Literacy Narrative Draft #1

James Dunn
Basic Writing Theory & Pedagogy
October 20, 2014
Literacy Narrative

Until now, I have never really put much thought into my experiences with literacy, whether it be reading or writing.  All I know is that I have been fortunate to learn, to be supported from within my family and outside of it.  I am one of the lucky ones.  I have had an opportunity to get a good education.  I have never had to take remedial courses; I was a traditional student.  At 18, I was packed-up  and sent off to live for four years on the campus of the University of Maryland at College Park—at the time, a large white campus of about 40,000 students. 

In a way, writing this literacy narrative is important to me.  This assignment is an opportunity for me to reflect and ruminate on the role of literacy in my life.  Sometimes it is valuable to examine where you have been in order to really appreciate where you are now.  As a graduate student in the Language and Literacy Program at The City College of New York, and as a writing instructor, I see firsthand the many challenges that New Yorkers face with literacy.  Just last week, I was riding the D train home.  Beside me, two young Hispanic women were doing their English homework.  They were doing exercises in their workbook.  One of the women looked over at me and asked me if I would help her.  So for several stops, I helped her with her homework.  She was studying subject agreement and pronoun reference. 

As far as I can remember, language came natural to me, but it really hit home for me when I was in the seventh grade.  My social studies teacher, Miss Stokes, asked my class to write an essay about the United Nations.  Little did I know that she had submitted my essay to a contest.  Although I did not win, I remember one day checking the mail, and sitting there was a letter addressed to me.  The envelope looked official; the city seal jutted out from it.  Receiving the letter was a big deal because no one ever sent me anything through the mail.  Inside the envelope was a two-page letter from the mayor commending me for writing a letter about the role of the United Nations.  Looking back, I realize that this experience was my first meaningful rhetorical accomplishment. I realized, on my own, how the power of words can move and persuade people—an audience.

Also, during that same year I came in second place in a Black History Month contest at my junior school.  The winner, as well as,  I and the third place runner-up would have an opportunity to compete in a citywide competition.  For some reason, one of the most important books that I remember reading as child was an encyclopedia-like book called “Great Negroes Past and Present.”  It contained bibliographic profiles and images of important African-American historical figures in politics, sports, government, and civil rights.  I attribute my performance in the contest to my study of this particular book.

Along the same lines, I think I had a penchant for encyclopedias anyway.  I remember years before my participation in these various contests, my mother had purchased a set of World Book Encyclopedias.  She brought them at a time when salesmen would go door-to-door selling them.  I remember the excitement of thumbing through the blue vinyl-bound books and the colorful images that abounded on most of the pages.

My parents played a huge role in my literacy development, especially my mom.  When I was growing up, my mom was a teacher.  In fact, some of my teachers had gone to college with her.