Idris Elba on adult illiteracy: ‘It’s a worldwide problem, not just a U.S. issue’

42nd Toronto International Film Festival - 'The Mountain Between Us' - Premiere

When I was growing up – and I’m dating myself, I know – adult illiteracy was a bigger issue, an issue that was discussed a lot on the news, on 60 Minutes, and in films. It’s not that the issue disappeared, it’s that… I think people sort of forgot that it was and is an issue that people are still grappling with? In the “first world,” we don’t talk about the people who can’t read or write, because we don’t want to talk about how the education system has left so many people behind. I’m speaking of myself too – I barely think about adult illiteracy as an issue facing society today. But Idris Elba thinks about it a lot. Idris works with Project Literacy, and he gave an interview to Fox News (seriously) about the crisis. He touched on some other subjects too. Some highlights:

Hollywood’s problems with diversity: “Yes, yes, not just in Hollywood, but in life. You know, Hollywood is more and more affected by everyday people… and that’s a multicultural society for the most part. Especially in England where I live. There’s a massive move towards that. The progress is slow, but it’s permanent. And that’s really important. It’s the same thing both in the U.S. and the U.K. The progress is a slow move towards the right direction. And it’s a slow, permanent move.”

His passion for raising awareness of “the adult illiteracy crisis.” Through Project Literacy, he befriended Wanda Steward, a former illiterate mother from Philadelphia who struggled to read her children bedtime stories. She then made up her own tales to match the illustrations she saw and created a character called ‘Pong-Pong the Brave.’ The organization partnered with Steward to bring her stories to life in the form of a children’s book.

Idris on illiteracy: “It doesn’t surprise me that it’s a worldwide problem, not just a U.S. issue. What you have to understand about illiteracy is that it’s very hard to admit it. And it’s easy to go around, pretending you can read or write… It doesn’t surprise me it’s such a huge problem because it’s almost undetectable.”

Teaching his kids to read: “Just having children [inspired me]. Just being able to read books to my children. And the moment they recognized words, the moment they recognized the alphabet. That’s truly one of the purest moments for me. There’s an alarming amount of young people that cannot read or write. And there’s an alarming amount of young people who cannot read or write in jail. I’m meeting these gentlemen and some of them become a common denominator — they cannot read or write. And as soon as they can read and write, that opens up a whole level of awareness for them, including their self awareness, which sometimes makes them not want to reoffend. And that’s really important here. This is something I feel quite passionate about. It speaks to me. I consider myself to be a self-taught person. Especially when it comes to my profession and pursuing the things I want to accomplish. I’ve always taught myself how do it. And illiteracy is a crisis amongst adults. I just want to raise some awareness around it.”

[From Fox News]

He’s right, isn’t he? It’s not being discussed so much these days, but there are probably millions of Americans who can’t read and write properly. They fell through the cracks of public education, got caught up in the school-to-prison pipeline, or had some kind of learning disability which made it difficult to learn, and few people could or would help them. It’s startling to think about that in this day in age, in 2017, that there are still so many out there. Now I feel bad about complaining that I don’t “want” to read books in the evening anymore – I always think, “I read and write all day for work, I don’t want to do that in my spare time!” I’m an a–hole.

42nd Toronto International Film Festival

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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14 Responses to “Idris Elba on adult illiteracy: ‘It’s a worldwide problem, not just a U.S. issue’”

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  1. Jillian says:

    He’s dreamy and 100% right

  2. third ginger says:

    My husband was a literacy volunteer in our area. We are 90 minutes from DC in Virginia. It is a heartbreaking situation. Think of the stigma attached and the courage it would take to seek help.

  3. Skylark says:

    Glad he brought up the connection between illiteracy and crime and how attempting to correct that (within prisons) can change a person’s path in life.

  4. Surely Wolfbeak says:

    He is correct. Also, that headline reads as a tremendous burn.

    • Janet R says:

      Well, pretty sure at best that our current occupant at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave is at best dyslexic, so….

  5. grabbyhands says:

    It isn’t just a US problem, we’re just the country full of people acting like being an illiterate moron is a badge of patriotic honor.

    And it kills me when so many other people in this country would love to have the opportunity to learn what so many are dismissive about.

  6. CharlieBouquet says:

    My dad kept a pocket Webster’s in the end table so we could looks up words he and I didn’t know. Now I’m a parent with a Webster’s on the end table. Reading was the greatest lesson learned and I have been happy to pass it on to my womb worm. He has bookshelves in his playroom and bedroom ( only child lol) The thrift store near us gives books away for free.

    • third ginger says:

      Take it from a parent who [along with my wonderful husband] put reading at the center of our daughter’s childhood, this is a great gift you are giving your little one.

  7. CharlieBouquet says:

    See my hubs has zero interest in reading, I have friends and family with zero interest. And it boggles me lol. Grew up on Reading Rainbow. Learned how to find joy in poor times due to Little Women and The Five Little Peppers And How They Grew .
    I never realized the literacy thing until a neighbor asked me to fill out medical papers because he couldn’t read. A 60yr old born here guy. We did reading lessons with him and my son on the lawn. My son asked him why a grown up couldn’t read and he said because if no one reads to you, you might not learn to like it. But I’d like to learn now. He has since moved away.
    My teenage niece just had a baby. We are passing everything ours has to her now. Her parents hate reading and she does as well. I said please baby girl read to him.
    Sorry for being wordy. My endo and the full moon have caused a 2nd period lol. Rock on to everyone spreading literacy love.

  8. graymatters says:

    You’re not an a-hole for not wanting to read in your free time. Refusing to read to a child because you read for work might make you one, but otherwise — no, you’re still a good person. Reading well is mentally tiring. I love to read, but if I have to do it all day for content, I’m going to chill with a movie in the evening. I imagine that professional chefs sometimes come home and just stick something in the microwave and call it a meal.

  9. StillTotalled says:

    Almost every community has an opportunity to be a literacy volunteer. Used to be one, and now that I can’t work (cancer treatments) think it’s time to do that again. Pretty sure I can muster up that much energy, and the reward is enormous–the joy- filled face of a new reader!