3 Impressive Ways Increased Literacy Can Improve Black Joy
Sometimes, at night, I worry.
I wonder what the expression of Black Joy will look like in 50 years,
More Specifically,
I wonder,
What opportunities will exist for Black Joy to flourish?
Vibrant. Org defines Black Joy as,
a celebration of the innovation, brilliance, and creativity of the Black community,
Therefore, consciously investing in Black Joy is a revolutionary act each day.
What I love the most about teaching a subject where the answers do not always fall between correct and incorrect,
Just purely authentic expression,
I can see seeds of unadulterated joy in Black Creativity and Expression each day I am on the job.
The price of feeling that moment with black youth comes with a battle against the silent killer of student engagement in 2025
The attack on attention spans!
Did You Know: Reading is An Exercise in Sustained Attention!
With sustained attention comes an array of brain-stimulating benefits and higher-order thinking patterns that lay the groundwork for joy.
Today, I would like to discuss three benefits that improved literacy can bestow on the Community to promote Black Joy.
The Ability to Trust Others in the Community
Did you know that,
I also would argue that increased literacy can improve the rate at which the black Community is tolerant of new information, without fear or distrust, but with a receptivity that expects a positive outcome.
The Ability to Assess Character and Follow a Complex Plot
Beyond attention span, there are more than a few casualties when we lose the ability to read books. For example, seeing the world from other perspectives i.e., empathy. Or evaluating (or even valuing) expertise. Or assessing character, particularly characters who may be more or less than they appear. Or the ability to follow a plot more complex than a WWE match, reality show, or infomercial.
I also believe this benefit allows the Black Community to have complex discussions about experiencing negative emotions, accountability, and the implementation of boundaries, therefore increasing joy.
The Ability to Keep Writing Our Own Stories
With generative AI embedding itself in the systems we use and trust, let’s not forget to think critically about the erasure of black voices that are not AI-generated.
Some AI systems are used to assess the value or quality of artwork. If these systems are trained on data that undervalues the work of Black artists, they may perpetuate this bias, affecting their work’s perceived value and marketability.
The ability to make your point or tell your story in a manner uniquely rooted in uplifting black culture should remain beyond the reach of the instant gratification that Generative AI produces.
BLACK LITERACY + BLACK JOY = A REVOLUTIONARY PAIRING.
As I conclude, I think back to educational practice in the late 90s and early 2000s labeled,
D.E.A.R. or Drop Everything and Read.
As I opened one of my favorite books from my childhood during this extensive hour in nothing but reading, I didn’t realize the impact that undivided attention would have on my Community in 2025!
To the adults who work closely with black youth,
Let’s talk fun and creative ways to teach literacy designed for the attention spans in school today, and make sure to repin if you would like to share this post.