NAACP to host documentary `The Right to Read'

The NAACP Tri-City Branch, collaborating with the Solano County Library and OnStage Vacaville is hosting a screening of the documentary “The Right to Read” this Sunday.

The film will start at 2 p.m. at Journey Downton Vacaville, located at 308 Main St. in Vacaville. “The Right to Read” is a production by Jenny MacKenzie, presented by Levar Burton Entertainment, Pure Edge, and Artemis Rising Foundation. Invitation to the film is extended to educators, administrators, parents school board members, and anyone involved in education.

The documentary chronicles the experiences of an activist, a teacher, and two American families as they advocate for literacy.

According to the statement, when a child struggles to read, their likelihood of incarceration homelessness, and unemployment rises, This conviction drives Oakland-based NAACP activist Kareem Weaver who sees literacy as a paramount civil rights issue of our era, prompting his efforts to improve reading education.

Frustrated by reading proficiency rates in his community, Weaver took action by submitting a petition to the Oakland Unified School District demanding transformative change, as detailed in the press release.

Weaver proposes a straightforward remedy to the reading approaches educational institutions have employed which have shown to be ineffective, he wants to teach children how to read using explicit and systematic literacy instruction, often referred to as “structured literacy” or “the science of reading.” The research has been available since the 2000s.

He has also been calling out publishing companies that prioritize profits over student success.

After a two-year wait, the Oakland school board has addressed the primary demand outlined in the petition by introducing a new reading curriculum district-wide. Weaver's efforts to rally nationwide support for literacy are gaining momentum.

There are currently eighteen states that mandate teacher training in the science of reading, but Weaver insists it is still insufficient. He believes there needs to be a comprehensive change in the national perspective on reading, spanning from policymakers and educators to parents.

The community event is free with a suggested $5 donation for adults to support scholarships and literacy kits. To sign up, visit form.jotform.com/nrew87/read. For additional information about the event, contact Tri-City NAACP president Nikila Gibson at president@tri-citynaacp.org.