A Portrait of My Literacy Self
Written in 1998 and included in the PhilWP Invitational Summer Institute I archives
by Tasha Russell
My own literacy roots stem from my mother enrolling me in school at the age of three. I attended Zion Baptist Head Start for preschool and Melrose Academy for kindergarten. Each of these experiences gave me a love for school. My family is education driven. My brothers attended Catholic schools and Academic-Plus schools. My sister attended all Catholic schools and a prominent business school. My siblings were very bright. I was able to learn from my other siblings and parents, which gave me an advantage over my peers. Not only did I have a little more knowledge than my peers, but I was much more mature.
Paule Marshall recounted in Poets in the Kitchen the stories her mother and girlfriends told in the kitchen. My family was also in the kitchen a lot telling stories and jokes. I believe this was the place where I became socially literate and grew a love for reading. It was important that the entire family have dinner together every night. My mother felt at times that this was the only time we had to talk with one other.
I cherished this quality time with the family. This is where I learned about the Black Panthers, jazz, gospel, Malcolm X, Billie Holliday, Gordan Parks, and many other cultural figures and political events. My father would usually tell a story about Bobby Seale or Eldridge Cleaver and not remember the person’s entire history. I would want to know more about these famous African Americans, so I would take a book about them out of the library. The next time we sat down at breakfast room table, I was able to contribute to the conversation by telling what I learned about the individual.
I would want to know more about these
famous African Americans, so I would take
a book about them out of the library.
I can also remember growing up with my three older brothers and older sister and becoming bored. My brothers and sister had lives of their own. In my household, there was no such thing as being bored. My parents would tell me to read a book. I believe these two factors led me to having a love for reading. I was the kind of a child who liked to impress my parents, so I would read as many books as I could. I was then able to talk intelligently with my siblings and parents. Although I no longer look to impress my parents, I still really enjoy reading in order to share with others.
Tasha Russell teaches Instructional Technology at Roosevelt Middle School. Tasha joined the Philadelphia Writing Project in 1998 as a teacher consultant.
Tasha’s piece was originally written in 1998 and was included in PhilWP Invitational Summer Institute I archives. Over the years, teachers in the summer institute have written reflections on their own experiences as learners, readers, writers, and thinkers as ways of making sense of their own classrooms.