Put it in a book, they won’t read it.

They used to ban us from reading, now we ban ourselves.

I feel like our generation aims to consume information so quickly and so easily that reading has become a lost art for a lot of us. Instead of reading a book for one hour, we scroll for two. Instead of listening to an audio book .. we watch our favorite “rachet TV” show (I know y’all keep up on the Shadreoom, Hollywood unlocked, etc.). Actually…let me not speak for you. By “we”… I mean “me.” So today’s discussion: the importance of reading because reading is fundamental… literally.

Fun fact: I come from a family of educators. That might sound cool … until it’s not. My free time was spent reading and during Christmas I rambled off the answers to “times tables” before I opened my gifts. (Y’all remember when we called it times tables?!). So actually, it doesn’t sound cool at all. Moral of the story: we read … ALL. THE. TIME. I remember my mom forcing everyone to get books, lie down, and read together for at least an hour. We used to frequent bookstores regularly, especially the Christian Book Store (that was a personal fav for sure).

And then one day …. I never picked up a book again unless it was for school, and I had to. SparkNotes was my best friend. I learned to read so quickly that I would just scan the pages for the important concepts (and I was so used to reading fast that it worked). In law school, I read … sometimes. But baby, Quimbee … Quimbee was my best friend during those three years (that’s the law school version of SparkNotes).

Recently, I ran into some inspiration that made me want to get back to reading:

•  My friend Rick challenged himself to the 30 by 30 this year. Thirty books by the time he turns thirty. I think the concept is cool so I’m going to try to get him to share some of his best reads with us; and then
• I pulled up on my friend Bri, who was reading a guide to financial freedom; and
• My brother, Eric, reads books consistently (just like a little brother to try to show you up). I actually think my older brother, Isaiah, reads too.

So, I ordered the same book as Bri and immediately remembered why I liked reading and the importance of reading. Not only can you learn, but it’s peaceful. Truly a nice little break from your surrounding. More importantly, literally, at one point in time we WEREN’T ALLOWED to read. Slaves were prohibited from learning how to write and read because many considered it as way for them to gather information that could be used to obtain their freedom. Anti-literacy laws were enacted in Southern slave states between 1740 and 1834, prohibiting anyone from teaching enslaved and free people of color to read or write. (here’s an article about it: click here to read). In the article, it highlights how slave owner Hugh Auld, owner of Frederick Douglas, said:

“He should know nothing but the will of his master and learn to obey it. As to himself, learning will do him no good, but a great deal of harm, making him disconsolate and unhappy. If you teach him how to read, he’ll want to know how to write, and this accomplished, he’ll be running away with himself.

(Douglass, 2017, p. 14)

It made me think: my ancestors died so I could pick up a book and, for a while, I wouldn’t even pick up a book for fun. There is so much information in the world today, most of it probably in books. Well, I would think it would be in books. Because, if it’s not, where are people learning all the information being shared? Books are the oldest form of information. Even still:  if they hid things in books back then, what’s to say there aren’t still things hidden in books now? I mean, it’s no secret that history tends to repeat itself in different forms. Some of the world’s best-selling, most renowned books are more than 60 years old. Meanwhile, Brown vs Board of Education was decided 68 years ago in 1954.

MyReality:

When I first started this blog, I was nervous because, reading is truly a lost art. I felt like people don’t read because, to be honest, I don’t read. So now I’m challenging myself to be different this year. I want to read more and share the information with you all. It will be a challenge, but I’ve never been afraid of a challenge. I’ll share some of my favorite books, quotes, and maybe even give some summaries along the way. So if reading 100 page books isn’t in your spirit yet, all you need to do is have the energy to read two pages (this blog). But, if you’re into it, feel free to take the challenge and read with me. I might even start a book club (let me know if you’re interested). Each new read, I’ll be releasing on my IG page: @thecoleconnection

First book of February:

The Black Guide to Financial Freedom: Build Wealth, Retire Early, and Live the Life of your Dre

Written by: Paris Woods

So …. Let’s get into it!!

“You may chain my hands, you may shackle my feet; you may even throw me into a dark prison; but you shall not enslave my thinking, because it is free!”

– Khalil Gibran

The Black Guide to Financial Freedom Author Bio: Paris Woods is an author, philanthropist, nonprofit founder, and education leader who has been featured in Ebony Magazine, NPR, Gambit’s 40 under 40, and received numerous awards and media recognition for her work.