[Applause] this summer after repeated requests from
this summer after repeated requests from
this summer after repeated requests from my parents I finally cleaned out some
my parents I finally cleaned out some
my parents I finally cleaned out some boxes that were sitting in my room and I
boxes that were sitting in my room and I
boxes that were sitting in my room and I ran across this gem from first grade now
ran across this gem from first grade now
ran across this gem from first grade now I do remember loving cereal and I’m
I do remember loving cereal and I’m
I do remember loving cereal and I’m still a big fan to this day however I
still a big fan to this day however I
still a big fan to this day however I don’t remember articulating that first
don’t remember articulating that first
don’t remember articulating that first sentence I like to write words I thought
sentence I like to write words I thought
sentence I like to write words I thought about how at the mirror age of six I
about how at the mirror age of six I
about how at the mirror age of six I instructed my teacher to specifically
instructed my teacher to specifically
instructed my teacher to specifically fill in that blank with that phrase and
fill in that blank with that phrase and
fill in that blank with that phrase and it struck me because it’s true I’ve
it struck me because it’s true I’ve
it struck me because it’s true I’ve always had a special affinity towards
always had a special affinity towards
always had a special affinity towards words I have been moved by the words of
words I have been moved by the words of
words I have been moved by the words of Rupa car I have found identity and the
Rupa car I have found identity and the
Rupa car I have found identity and the poetry of Khalil Gibran
poetry of Khalil Gibran
poetry of Khalil Gibran I have found solace in the lyrics of
I have found solace in the lyrics of
I have found solace in the lyrics of Lauryn Hill and I have found myself and
Lauryn Hill and I have found myself and
Lauryn Hill and I have found myself and my own writing whether I’ve been reading
my own writing whether I’ve been reading
my own writing whether I’ve been reading or writing literacy has gifted me the
or writing literacy has gifted me the
or writing literacy has gifted me the vocabulary I need to understand myself
vocabulary I need to understand myself
vocabulary I need to understand myself and my world but literacy has an even
and my world but literacy has an even
and my world but literacy has an even more fundamental purpose and is the
more fundamental purpose and is the
more fundamental purpose and is the single most powerful tool you and I
single most powerful tool you and I
single most powerful tool you and I possess outside of good health without
possess outside of good health without
possess outside of good health without it couldn’t do much I wouldn’t be
it couldn’t do much I wouldn’t be
it couldn’t do much I wouldn’t be standing here today I wouldn’t be able
standing here today I wouldn’t be able
standing here today I wouldn’t be able to fill out job applications I wouldn’t
to fill out job applications I wouldn’t
to fill out job applications I wouldn’t be able to write emails I wouldn’t be
be able to write emails I wouldn’t be
be able to write emails I wouldn’t be able to read my prescriptions I wouldn’t
able to read my prescriptions I wouldn’t
able to read my prescriptions I wouldn’t be able to pay that parking ticket from
be able to pay that parking ticket from
be able to pay that parking ticket from last month it is everything to our
last month it is everything to our
last month it is everything to our dignity and it is everything to our
dignity and it is everything to our
dignity and it is everything to our daily lives yet in this country today we
daily lives yet in this country today we
daily lives yet in this country today we are dealing with a massive literacy
are dealing with a massive literacy
are dealing with a massive literacy crisis and this is not a crisis that
crisis and this is not a crisis that
crisis and this is not a crisis that just popped out of the blue this is a
just popped out of the blue this is a
just popped out of the blue this is a very deliberate theft think about it
very deliberate theft think about it
very deliberate theft think about it this way if we consider many crimes in
this way if we consider many crimes in
this way if we consider many crimes in this country many of them involve taking
this country many of them involve taking
this country many of them involve taking something away from someone robbery is
something away from someone robbery is
something away from someone robbery is the theft of something physical assault
the theft of something physical assault
the theft of something physical assault as a theft of dignity murder is a theft
as a theft of dignity murder is a theft
as a theft of dignity murder is a theft of life there it is a stuff that has
of life there it is a stuff that has
of life there it is a stuff that has happening in our country for centuries
happening in our country for centuries
happening in our country for centuries yet has never been prosecuted before the
yet has never been prosecuted before the
yet has never been prosecuted before the last time we measured it in 2003 we
last time we measured it in 2003 we
last time we measured it in 2003 we found that 32 million Americans have
found that 32 million Americans have
found that 32 million Americans have been robbed of this that is one out of
been robbed of this that is one out of
been robbed of this that is one out of every seven adults and I argued that
every seven adults and I argued that
every seven adults and I argued that this theft is no accident if we take a
this theft is no accident if we take a
this theft is no accident if we take a better look at who exactly is
better look at who exactly is
better look at who exactly is functionally illiterate in our country
functionally illiterate in our country
functionally illiterate in our country we see that although blacks and Latinos
we see that although blacks and Latinos
we see that although blacks and Latinos make up 24% of our population they
make up 24% of our population they
make up 24% of our population they comprise 59% of those considered
comprise 59% of those considered
comprise 59% of those considered functionally illiterate there’s
functionally illiterate there’s
functionally illiterate there’s something much bigger happening than
something much bigger happening than
something much bigger happening than just saying there’s a bunch of people in
just saying there’s a bunch of people in
just saying there’s a bunch of people in our country who cannot read and that’s
our country who cannot read and that’s
our country who cannot read and that’s why I’m here today we do have a literacy
why I’m here today we do have a literacy
why I’m here today we do have a literacy crisis but more importantly we have a
crisis but more importantly we have a
crisis but more importantly we have a literacy theft and let’s just cut to the
literacy theft and let’s just cut to the
literacy theft and let’s just cut to the chase here literacy is about power and
chase here literacy is about power and
chase here literacy is about power and we know that people of country people of
we know that people of country people of
we know that people of country people of color in our country have continuously
color in our country have continuously
color in our country have continuously been denied the opportunities they need
been denied the opportunities they need
been denied the opportunities they need to secure power I’m not the first to
to secure power I’m not the first to
to secure power I’m not the first to articulate this but I want to argue that
articulate this but I want to argue that
articulate this but I want to argue that literacy must be a fundamental right in
literacy must be a fundamental right in
literacy must be a fundamental right in our country that it should be a crime
our country that it should be a crime
our country that it should be a crime for no America for him an American to
for no America for him an American to
for no America for him an American to not have the access to resources and the
not have the access to resources and the
not have the access to resources and the opportunities they need to secure power
opportunities they need to secure power
opportunities they need to secure power I want to talk more about this theft by
I want to talk more about this theft by
I want to talk more about this theft by delving deep into one American city I
delving deep into one American city I
delving deep into one American city I had the great privilege of being a
had the great privilege of being a
had the great privilege of being a teacher in Detroit Michigan I was
teacher in Detroit Michigan I was
teacher in Detroit Michigan I was teaching middle school and high school
teaching middle school and high school
teaching middle school and high school math and although every teacher will say
math and although every teacher will say
math and although every teacher will say this my kids were truly the greatest I
this my kids were truly the greatest I
this my kids were truly the greatest I love teaching and I miss it every single
love teaching and I miss it every single
love teaching and I miss it every single day but there were some things that made
day but there were some things that made
day but there were some things that made teaching and learning incredibly
teaching and learning incredibly
teaching and learning incredibly difficult at her school first and
difficult at her school first and
difficult at her school first and foremost I had no curriculum whatsoever
foremost I had no curriculum whatsoever
foremost I had no curriculum whatsoever this means I spent my waking hours
this means I spent my waking hours
this means I spent my waking hours making up every warm-up test worksheet
making up every warm-up test worksheet
making up every warm-up test worksheet homework quiz projects or frantically
homework quiz projects or frantically
homework quiz projects or frantically doing Google searches for those
doing Google searches for those
doing Google searches for those materials then one day I figured out
materials then one day I figured out
materials then one day I figured out that if I paid about four hundred
that if I paid about four hundred
that if I paid about four hundred dollars online I would be able to get an
dollars online I would be able to get an
dollars online I would be able to get an entire set of curriculum and I had a
entire set of curriculum and I had a
entire set of curriculum and I had a tiny savings account at the time so at
tiny savings account at the time so at
tiny savings account at the time so at the time I just spent the bullet and
the time I just spent the bullet and
the time I just spent the bullet and went ahead and bought the curriculum but
went ahead and bought the curriculum but
went ahead and bought the curriculum but no teacher should ever be
no teacher should ever be
no teacher should ever be objected to that especially considering
objected to that especially considering
objected to that especially considering what they get paid today the second
what they get paid today the second
what they get paid today the second thing that was happening is a lot of my
thing that was happening is a lot of my
thing that was happening is a lot of my kids were learning English as a Second
kids were learning English as a Second
kids were learning English as a Second Language a lot of my students were
Language a lot of my students were
Language a lot of my students were arriving from the war in Yemen and some
arriving from the war in Yemen and some
arriving from the war in Yemen and some of them couldn’t write their first name
of them couldn’t write their first name
of them couldn’t write their first name in English and so some days instead of
in English and so some days instead of
in English and so some days instead of doing math they were working on the
doing math they were working on the
doing math they were working on the alphabet we had one ESL teacher for the
alphabet we had one ESL teacher for the
alphabet we had one ESL teacher for the entire building and although she was
entire building and although she was
entire building and although she was phenomenal she literally had hundreds of
phenomenal she literally had hundreds of
phenomenal she literally had hundreds of kids on her caseload that combined with
kids on her caseload that combined with
kids on her caseload that combined with that lack of curriculum there was just
that lack of curriculum there was just
that lack of curriculum there was just no way that my kids were going to become
no way that my kids were going to become
no way that my kids were going to become fully literate and you can forget about
fully literate and you can forget about
fully literate and you can forget about any chance of them becoming bilingual
any chance of them becoming bilingual
any chance of them becoming bilingual the other challenge was the result of
the other challenge was the result of
the other challenge was the result of this happening over years and years I
this happening over years and years I
this happening over years and years I had kids who were in school for at least
had kids who were in school for at least
had kids who were in school for at least a decade and still couldn’t write an
a decade and still couldn’t write an
a decade and still couldn’t write an entire paragraph yet these kids would
entire paragraph yet these kids would
entire paragraph yet these kids would come to me and say miss I’m interested
come to me and say miss I’m interested
come to me and say miss I’m interested in a career in law or education or art
in a career in law or education or art
in a career in law or education or art or graphic design or engineering or
or graphic design or engineering or
or graphic design or engineering or medicine they had dreams and they had
medicine they had dreams and they had
medicine they had dreams and they had more grit than anyone I knew but what
more grit than anyone I knew but what
more grit than anyone I knew but what they fundamentally did not have were the
they fundamentally did not have were the
they fundamentally did not have were the very basic opportunities to become
very basic opportunities to become
very basic opportunities to become literate and when I’m talking about
literate and when I’m talking about
literate and when I’m talking about those opportunities
those opportunities
those opportunities I really am talking about the very basic
I really am talking about the very basic
I really am talking about the very basic things I’m not talking about that they
things I’m not talking about that they
things I’m not talking about that they don’t have enough AP classes I’m saying
don’t have enough AP classes I’m saying
don’t have enough AP classes I’m saying that in the wealthiest most powerful
that in the wealthiest most powerful
that in the wealthiest most powerful nation on the planet we have kids that
nation on the planet we have kids that
nation on the planet we have kids that walk into classrooms that look like this
walk into classrooms that look like this
walk into classrooms that look like this where they start their days by picking
where they start their days by picking
where they start their days by picking up a rodent feces off the floor where
up a rodent feces off the floor where
up a rodent feces off the floor where classrooms are home to mice and puddles
classrooms are home to mice and puddles
classrooms are home to mice and puddles of water water that have accumulated
of water water that have accumulated
of water water that have accumulated from ceilings where teachers are buying
from ceilings where teachers are buying
from ceilings where teachers are buying toilet paper with their own money where
toilet paper with their own money where
toilet paper with their own money where classrooms are unbearably hot or cold
classrooms are unbearably hot or cold
classrooms are unbearably hot or cold that you find thermometers and costumes
that you find thermometers and costumes
that you find thermometers and costumes that read 90 degrees like this one they
that read 90 degrees like this one they
that read 90 degrees like this one they are so exhausted from the heat that we
are so exhausted from the heat that we
are so exhausted from the heat that we have reports of kids who are vomiting in
have reports of kids who are vomiting in
have reports of kids who are vomiting in school and even if they manage to ignore
school and even if they manage to ignore
school and even if they manage to ignore all of this
all of this
all of this the reality is that the things that they
the reality is that the things that they
the reality is that the things that they need to read books are virtually
need to read books are virtually
need to read books are virtually non-existent we know that sometimes we
non-existent we know that sometimes we
non-existent we know that sometimes we find three kids huddled over one book in
find three kids huddled over one book in
find three kids huddled over one book in class and that they’re learning history
class and that they’re learning history
class and that they’re learning history from a book printed in 1991 when Bill
from a book printed in 1991 when Bill
from a book printed in 1991 when Bill Clinton was president now this is
Clinton was president now this is
Clinton was president now this is unconscionable and we know that teachers
unconscionable and we know that teachers
unconscionable and we know that teachers are humans too
are humans too
are humans too these conditions are unsustainable
these conditions are unsustainable
these conditions are unsustainable they’re going to flee in Detroit today
they’re going to flee in Detroit today
they’re going to flee in Detroit today we have a massive teacher shortage is so
we have a massive teacher shortage is so
we have a massive teacher shortage is so bad that at one school last year the
bad that at one school last year the
bad that at one school last year the highest performing eighth grader
highest performing eighth grader
highest performing eighth grader ended up teaching his own math class I
ended up teaching his own math class I
ended up teaching his own math class I could go on and on but the question for
could go on and on but the question for
could go on and on but the question for me and for you is this would we ever
me and for you is this would we ever
me and for you is this would we ever allow this to happen to our own kids the
allow this to happen to our own kids the
allow this to happen to our own kids the answer is obvious so how do we allow
answer is obvious so how do we allow
answer is obvious so how do we allow this to happen to other people’s kids we
this to happen to other people’s kids we
this to happen to other people’s kids we allow this because we allow these
allow this because we allow these
allow this because we allow these systems structurally racist systems to
systems structurally racist systems to
systems structurally racist systems to continue to exist it is critical to
continue to exist it is critical to
continue to exist it is critical to understand what legal scholars like
understand what legal scholars like
understand what legal scholars like Michelle Alexander and a holiday June
Michelle Alexander and a holiday June
Michelle Alexander and a holiday June have repeatedly made clear to us that
have repeatedly made clear to us that
have repeatedly made clear to us that racism never disappears it just conforms
racism never disappears it just conforms
racism never disappears it just conforms to the norms of our times and the system
to the norms of our times and the system
to the norms of our times and the system in operation Detroit today is very
in operation Detroit today is very
in operation Detroit today is very complicated with an equally complex
complicated with an equally complex
complicated with an equally complex history so if you remember one thing
history so if you remember one thing
history so if you remember one thing about Detroit’s educational system it’s
about Detroit’s educational system it’s
about Detroit’s educational system it’s this that democracy has largely been
this that democracy has largely been
this that democracy has largely been decimated in that city in 1999 the state
decimated in that city in 1999 the state
decimated in that city in 1999 the state of Michigan took over Detroit schools
of Michigan took over Detroit schools
of Michigan took over Detroit schools and has been largely running them since
and has been largely running them since
and has been largely running them since then this means that Detroiters have had
then this means that Detroiters have had
then this means that Detroiters have had no publicly elected school board no-wake
no publicly elected school board no-wake
no publicly elected school board no-wake to control how money has been spent and
to control how money has been spent and
to control how money has been spent and very little voice and how their kids are
very little voice and how their kids are
very little voice and how their kids are being educated now this system of state
being educated now this system of state
being educated now this system of state takeover mind you is the exact same
takeover mind you is the exact same
takeover mind you is the exact same system that was used in Flint which
system that was used in Flint which
system that was used in Flint which still doesn’t have clean water as I
still doesn’t have clean water as I
still doesn’t have clean water as I speak the state takeover has been
speak the state takeover has been
speak the state takeover has been disastrous for our schools which is
disastrous for our schools which is
disastrous for our schools which is exactly why exactly one year ago
exactly why exactly one year ago
exactly why exactly one year ago some detroit sued the state of michigan
some detroit sued the state of michigan
some detroit sued the state of michigan claiming that the right to literacy has
claiming that the right to literacy has
claiming that the right to literacy has been denied the state responded with
been denied the state responded with
been denied the state responded with this that literacy is important but
this that literacy is important but
this that literacy is important but there’s a lot of other things going on
there’s a lot of other things going on
there’s a lot of other things going on that poverty is getting in the way that
that poverty is getting in the way that
that poverty is getting in the way that these kids are traumatized that their
these kids are traumatized that their
these kids are traumatized that their parents are involved enough and my
parents are involved enough and my
parents are involved enough and my favorite that they have intellectual
favorite that they have intellectual
favorite that they have intellectual limitations this argument is deeply
limitations this argument is deeply
limitations this argument is deeply offensive
offensive
offensive it suggests that poor kids or kids just
it suggests that poor kids or kids just
it suggests that poor kids or kids just going through stuff don’t deserve the
going through stuff don’t deserve the
going through stuff don’t deserve the opportunities they need to become
opportunities they need to become
opportunities they need to become literate that these are throwaway kids
literate that these are throwaway kids
literate that these are throwaway kids that they don’t need literacy because we
that they don’t need literacy because we
that they don’t need literacy because we don’t need them participating in our
don’t need them participating in our
don’t need them participating in our democracy or in our society that these
democracy or in our society that these
democracy or in our society that these factors are too much to handle and while
factors are too much to handle and while
factors are too much to handle and while we shouldn’t expect schools to single
we shouldn’t expect schools to single
we shouldn’t expect schools to single handedly fix poverty we also shouldn’t
handedly fix poverty we also shouldn’t
handedly fix poverty we also shouldn’t be throwing our hands up in there and
be throwing our hands up in there and
be throwing our hands up in there and saying i guess they just won’t read we
saying i guess they just won’t read we
saying i guess they just won’t read we would be livid if someone talked about
would be livid if someone talked about
would be livid if someone talked about our own kids that way and the thing is
our own kids that way and the thing is
our own kids that way and the thing is we know what it takes to get a kid to
we know what it takes to get a kid to
we know what it takes to get a kid to read this is a solvable crisis when i
read this is a solvable crisis when i
read this is a solvable crisis when i was doing my masters and language and
was doing my masters and language and
was doing my masters and language and literacy last year at harvard i learned
literacy last year at harvard i learned
literacy last year at harvard i learned that we know a lot about reading the
that we know a lot about reading the
that we know a lot about reading the research and the practices they’re
research and the practices they’re
research and the practices they’re largely there but this willingness to
largely there but this willingness to
largely there but this willingness to ensure that all kids despite their
ensure that all kids despite their
ensure that all kids despite their circumstances this willingness to make
circumstances this willingness to make
circumstances this willingness to make sure that they get what they need to be
sure that they get what they need to be
sure that they get what they need to be able to read it’s just not there but
able to read it’s just not there but
able to read it’s just not there but because this is a crisis and not just
because this is a crisis and not just
because this is a crisis and not just some freak national accident there are
some freak national accident there are
some freak national accident there are some things we can do about it first
some things we can do about it first
some things we can do about it first we must change those systems the
we must change those systems the
we must change those systems the literacy lawsuit in detroit is a massive
literacy lawsuit in detroit is a massive
literacy lawsuit in detroit is a massive step forward in ensuring this
step forward in ensuring this
step forward in ensuring this fundamental right to literacy in our
fundamental right to literacy in our
fundamental right to literacy in our country this case needs to go all the
country this case needs to go all the
country this case needs to go all the way to the supreme court and you can
way to the supreme court and you can
way to the supreme court and you can support it and follow it at this website
support it and follow it at this website
support it and follow it at this website detroit access to literacy org second we
detroit access to literacy org second we
detroit access to literacy org second we have to change public opinion we have to
have to change public opinion we have to
have to change public opinion we have to make it enormous ly clear to ourselves
make it enormous ly clear to ourselves
make it enormous ly clear to ourselves and
and
and everyone around us that yes indeed we
everyone around us that yes indeed we
everyone around us that yes indeed we live in a racist society that literacy
live in a racist society that literacy
live in a racist society that literacy is tied to power and that power has been
is tied to power and that power has been
is tied to power and that power has been carefully engineered in this country and
carefully engineered in this country and
carefully engineered in this country and that people of color have been largely
that people of color have been largely
that people of color have been largely excluded from access to power so if we
excluded from access to power so if we
excluded from access to power so if we want to understand literacy we have to
want to understand literacy we have to
want to understand literacy we have to understand our history with power and
understand our history with power and
understand our history with power and our current relationship with it third
our current relationship with it third
our current relationship with it third we have to hold ourselves and everyone
we have to hold ourselves and everyone
we have to hold ourselves and everyone around us accountable what I see a lot
around us accountable what I see a lot
around us accountable what I see a lot in education is this generous spirit to
in education is this generous spirit to
in education is this generous spirit to give schools free stuff to sponsor them
give schools free stuff to sponsor them
give schools free stuff to sponsor them to support our teachers that is all well
to support our teachers that is all well
to support our teachers that is all well and good and if you have the means to do
and good and if you have the means to do
and good and if you have the means to do it please do however this is an
it please do however this is an
it please do however this is an accountability issue it’s one thing to
accountability issue it’s one thing to
accountability issue it’s one thing to say man this is so awful that you’re
say man this is so awful that you’re
say man this is so awful that you’re going through this let me help you out
going through this let me help you out
going through this let me help you out let me put a bandaid on it let me give
let me put a bandaid on it let me give
let me put a bandaid on it let me give you this box of beautiful books and it’s
you this box of beautiful books and it’s
you this box of beautiful books and it’s a whole other thing to say hold up what
a whole other thing to say hold up what
a whole other thing to say hold up what the hell is going on how is it possible
the hell is going on how is it possible
the hell is going on how is it possible that in the United States of America we
that in the United States of America we
that in the United States of America we have kids and schools that look like
have kids and schools that look like
have kids and schools that look like this who is in control here how are
this who is in control here how are
this who is in control here how are schools being funded what exactly are my
schools being funded what exactly are my
schools being funded what exactly are my votes doing what people I vote in what
votes doing what people I vote in what
votes doing what people I vote in what are they voting on – it takes a massive
are they voting on – it takes a massive
are they voting on – it takes a massive amount of Education to answer these
amount of Education to answer these
amount of Education to answer these questions and they may vary from state
questions and they may vary from state
questions and they may vary from state to state and district to district but
to state and district to district but
to state and district to district but hopefully those questions can start
hopefully those questions can start
hopefully those questions can start leading us to action but we have to be
leading us to action but we have to be
leading us to action but we have to be careful here we must not fall into the
careful here we must not fall into the
careful here we must not fall into the trap of thinking that Detroiters need us
trap of thinking that Detroiters need us
trap of thinking that Detroiters need us to be their saviors the reality is
to be their saviors the reality is
to be their saviors the reality is Detroiters have been fighting for a very
Detroiters have been fighting for a very
Detroiters have been fighting for a very long time
long time
long time they’ve been organizing they’ve been
they’ve been organizing they’ve been
they’ve been organizing they’ve been voting they’ve been advocating and
voting they’ve been advocating and
voting they’ve been advocating and they’ve won some pretty decisive
they’ve won some pretty decisive
they’ve won some pretty decisive victories as a result – effective to be
victories as a result – effective to be
victories as a result – effective to be most effective in this we must partner
most effective in this we must partner
most effective in this we must partner with communities like Detroit and truly
with communities like Detroit and truly
with communities like Detroit and truly deeply understand these systems at work
deeply understand these systems at work
deeply understand these systems at work and understand maybe what our role may
and understand maybe what our role may
and understand maybe what our role may be and dismantling them it may require
be and dismantling them it may require
be and dismantling them it may require that we go home and talk to our families
that we go home and talk to our families
that we go home and talk to our families and make sure that they’re just as
and make sure that they’re just as
and make sure that they’re just as educated about as we are about this it
educated about as we are about this it
educated about as we are about this it may require that we go to every rally
may require that we go to every rally
may require that we go to every rally and proton
and proton
and proton so make sure there’s strengths and
so make sure there’s strengths and
so make sure there’s strengths and numbers and it may require that we
numbers and it may require that we
numbers and it may require that we simply pass the mic over and make sure
simply pass the mic over and make sure
simply pass the mic over and make sure that their voices are heard I want to
that their voices are heard I want to
that their voices are heard I want to close by sharing what a student in
close by sharing what a student in
close by sharing what a student in Detroit told me last month he said that
Detroit told me last month he said that
Detroit told me last month he said that he knows all of this is happening
he knows all of this is happening
he knows all of this is happening because it was in the blueprints of our
because it was in the blueprints of our
because it was in the blueprints of our country and I couldn’t agree more but
country and I couldn’t agree more but
country and I couldn’t agree more but the thing about a blueprint is that I
the thing about a blueprint is that I
the thing about a blueprint is that I can change and together we can change
can change and together we can change
can change and together we can change the way power is accessed in our country
the way power is accessed in our country
the way power is accessed in our country by changing the way literacy is accessed
by changing the way literacy is accessed
by changing the way literacy is accessed in our country and in the words of w eb
in our country and in the words of w eb
in our country and in the words of w eb Du Bois the burden belongs to the nation
Du Bois the burden belongs to the nation
Du Bois the burden belongs to the nation and the hands of none of us are clean if
and the hands of none of us are clean if
and the hands of none of us are clean if we bend not our energy to writing these
we bend not our energy to writing these
we bend not our energy to writing these great bonds thank you
great bonds thank you
great bonds thank you [Applause]
”
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