A Texas teacher broke down over his 17- and 18-year-old seniors who, according to him, struggle to read and write.

But my question is: Was it just they didn't know how to read or are they disconnected from the literature that they are being asked to read?

In my latest episode of The Reading Is Freedom Podcast, I dig deeper into this conversation.

Because we cannot talk about Black children struggling with literacy without also talking about the educational system they have spent years navigating.

We have to talk about the Eurocentric curriculum that was never created with Black children in mind.

We have to talk about the lack of culturally relevant literature.

We have to talk about what happens when children spend year after year reading books and studying history where their lives, their communities, their voices, their brilliance, and their experiences are either pushed to the margins or completely absent.

And then we wonder why some children become disconnected from reading.

Representation is not just about making Black children feel good. It can be a doorway to engagement. When children encounter literature that reflects who they are while also expanding their understanding of the world, we give them another reason to connect with reading.

Yes, our children need strong phonics instruction.
Yes, they need vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.
Yes, they need to be challenged academically.

But they also need books that make them WANT to read.

We can't wait until children are 17 and 18 years old to become alarmed about literacy.

This conversation needs to start much earlier.

🎙️ Listen to the full conversation on my YouTube channel, Reading Is Freedom.

And after you listen, I want to hear YOUR thoughts.

LIKE. SUBSCRIBE. COMMENT. SHARE.

Let's keep having the conversations about literacy that our children deserve.

READING IS FREEDOM.

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What if rest isn't a luxury—but a form of liberation?

In this episode of Reading Is Freedom, I explore the powerful connection between literacy, history, and our right to rest. Drawing inspiration from Rest Is Resistance by Tricia Hersey, we examine how centuries of anti-Black racism conditioned Black people—especially Black women—to believe our worth is measured by how much we produce.

This mindset didn't happen by accident. It is rooted in a system that treated Black bodies as property and labor rather than as fully human beings deserving of care, restoration, and peace.

Together, we'll unpack why reclaiming rest is an act of resistance, healing, and self-preservation. It's time to reject grind culture, honor the wisdom of our ancestors, and give ourselves permission to slow down, breathe, daydream, and restore our minds, bodies, and spirits.

Because freedom isn't just about what we fight against—it's also about what we allow ourselves to experience.

🎙️ Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and don't forget to subscribe to Reading Is Freedom on YouTube for more conversations that help us unlock our minds, reclaim our power, and build a culture of literacy.

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🚨 Podcast Premiere This Tuesday | Reading Is Freedom 🚨

If you don't understand racism/white supremacy what it is and how it works then everything you think you understand will only confuse you.-Neely Fuller, Jr.

In this upcoming episode of Reading Is Freedom, I discuss why we must be willing to name racism when we see it and acknowledge the lasting impact of anti-Blackness in America. We also explore the importance of intuition, discernment, and the lessons our ancestors passed down about paying attention to warning signs and trusting our instincts.

I will be discussing the case of Nolan Wells, a young Black man who went out on July 4th with his white so-called friends and never returned home. Majority of Black people and some white people most definitely believe there is foul play because of reported details surrounding the case, including questions that his parents revealed about Nolan's personal belongings and digital information that was scrubbed that have fueled calls for a full, transparent, and thorough investigation. These unanswered questions have left family members, supporters, and community members seeking truth and accountability.

This case also reminds many Black Americans of a long history of racial violence and unsolved injustices, including the murder of Emmett Till and other cases where families spent years fighting for answers. This case is not unique because it is unfortunately all too familiar in a society that has built a lot of laws on protecting the false notion of white supremacy.

Reading Is Freedom is about more than books. It is about learning to think critically, recognize patterns, trust our intuition, and reclaim the wisdom that has helped Black communities survive, resist, and persevere for generations.

Please keep Nolan's family in your prayers and continue to support efforts to uncover the truth and seek justice.

🎙️ Tune in Tuesday for this important conversation.

📺 Like, subscribe, and share Reading Is Freedom on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts.

#ReadingIsFreedom #JusticeForNolan #BlackLiteracy #CriticalThinking #TrustYourGut #ReadingIsResistance #PodcastPremiere

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Reading teaches more than words—it teaches wisdom.

When most people think about reading, they think about phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension. While those skills are important, reading also helps us develop life skills that can shape how we navigate the world.

In this episode of Reading Is Freedom, I discuss how reading helps us build self-awareness, recognize and trust our intuition, and learn how to read the room by paying attention to people, situations, and context. Through stories, characters, and experiences different from our own, reading teaches us to reflect, think critically, and make better decisions.

These are skills our children need just as much as strong reading scores. The ability to understand yourself, trust your instincts, and navigate relationships can impact success in school, work, and life.

Listen to the latest episode of Reading Is Freedom on all major podcast platforms.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Reading Is Freedom YouTube channel for more conversations about literacy, learning, culture, and personal growth.

Because reading doesn't just help us understand books—it helps us understand ourselves.

#ReadingIsFreedom #LiteracyMatters #SelfAwareness #LifeSkills #ReadingCulture #TrustYourIntuition #ReadTheRoom #BlackLiteracy #Podcast #Education

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Freedom Requires Options: A Conversation with Sis Ayisha on Life Beyond America

What does it look like to imagine a different future for yourself and your family?

In this powerful episode of The Reading Is Freedom Podcast, I sit down with Sis Ayisha to discuss her inspiring journey from America to Ghana and the faith, courage, and vision that helped her make that life-changing decision.

Sis Ayisha shares how her belief in Allah guided her path and how the love, hospitality, and sense of belonging she experienced among African people affirmed her decision to relocate to the Motherland. She also gives us a glimpse into her future by sharing footage of her home being built in Ghana.

This conversation is not about telling everyone they should leave America. It is about reminding Black people that we have options. It is about expanding our thinking beyond the limitations we have been taught to accept and exploring what freedom, peace, opportunity, and community can look like for our families.

Join us for an honest conversation about faith, freedom, global citizenship, and the power of imagining new possibilities for ourselves and future generations.

🎧 Listen in and ask yourself: What becomes possible when we realize we have choices?

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🎙️📚 NEW EPISODE ALERT: The Reading Is Freedom Podcast 📚

What if the biggest thing standing between you and success isn't your ability—it's your mindset?

In my latest episode, we're talking about the difference between a growth mindset and a lack or fixed mindset. Too many children—and adults—have convinced themselves that they're "just not readers," "not smart enough," or that they'll never get better at something that's difficult.

But what if instead of saying "I can't," we started saying "I can learn how"?

In this episode, I share 5 practical ways to help children develop a growth mindset so they can build confidence, embrace challenges, and believe in their ability to succeed. These strategies aren't just for children—they're powerful tools for adults who may have struggled with reading or learning and need help seeing themselves as capable readers too.

A growth mindset teaches us that mistakes are not failures—they're opportunities to learn and grow.

Because when children believe they can improve, they're more likely to keep trying. And when adults believe they can learn, they open doors to new opportunities and possibilities.

🎧 Tune in and discover how changing your mindset can change your life.

Because literacy isn't just about reading words—it's about believing in what's possible.

#ReadingIsFreedom #GrowthMindset #LiteracyIsFreedom #Parenting #Education #BlackChildrenRead #ReadingConfidence #LifelongLearning

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Summer is a time for fun, relaxation, and family memories—but it can also be a time when children lose some of the reading skills they worked so hard to build during the school year. In this episode of The Reading Is Freedom Podcast, I explain what the "summer slide" is, why it happens, and how it can impact your child's reading growth.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to combat the summer slide is by creating a cozy reading space right in your own home. I share practical tips on how to design an inviting reading nook that makes books feel exciting, accessible, and enjoyable for your child. From comfortable seating and good lighting to making books a natural part of your child's daily routine, you'll learn how a simple space can help nurture a lifelong love of reading.

If you're looking for affordable and realistic ways to keep your child's reading skills sharp this summer, this episode is for you. Tune in and discover how creating the right environment can turn reading from a chore into an adventure.

Because when children love to read, they gain the freedom to learn, grow, and succeed.

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What happens when faith, literacy, racial trauma, and liberation all collide in one powerful conversation?

I recently sat down with New York native Dr. Yusuf Malik Frederick, author of the groundbreaking book I Love Islam but I'm Tired of Muslims: How Spiritual Abuse and Racial Trauma Intersect to Cause Psychological Distress Among African American Muslims.

This wasn’t just an interview. This was a necessary conversation.

Dr. Frederick talked about the painful realities that led him to write a book that has so many people — especially within the Black Muslim community — reflecting, healing, and finally having conversations that have been silenced for far too long.

But what made this discussion even more powerful was our conversation about literacy and access to information. We talked about how reading is more than a skill — it is a tool of empowerment. Literacy gives Black people the ability to think critically, challenge harmful systems, heal through knowledge, and reclaim our narratives.

Throughout this thought-provoking episode, one message remained clear: literacy is deeply connected to liberation.

If you care about faith, healing, education, Black empowerment, or the power of reading to transform lives, this is an episode you need to hear.

Let's grow!

Click the link to purchase Dr. Yusuf's book.

Also follow him on Facebook and IG at Dr. Yusuf Malik Frederick

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In this powerful episode of the Reading Is Freedom Podcast, I sit down with Bronzeville native and author Abdullah Rasheed Muhammad to discuss his new release, Hood Coma. This conversation goes far beyond the pages of a book — it dives deep into the realities many Black communities face, including poverty, alcoholism, drugs, and the absence of fathers in the home.

But this episode is also about hope, transformation, and the power of access to knowledge. Abdullah shares how, despite growing up surrounded by difficult conditions, certain values were instilled in him — the importance of family, community, and seeking information that could help him make better choices for his life. Those choices ultimately led him toward personal growth, purpose, and his conversion to Islam.

This is an empowering and dynamic conversation that not only highlights the problems impacting our communities, but also presents meaningful solutions, healing, and pathways forward.

You do not want to miss this inspiring discussion. Tune in, share with someone who needs to hear it, and join us as we continue using conversation, literacy, and truth to spark transformation.

There are books you read… and then there are books that change you.

In this powerful episode, I’m breaking down five books that didn’t just inform me—they transformed how I see myself, my history, and what freedom truly means.

From The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley, to Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome by Joy DeGruy, to Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass—each of these works exposes truth, demands reflection, and calls us higher.

We also dive into Spare the Kids by Stacey Patton and Rest Is Resistance by Tricia Hersey—two books that challenge how we show up in our homes, in our bodies, and in our communities.

The common thread?
We were created to be free.
But for generations, our existence has been under attack through racism and white supremacy—shaping not only systems, but mindsets, behaviors, and beliefs.

And yet…
Our greatness has never been erased. Only interrupted.

This episode is a call to unlearn what has held us back and reclaim the ways of thinking, living, and loving that move us closer to freedom.

If you’ve read these books before, this is your reminder.
If you haven’t, this is your invitation.

Because the right book… at the right time… can change everything.

Tap in, reflect deeply, and let this episode push you to pick up one—or all—of these life-changing reads. Your next level of freedom might just be one page away.

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