Black men are changing the game in literacy

Embrace the Power of Reading: How St. Louis changes the game with black men in the foreground. Ready Readers, Black Men Read and The Believe Projects are on a mission to boost literacy efforts throughout St. Louis.

The three organizations unveiled two literacy posters on August 15 at HeyDays headquarters. The portraits are of 25 black people from St. Louis who read with pride. The poster design is inspired by vintage READ posters created by the American Library Association. The Literacy Initiative hopes to ignite joy, promote literacy, and amplify the presence of Black men who read and Black men who read to children in their lives. Posters also aim to increase authenticity

representation of black men as essential caregivers, particularly in early childhood classrooms.

The combined efforts of Ready Readers, Black Men Read and Project Believe will reach more than 20,000 children across the region, including more than 1,000 early childhood.

early childhood classrooms and community spaces just in time for the new school year.

“Our kids are facing a literacy crisis,” said Keyon Watkins, co-founder of the nonprofit Black Men Read. The data shows that in 2022-2023, 81 percent of black third-graders in the St. Louis failed to read. “Our children need to have an image to aspire to,” Julius B. Anthony said of the posters. Anthony is the founder of Believe Projects.

Anthony added, “Diverse representation in books and educational environments helps children emerge fiercely and fully.”

“When adults show interest in books and reading, children’s interest grows as well,” said Angela Sears Spittal, executive director of Ready Readers. “We hope these posters will inspire children and be a daily example of the joy and power of reading.”

Erin Silva Fisher, marketing coordinator for Ready Readers, said the three organizations have been working hard for the past two months “to make it all possible. “The goal of the project is to reach as many children as possible,” said Silva Fisher. “To connect with the joy and power of reading.”

Ready Readers will be packaging and distributing posters for their first book distribution in September. The literacy pack will have an invitation for educators to hang posters to encourage and remind students of the joys of reading. “The enthusiasm on the faces of the men on the posters is absolutely contagious,” said Silva Fisher. The posters use black men to show kids that they, too, are invested in their literary journey.

“We use representation to promote literacy,” Watkins said. He believes that when children are encouraged by adults who look like them to read, it inspires them to do the same. Watkins wants kids to feel empowered when they see the posters at school or at community centers, he envisions kids seeing the posters and thinking, “Hey, that could be me.”

The initiative started from a chance meeting between Silva Fisher and Watkins at a community literacy event. Silva Fisher shared an idea with Watkins when he heard about his organization Black Men Read, which immediately reminded him of vintage READ posters in libraries. She told him about the idea and he said, “Let’s collaborate.”

“The initiative is a testament to the fact that when organizations come together to support each other, they amplify our impact,” said Watkins. Watkins said it’s unfortunate that some children in the region are affected by book deserts. Anthony, sharing the same sentiments, said, “We all have a role to play in helping our children learn to read, read, learn.”

Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the American St. Louis.