USA Ranks #17 in the World for 'Reading' ... and Black Folks Are Doing Worse

Soulclap to the Black Star Project for sharing this information with us.   It is a scary situation when the rest of the world is reading better than us ... especially those of us of African descent here in America. 

The bottom line is that we need to get busy reading again!

The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) is an international assessment that measures the performance of 15-year-olds in reading literacy, mathematics literacy, and science literacy. Coordinated by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental organization of 34 member countries, PISA was first implemented in 2000 and is conducted every 3 years. PISA 2009 was the fourth cycle of the assessment.

Each PISA data collection effort assesses one of the three subject areas in depth (considered the major subject area), although all three are assessed in each cycle (the other two subjects are considered minor subject areas for that assessment year). Assessing all three areas allows participating countries to have an ongoing source of achievement data in every subject area while rotating one area as the main focus over the years. In the fourth cycle of PISA, reading was the subject area assessed in depth, as it was in 2000.

Sixty countries and 5 other education systems (located in non-national places like Shanghai-China) participated as partners in PISA 2009. This report focuses on the performance of U.S. students in the major subject area of reading literacy as assessed in PISA 2009. 

Let's get to it ... I invite 'villagers' to take a look at the international ranks shown below for 'combined reading literacy'.

            International Ranking - Country/Other Education System - Comparative Score

1.       Shanghai - China 556

2.       Korea, Republic of 539

3.       Finland 536

4.       Hong Kong - China 533

5.       Singapore 526

6.       Canada 524

7.       New Zealand 521

8.       Japan 520

9.       Australia 515

10.   Netherlands 508

11.   Belgium 506

12.   Norway 503

13.   Estonia 501

14.   Switzerland 501

15.   Poland 500

16.   Iceland 500

17.   United States 500

18.   Liechtenstein 499

19.   Sweden 497

20.   Germany 497

21.   Ireland 496

22.   France 496

23.   Denmark 495

24.   Taiwan - China 495

25.   United Kingdom 494

26.   Hungary 494

27.   Portugal 489

28.   Macao-China 487

29.   Italy 486

30.   Latvia 484

31.   Slovenia 483

32.   Greece 483

33.   Spain 481

34.   Czech Republic 478

35.   Slovak Republic 477

36.   Croatia 476

37.   Israel 474

38.   Luxembourg 472

39.   Austria 470

40.   Lithuania 468

41.   Turkey 464

42.   Dubai-UAE 459

43.   Russian Federation 459

44.   Chile 449

45.   Serbia, Republic of 442

46.   Bulgaria 429

47.   Uruguay 426

48.   Mexico 425

49.   Romania 424

50.   Thailand 421

51.   Trinidad and Tobago 416

52.   Colombia 413

53.   Brazil 412

54.   Montenegro, Republic of 408

55.   Jordan 405

56.   Tunisia 404

57.   Indonesia 402

58.   Argentina 398

59.   Kazakhstan 390

60.   Albania 385

61.   Qatar 372

62.   Panama 371

63.   Peru 370

64.   Azerbaijan 362

65.   Kyrgyz Republic 314

 Where various U.S. racial populations would rank among the world's best readers:

• U.S. average 500 - Rank 17 out of 65 reporting countries
• Asian, non-Hispanic 541 - Rank 2 out of 65 reporting countries
• White, non-Hispanic 525 - Rank 6 out of 65 reporting countries
• Hispanic 466 - Rank 41 out of 65 reporting countries
• Black, non-Hispanic 441 - Rank 46 out of 65 reporting countries

Please click here to see full report.

Kyra Hicks: Celebration of Children's Literature

The Brown Bookshelf is introducing authors and illustrators as part of their 28-Day Later celebration of Black History Month. These authors and illustrators play an essential role in the field of children’s literature.

If you spend any time in the children’s literature section of the blogosphere, you’ve probably already met Kyra Hicks. She started her blog, Black Threads in Kid Lit, in early 2007, writing on the subject of African American children’s literature — picture books, reviews and other topics of interest. Since then, she has become an important addition to the online children’s literature community.

Beyond blogging, and even more important, Kyra is an author and storyteller. While attending a traveling exhibition about story quilts — Stitching Memories: African American Story Quilts — she became inspired.

"I remember knowing at that moment that I wanted to tell stories using fabric," she says. Soon, she was creating her own story quilts.

In 2003, her guide book, Black Threads: An African-American Quilting Sourcebook, was published by McFarland & Co. She followed that success with Martha’s Ann’s Quilt for Queen Victoria, published in early 2007.

Kyra is my sister! Please take a moment to enjoy this interview of her as part of the 28-Day Later celebration!

National Debate on Race Relations

Kia and Epiphanny and Matee and Essence. Katie and Dee Dee and Rashidat and Myia and Brittany and Heather. A bunch of teenagers from Newark, Cincinnati, Brooklyn and, yes, Ogden, Utah, defying expectations. These are the ten young women that joined Coach C. Vivian Stringer in the NCAA championship game earlier this month. An improbable story of persistence, hard work and hope. The joy of their moment in the sun was robbed by the vicious words of Don Imus.

Yesterday, Imus enjoyed his white privilege to say and do anything that he wanted with impunity. Today, Imus feels the pain of his words.

Imus now understands that there are consequences for actions.

Many are calling for a national debate on race relations. Perhaps the debate can begin with the recognition that there are always consequences for actions (or non-action). Women Walking in Wisdom blog shared a poem on her blog from a young Black girl expressing her views about Imus’ commentary in the form of a powerful poem. You can see the pain and anger in her message. I invite villagers to slow down for a moment to read this poem.

Violent
By Yvonne Espinoza

We’re violent because this is all we know
You taught us this along time ago
We’re violent because you made us this way
You beat us naked, you hung our people,
Raped our kids and stripped us of our pride
And you now wanna ask why?
Give us a reason not to be
You can’t, it’s impossible

Because to give us a reason, you’d have to right all the wrong you’ve done
But you can’t and if you could then
You’ve only just begun
You’d have to beg for mercy, plead and cry
You’d have to feel the pain we felt
The pain that took lives

You go through the hardships,
The trials and tribulations,
The suffering, the heartache, the dying babies
You sit on a boat full of hundreds of sick,
Old people living to die
How about you dance to make money
Look ignorant on t.v.
Go to jail for nothing
Harassed because others don’t like what they see

Have your people get beat to death
By those who get paid to protect
You eat trash to survive
How about you watch your people and babies die
Get sold for a dime
Kill themselves because they don’t want to live this life

We went through it then and we go through it now
And you know it’s true, and you still ask why?
How dare you have the audacity
Who made you king?

Despite common belief and despite what you think
There is only one king, one God
And he walks with me, with us
The ones who were forced to live in grief
Who were cut, killed, raped and beat
Like animals, brainwashed to think like you

You hacked away, pulled and dragged us down
Until we didn’t want to be Black or Brown
We didn’t want to be Colored or Negroes
We wanted to be High, Suddity, White Folk
We thought if we looked, smelled, and act like you
We could live a regular life, and though we tried
You still continued to beat and lay us out
To hang us from our necks, to laugh at our bodies

You could never blame us for being this way
Because you taught us violence
So how dare you think of forming any kind of alliance
Now we know that two wrongs don’t make a right
But since we have none,
Why should we spare your life?

It’s your fault for all of this
And if you didn’t teach us violence
Then who did?
It couldn’t have been us
Because, remember, we’re ignorant!

You should be careful what you say
Because your words have power
Say it enough and it’ll come true…
I know you’ve heard of karma
God have mercy on you.

Let the national debate on race relations begin. What are your comments on the poem? On a larger scale ... how do you think we can engage one another here in the blogosphere on this discussion about race relations?

5 More Blogs That Make Me Think

It hasn't been a full three months yet since my first blog post. It is wonderful to have an outlet such as this to share insights and thoughts on the issues of the day. My hope is that the Electronic Village becomes a daily destination for others in cyberspace interested in talking about Black culture, family, information technology, science fiction, small business development or any number of other topics. I ask that you imagine yourself sitting in the shade under our baobob tree ... enjoying libations and good company of other villagers ... sharing your comments, insights and thoughts.

We are pleased that our imagery appeals to a growing number of visiting villagers. One of the first people to visit with us was Jim Walton (Black in Business). Jim named the Electronic Village as one of the five blogs that make him think. Not Fearing Change did the same thing last month. It is humbling that both of these experienced bloggers feel we deserve The Thinking Blogger Award. My responsibility is to return the favor. I must abide by the rules of this award and name five blogs that make me think.

The first 5 blogs that make me think are still going strong.

Here are 5 more:

1. African American ~Black~ Opinion - This is actually a repeat from last time. However, I am even more intriqued by the direction that Bro. Rock is taking his blog. He is providing a portal for other bloggers in the Afrosphere to make their voices heard. This blog is one that I read daily. You may want to check 'em out regularly as well.
2. the field negro - I absolutely love the House Negro of the Day and Movie of the Day features that field announces every day. He recently shared his thoughts on 'patio negros' that caused some introspection on my part. I'm probably a 'patio negro' at this stage of my life. Come correct to the field negro ... or don't come at all. However, if your self-esteem is high, then I recommend the field negro blog to anyone interested in candor about race relations issues in our country.
3. Fort Wayne African American Independent Woman - credo is the creative genius behind this blog focused on local, regional, and national politics, race relations, community affairs, economic development for small businesses. She is generous in her comments here on the Electronic Village. She was the first to introduce me to the concept of the Afro-Spear. Her blog consistently gives me reasons to sit back and ponder the state of things.
4. The 'D' Spot - Keith is one of the best writers that I've seen in the blogosphere. He uses words to paint a picture. He takes the time to look at issues from a variety of perspectives in a humorous manner. The 'D' Spot focuses on issues related to Detroit, however, anyone that lives in any big city in America will find posts on this blog that resonate with them.
5. Paula Mooney - Paula has a self-titled blog that moves from topic to topic. Quite a few of her posts are about entertainment issues. However, I come back to her blog most of the time to pick up tips on how to monetize my blog. She has been very candid about the money she's earned from blogging. I find her tips easier to understand than many of the other power bloggers out there. Anyhow, I do recommend Paula's blog for any of us newbie bloggers that think we want to get some nickels and dimes back from our online efforts.

These are five more blogs that make me think. Obviously, there are dozens of other blogs and bloggers out there that we enjoy here in da Village. Many of the ones that we enjoy are included in our Afrosphere, Cool and Nubian blogrolls over in the left-hand navigation bar. However, the rules of this meme limit me to handing out the award to only five blogs. It is now the responsibility of these five villagers to write a post with links to 5 blogs that make them think.

Have you visited any of the five blogs listed above? Do you have any comments on them that you would like to share?

Village Book Club

I wonder if there is any interest in creating an online book club. A place where we can recommend fiction or non-fiction books for other villagers to read. I've never been in a book club, but, I do enjoy reading.

Anyhow, I've decided that my next book is going to be Letters to a Young Brother: MANifest Your Destiny, by Hill Harper. Many of you may recognize Hill Harper from his many roles on television ... currently he is part of the ensemble cast of CSI:NY.

An excerpt from the introduction of his book says,

“Young men today have been bombarded with images of wealth and success that tell them that buying the hottest car or the most bling-blingin’ jewelry is what they should be motivated by. There is an overwhelming sales pitch targeted at these young men that subliminally suggests that material goods are what makes them real men. I want young men to have knowledge of the things that ring them true empowerment: education, a strong sense of purpose, compassion, confidence, and humility, to name a few.

It is no accident that I graduated from Brown University magna cum laude and received graduate degrees with honors from Harvard Law School and the Kennedy School of Government. My family taught me that doing my best, educating myself, and being in service to others were not optional and that having values and being truthful were not negotiable.

I am living proof that these principles work. Through the letters in this book, I wish to pass on to other young men my grandfathers’ legacies of education, hard work, determination, and success.”

Have you read his book? If not, is it one that you would consider reading in the near future?

African American History for Dummies

I noticed that CBS shared the major for basketball players in the Florida v. Ohio State championship game. One of the seniors on Ohio State is graduating with a degree in African American Studies. It turns out that there are more than 250 colleges offering undergraduate degrees in African American studies. It is nice to see that the discipline of a college curriculum is available for those students with an interest in African American history and culture.

For the rest of us a new book is coming out this month simply entitled, African American History for Dummies (Wiley; April 2007; 432 pages).

The history covered in this book spans from Africa before the transatlantic slave trade, slavery, Jim Crow, the civil rights movement, and Hurricane Katrina to historical figures, pivotal events, momentous court cases and key cultural contributions. African American History For Dummies is a plain-English guide that helps people get a handle on the African American experience over the last four centuries. The book was put together by Ronda Racha Penrice, a freelance writer and African American history enthusiast living in Chicago, IL.

All villagers are invited to share some unknown aspect of their history here under the baobob tree if you have the inclination to do so. For example, I'll share that my maternal grandfather is renowned for his work in the legal system as an attorney, judge, city counsel and congressman. However, my paternal grandfather is a hero as well. He put eight kids (including my Dad) through college while working as a hotel bellman.

Each of us creates history every day with our action, deeds and words. Most of us simply don't have OURstory documented anywhere. What piece of undocumented history in your life or times would you like to share with your fellow villagers? What say u?

Interview with Kyra Hicks

I have shared information about my sister's blog and website in the past. The quilt shown above is one that she made back in 1995. Many villagers know that she recently published a wonderful children's book called, Martha Ann's Quilt for Queen Victoria. The book provides a true tale of strength and faith as a lesson for children.

Our Electronic Village drumbeat today is about an interview with Kyra posted by Irene Watson (AuthorsDen.com). There is a second interview conducted by Juanita Watson (Reader Views) with some interesting perspective on slavery and quilting.

You can see that I am proud of the work that my sister is doing with Black quilters. Now you can beat the drums for this sister ... my sister ... if you have time or inclination.

Book Review: The World is Flat

I'm currently reading book called "The World is Flat: A Brief History of the 21st Century". I am early in the read. I am probably the last person on earth to read the book. It has been highly recommended by many colleagues for many years.

One of the early parts in the book is a list from him on the crucial developments that brought us to this place where we have over 55 million blogs and folks in India are doing tax returns for certified public accountants in America.

In his chapter, "Y2K to March 2004," he talks about a number of factors that serve to flatten the playing field between developed and developing countries. Which factor do you think is most important? The attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11 and the Iraq war? Or the convergence of technology and events that allowed India, China, and so many other countries to become part of the global supply chain for services and manufacturing, creating an explosion of wealth in the middle classes of the world's two biggest nations, giving them a huge new stake in the success of globalization?

The world is a different place than ever before. As a person of African descent in America I am struck bythe continuing need for my people to get busy. We truly need to run faster in order to stay in place. You have to wonder if the world got too small and too fast for human beings and their political systems to adjust in a stable manner?

Anyhow, I join with my colleagues in recommending this book by Thomas Friedman. He does a good job to demystify our global village. He is able to translate complex foreign policy and economic issues in a way that common folks (like me!) can understand. I am looking forward to finishing his book in the coming days.

I realize from my global widgets that there are many visitors to this blog from all over the world as well as many places here in the United States. Have you read this book? Do you have comments or thoughts on the book that you would like to share?