers and all of these great amazing things. At what point are we encouraging reading, not just reading for learning purposes but reading for "LEARNING" purposes.

[@aauthorleeful]

Cont; 😅 I'll assume that the previous comment exceeded the limit.

[@EricMHowardII-yh1rn]

Reading is an enjoyable activity for me personally. Bible reading is an enjoyable activity over time . Enjoyable Learning is not nonsense. Richard V Reeves Wrote a book entitled Of Boys and Men. Children regardless of gender,race and class relations background. Need to understand reading can become an enjoyable activity.

[@AO-kr9kd]

A quick search showed that there are over 40 libraries in the Bronx. FREE books for all. But he only mentions bookstores. The excuse is annoying.

[@avante-gardegeckos1233]

This is why diversity in the classroom- books, authors, and other media with POC- is so so important. So that kids can see themselves in the characters and can see themselves achieving greatness.

[@0seve291]

My son is mex american amd loved diary of a wimpy kid..we would get them the day they were released :)

[@ladiesman860]

💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾, WELL SAID/EYE OPENER...It's sad when you really look at the statistics. I tell everyone all the time to read and expand your mind, too much damn TV and social media are consuming their time.

[@searose6192]

Since when are bookstores the primary access to books for children? I would think the LIBRARY is #1, the school library is #2, any screen in the home is #3. If you really think it is accessibility, how about an eReader for every inner city child, so they can use the public school internet everyday to download FREE public library books (this system is all already in place) Will that solve the problem? No? Then I don't think accessibility is the issue.

[@daviddub]

I would say that the screen (especially the cell phone and tablet screen) is the #1 resource. You have kindle, ebooks, pdf books, scribd, libraries online, audible (audio books). There are so many books available online, that they will make no school or public library ever come to mind.

[@gillyblack6983]

Hello Ty, thank you! Do you have a list of kids book? Especially ages 11-14

[@Bluesteye]

Hi, I know this is a yr old but you can always call a children's librarian and ask them. They wouldn't mind. I hope this helps.

[@dellee6723]

Lord of the Flies , Count of Monte Cristo, Three Musketeers, and Tom Sawyer.

[@robrunstedler6953]

@@dellee6723 Really? How old are you?! I assume you are being a troll?

[@JosaxJaz]

As people have said already in the comments, I don't think it's a great idea to have kids idolizing celebrities in the first place, and I don't think it's music artists' responsibility to educate children. I think, if they do, great! But they shouldn't have to, they're just making a living making music about whatever they want. However, I think books should be more prevalent and good authors lifted up and getting more recognition.

[@Bigafrmdasouth]

Same for me

[@videoshomepage]

My son is a good reader, but he doesn't enjoy reading. Why do people stress reading? Is it so that poor readers can improve?

[@debbiebonnett125]

Not book stores, LIBRARIES. Book store you have to buy the books. Libraries you get them for free! They also have a plethora of additional resources for the child and parent.

[@DarthVader1977]

At* the* bookstore* NOTHING is free, SOMEONE ELSE is paying for it.

[@2iggy_]

@@DarthVader1977it’s free to the kids and that’s what matters here. Go be a contrarian somewhere else.

[@DarthVader1977]

@@2iggy_ Channon Christian Medical Examiner's testimony.

[@BurtonMKelso]

Good job my man!

[@muthaafrika6137]

How she get that tweet bird high pitch voice?

[@bigmikeobama5314]

its because of their parents(usually their momma) not making them do their homework or enforcing any learning or discipline at home. they are theit own worst enemy....again

[@saramatthews7159]

Where are the fathers at? Why arent they playing a more active role in their children's lives?

[@hennamotifs]

I was with you on the first half... But hip hop is destructive , nothing about it should be idolized by children

[@Caret_1]

Ishsjdhsoshdkwhsidhao sos aoxsjsjsbsiwhdodhwosjdosjxishskdjdishxoshsodhsoavsaijsoxbwidudishszk axks ka hocdu

[@White_Lives_Matter]

So you're saying pocs don't read unless the author is poc. Do you realise what you're admitting.

[@FlamingCockatiel]

What? That in order for race not to be a factor we need to have it be our central focus? That's what it sometimes seems to be.

[@karlosthejackel69]

No one outside of America knows who LeBron James is

[@2thapublikk381]

You are a brilliant man I would love to stay in contact with you

[@ryanscottlogan8459]

Well if they open bookstores in the Bronx the thieves will def avoid them!😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@DarthVader1977]

Colin Flaherty's videos.

[@ottogreenjr.7857]

Thank you for this brilliant truth!!! And we do need you back, Yeezy! Lol And, yes Cardi B could launch a movement for our children's literacy!!!!

[@Abbasjd1]

Most kids aren't reading

[@Caret_1]

Namens sms sn sk eme em a muss msnwm SKSBS same ei wkx sms 27?3’dkan s SKS kd eme en$3$/@.!!Hans dk Rems sn emaojbd2&:&@, d er ndbs

[@robrunstedler6953]

Will Smith's slap! :)

[@tobisteffen]

We all know exactly why people cannot read after 9 years of mandatory school.

[@muthaafrika6137]

I ain't a child but 📚 AIN'T important yo me

[@psychicspy]

Dopamine.

[@latreselatrese4179]

Woke!

[@TesterBoy]

The era of big government is responsible for this tragedy. Johnson was a pathetic president! And throw out those bums Sharpton and Jackson!!!

[@investnowamerica2952]

Are you serious? He went back to 1833 to prove his point? 1833?? Sorry, I stopped listening so that I could get over laughing so hard!!!

[@muthaafrika6137]

Oh I forgot Mariah Carey

[@muthaafrika6137]

Even Alicia sing better than Beyonce

[@muthaafrika6137]

Yeah it's DA 🔑 alright. The 🔑 to WASTE yo GODDAMN time

[@bb3ll07]

I blame the lazy parents! These young moms love BEYONCE and INSTAGRAM more than they love their own kids 😮 I know because I see it everyday at the urban school I work in

[@ninamcnab4478]

Kanye West would be a much better than all the other artist. Kanye KEEP the MAGA HAT.

[@kellydouthit4991]

I was all in on this until he mentioned politics.

[@msharris8447]

This person is scamming to be a Civil Engineer from Phoenix Arizona named Gregory Edwards Williams begging for Apple gift cards. And using a Nigerian accent

[@TheSundaeReport]

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

[@webertmathieu5427]

This is wack.

[@Vegas.-]

dna.