Blog

Through acting school I was able to do a whole lot of interesting stuff. One of my favorite things during that time, was writing and performing a manifesto that was close to me. If you didn’t know, reading is something I care passionately about. It has helped me become the well rounded young man I am today, and I try to spread the knowledge of what reading does and can do for people.

Drew Davis | The American Academy of Dramatic Arts – November 2022

Book Me

I love the power and sentiments contained in books. Right now, there’s $787.16 worth of books in my amazon cart ready to purchase. But I can’t because the shelves of books at home I have yet to read! But it’s all getting lost these days. Instead of having our nose in a book, it’s too busy being in a cell phone. I remember the good old days, when you could go get a book and take it home. It was at these locations called… “libraries.” I’m sure some still exist. You would show them your I.D. and they would make a library card for you to check out books. You were even able to purchase books at some places. Oh wait… you still can! These are called bookstores. They have tables and comfy cushioned couches that one can read in while melting and sinking into it like Daniel Kaluuyah in the movie Get Out. Only you don’t have white folks trying to harvest your blackness out of you. I can tell a fellow reader just by a quick glance at their book. The condition: is their book in mint condition like it came straight from the publisher or has the book logged some miles on it. Like it’s been passed through the possession of more individuals than the Keeping Up with the Kardashian’s Klan. 

Alright, what I’m getting at here is we need to get back to the basics. Our black and brown boys are blindly and blatantly behind. The majority of our young boys are reading at or below a 5th grade level. Over 50% of Black males in special education are there because they are deficient in reading. Statistically speaking, these boys are susceptible to staying behind as schools continue to pass them through to the next grade, making it someone else’s responsibility. Always passing the buck. If a black male is not proficient in reading by the 4th grade, they only have a 20% chance of graduating from high school on schedule. A bigger problem is that we can’t expect the cavalry to ride in for an area they care nothing about. Did you know some government officials are deciding how many jails & prisons to build based on the reading proficiency of young black and brown boys? Only 12% of black males are proficient in reading by the 8th grade. Don’t believe me? Look it up yourself. Instead of being proactive and creating avenues they would rather be reactive and plan for the demise, spending upwards of $38,000 per inmate per year.

I know this is a lot to take in, I am a black male if you didn’t notice and I’ve had my struggles. I took Math 111 three times in college before I passed it! Third time’s a charm huh?!?! If we are not for literacy, then we are against it. And if we care about our future, we have to handle the missteps from the past.

Written & Performed by: Drewskii

Instructor: Ms. Massey