Friday, September 30, 2005

Truth is... reading IS fundamental

As part of a promotional blitz for her soon-to-be-released autobiography, Life Is Not A Fairy Tale (already revisionist history at the tender age of 21), season 3's American Idol champ Fantasia Barrino comes clean to ABC's 20/20 tonight with the admission that she's battling illiteracy.

How the hell are you gonna have a book coming out that you can't even read?

I'm trying really hard to keep the flip comments to a minimum because in spite of her obstacles, she still had the courage to step out front as an inspirational figure for motivating others trapped in the same situation. But it's a nothing short of crying shame that she can wail heartfelt shouts of praise to fellow baby mamas of the world, yet she can't read her own daughter a bedtime story at night. Struggling to pronounce basic vocabulary words. Hungry for fame and fortune, yet unable to interpret the fine print on the recording contract. If we needed more evidence that our community's backyard is in dire need of sweeping up: here it is.

Not only is our public school system shot to hell, but her parents' child rearing skills can only be described as an unqualified failure. There is simply no excuse for allowing your child to place such a premium on talent that a crucial part of development was left neglected. Comprehension skills at a substandard level, raped at 14, pregnant at 16, high school dropout. The simple fact that Fantasia was able to become a success story after navigating through the kind of hardships most people don't face in a lifetime is miraculous in of itself.

It's time to stop waiting on no child left behind and get back to the concept of it takes a village.

link | Shot from the lip by TriniPrincess at 4:31 PM |

 Fresh commented at 10/02/2005 06:58:00 PM~  

When I read that article...I just shook my head. That is sad that this day in age people are still illiterate. To make matters worst, NC is supposed to have a decent educational system. To top that, she was supposedly raised in the church so at the least she should have grown up reading the Bible!

 Felicite commented at 10/03/2005 01:11:00 PM~  

yeah i need to know who dropped the ball on that one? I mean c'mon, you and your mother can't read but you have made it this far? What have you been doing all this time?

 Anonymous commented at 10/03/2005 01:35:00 PM~  

Ain't that a blip! I didn't know about all this. This chick can't read but puts out a book and I've been writing for years and can't get noticed!! Anyway ... your blog is cool. I invite you to THE PEOPLES BLOG. www.countsworld.blogsource.com

 Michael commented at 10/03/2005 05:35:00 PM~  

Great entry, Trini.

 Black Wombmyn Chat commented at 10/03/2005 10:04:00 PM~  

Yeah. I agree with all your points. And just on another note...Dayum!!!
People, my people, we GOTS to do better.

 Rell commented at 10/03/2005 10:47:00 PM~  

i said the same thing.

The education system in North Carolina is good at the collegiate level -- our system is great but the public school system is awful.

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