This year International Literacy Day fell on a Sunday, and we celebrated at home with… you guessed it… books!

International Literacy Day is important to me because I think about the power that books have. When I think about the work and words of Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, I am a believer that  books have the power to be mirrors. Books have the power to be doors and books have the power to be windows.

When I think about the role books played in my life, I can’t help but to reflect on all the books I’ve read from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood. Through these books, I was able to see myself, to reimagine myself in the present, and even in alternate realities which helped me create progressive schools for Black children- Gather Forest School and Ancestors’ Seeds. 

Books can truly be used as a tool for peace and mutual understanding. When we think about books and their power, we realize they can bridge divides, foster empathy, and expand our worldviews.

This International Literacy Day, let’s celebrate the transformative power of reading and commit to making literacy accessible to all.