Prompt 1 - Summer Reading

Claireece Precious Jones is an abused, illiterate, and HIV-positive sixteen-year-old living in Harlem with her two sons, and her estranged mother, Mary. For Precious, literacy is an escape to advocate for herself. Once she begins writing in her journal, and the world of literacy begins to open up to her, she finds her voice, and begins to write about her painful secrets, and those who have abused her. Before coming to the adult literacy class, known as “Each One, Teach One,” instructed by Ms. Rain, Precious struggled with expressing her emotions and thoughts and felt no purpose in her life. 

“It’s true. Ms Rain the one who put the chalk in my hand, make me queen of the ABCs” (Sapphire 81)…“So anyway I made so much progress I won award. Literacy award. I get it September of 1988. Ms Rain wanted to give it to me even before then. She say she had wanted to give it to me after I come back from Abdul being born and homeless ‘n stuff. But director say, well, we got other students who deserve it, let’s see if Precious got staying power” (Sapphire 82). 

With the encouragement of Ms. Rain, who plays an essential role in Precious’ literacy also gives her the courage, empowerment, and confidence to be successful. 

Just as Precious struggled with her illiteracy in school; my uncle suffered from dyslexia – a learning disability that impairs a person’s ability to read. From ages seven to nine, he refused to tell anyone that he couldn’t read correctly, or that he was confusing different letters together. He figured that everyone had the same problems, and didn’t worry too much about it. As he got older and his friends passed reading levels and were excelling at writing, he was still confusing b’s with d’s. As the frustration grew, it became clear to his teachers what was wrong. One teacher in specific, with similar intentions as Ms. Rain, suggested he try a boarding school in Connecticut with programs specifically for students with dyslexia. So at age ten, he went, and stayed there until he graduated high school at age eighteen. Not only did going to a school that catered directly to his needs build his confidence, but also it helped him get back onto his grade level reading and writing track. 

This connection between Precious, and my uncle, helps me understand the importance and the value of literacy in our society, and how it is the door to all of the opportunities that we are given in life. Literacy is truly a “precious” thing to have.