I.

II.

III.

IV.

Intro a. Literacy was an escape. i. Through literacy I was able to read books to escape to new worlds that were better than my current reality. ii. Literacy taught me to develop a love of other cultures and escape the feelings of inadequacy from my own culture iii. Becoming artistically literate helped me to escape to an illustrated world that I could create all on my own. b. Literacy as power i. I could think better of myself because I realized through what I learned I would be able to excel, despite what others thought of me ii. Being religiously literate gave me power in the sense that I could read the bible and its accounts and make connections with it in my everyday life something many people cant or refuse to do 1. Also allowed me to be a part of something greater and more beneficial than just serving myself a. Religiously Literate a. Grew up in a Christian household that follows strict Bible principles. i. One of Jehovahs Witnesses 1. Made me more of outlier amongst my peers 2. Developed critical thinking skills by reading the Bible and Bible accounts as a young child and trying to use it to make connections with my everyday life Educationally Literate a. I needed an escape and I found it in history and books. I discovered that in books I could become someone else, or experience the life of another from their eyes and escape my lonesome reality. Historical fiction books developed my love of history and taught me that there is a world bigger than my backyard. That I could be a part of something greater, just by reading about the past events in history. b. Reading taught me to be a better writer, gave me the incentive to learn more difficult words and use grammar properly. c. History helped me to develop a love of research and learning Culturally Literate a. Constantly called white in a majority black school, because of the music I listened to. I loved how I as musically diverse in the fact that I could listen to rock music, rap music, and foreign music all in the same sitting. However it kept me from truly connecting with my peers in Elementary School. b. By Middle School I tried to distance myself from people who I thought would automatically judge me for being different (black people). In a Middle School that was predominantly black I sought out Hispanics, whites, and specifically Asians to hang out with. I thought that by adopting their culture, their language, and pretending to be of their race I could be connected with some cultural identity since I had been abandoned by my culture

V.

c. Created a love for cultural and a understanding why and how people interact with others from different ethnic backgrounds. Also helped further develop my love for historical topics outside of the United States borders. d. Came to appreciate all other societies and learn to not be overly judgmental when I dont understand someone elses way of life. And finally came to an understanding and appreciate of the black American culture as well. (though this took a lot longer than the former) Artistically Literate a. And in a sense I had power and control over something for the first time. And discover that I was good at itnow that was powerful. Knowing you are skilled in something other people arent is very powerful. b. I learned to create separate worlds for myself in the form of art and could develop a truly deep appreciate for the hard work and craft that goes into another artists pieces.