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The Importance Of Literacy

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What is literacy and who establishes it? In recent times, definitions of literacy were strictly centered around reading and writing, but nowadays these definitions are no longer sufficient and accurate in the modern society. Literacy is inevitably a combination of both cultural and communicative conventions shared between people, particularly of similar groups. Literacy in present-day society is not strictly defined as the ability to read and write, but as a reflection of evolving skills needed to fully function within a society.

Becoming literate on a “basic level” in terms of reading and writing possess great power. A considerable doing yet a big accomplishment that can lead to effective change and inspiration in someone 's life. No matter the circumstances; one can create a distraction, a reason to keep going - this is the case with Malcolm X. In his essay “Learning to Read”, Little writes that because of his books, dictionaries, and learnings he “never had been so truly free in [his] life.” Many months had passed of him feeling free, but in reality he wasn’t as he was imprisoned at the time. A resourceful black man who faced many obstacles such as discrimination, social disputes, and inferior economic status felt free for the first time in his life truly shows something. It truly shows that basic literacy like reading and writing can provide so much in ensuring complete function and success. Not only did he gain communication skills, but gained the ability to
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