Time Is of The Essence”: Why We Can’t Afford to Wait

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s speech “The Other America” 1967 symbolizes the harsh reality that plagued Black Americans before, during, and after the Civil Right era. Black Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression in all forms, even in 2023. 

Source: CT3 2023

In his speech, King described the other America as the difference between what life was like for people from different social capital, classes, communities, and racial inequalities. One America is beautiful and overflows with the miracle of wealth for millions of young people who grow up in the sunlight of opportunity. The second America, as Dr. King explained, was (and is) a tragedy because of what it has done to children, especially those from underserved communities. 

As a scholar-practitioner, I noticed how Black boys are being being portrayed in literature and media prevalent in our schools. For example, after researchers analyzed the Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Literacy intervention(s), they discovered the following: 

·       "70% of fiction and 20% of nonfiction exhibited Black and Brown characters as inferior, deviant and helpless." 

·       "30% of fiction and 100% nonfiction content showed White characters as being heroic, determined, innovative and successful" 

Then, the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media found:

·       "Mascots of color are significantly more likely to be shown as cooking or preparing food than white mascots (28.1% compared to 10.6%).

·       Two-thirds (65.6%) of mascots of color are represented as racial/ethnic stereotypes compared to only 2.8% of White mascots.

·       Mascots of color are twice as likely to be portrayed as threatening than White mascots (4.7% compared to 1.7%)."

These types of statistics speak to Dr. King’s words in his speech “The Other America” that “Black children grow up in clouds of inferiority, blasted hopes, and shattered dreams.” 

Thus, my wife and I created our award-winning and critically acclaimed children’s book series Doctor Dyslexia Dude that are culturally responsive, authentic, and realistically portray the lived experiences of a Black boy with superpowers. 

We also created a mascot representing creativity, self-empowerment, a sense of belonging, Black excellence, and engagement to bridge the gap between literacy practices and the reluctant or anxious reader. 

Milwaukee Bucks Mascot and DDD Mascot

        We are dedicated to shining the sunlight of opportunity and hope through literature (and literacy) and change the narrative for children in “the other America”. Providing this type of resource eliminates hurdles and validates children’s humanness, confirms their intelligence, and gives one access to society at large.

Within the contexts of restorative justice and education, we need to: (1) examine the harmful impact that this other America has had on our kids and (2) address how the racial inequalities and polices have widened the literacy gap, increased the pipeline to prison, and we must hold gatekeepers accountable for their actions. In closing, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE and we can’t afford to wait anymore. 

In Dr. King’s words:

“In this America, millions of people experience every day the opportunity of having life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in all of their dimensions. And in this America, millions of young people grow up in the sunlight of opportunity.”

    It is up to us to remove the hinderances placed in front of our students who don’t grow up ‘in the sunlight of opportunity’ by contributing positive pathways to literacy, opportunity, and social justice. Let’s join together to remove injustice and replace trauma with equitable access to education. Let us provide safe passage for the future of our children. 

Sincerely, 

Shawn Anthony Robinson PhD