in these pages.
Mary didn't know what
civil rights were. She only
knew that top to bottom,
front to back, that book was
filled with words.
I'm going to learn to read
those words, she vowed."
Following up on Clarence Brazier's reading secret from yesterday, I thought I would share Mary Walker's journey to reading - also amazing. Mary's story is not unlike Clarence's in many ways. However, the reasons for their not learning to read are vastly disparate. Clarence lived most of his life without a need to read. Born into slavery, Mary had no choice. She was not allowed to learn.
To say she was busy is an understatement; something always got in the way of her learning to read. It took 116 years; she did it! Mary Walker learned to read! She was 15 years old when the Emancipation Proclamation changed her life. Slavery was abolished. Though she couldn't read it, a bible given as a gift offered a place to record the birth dates of her three sons. Others wrote their names and Mary made her mark. That Bible was hers for more than 100 years before she could read its words.
Her 94-year-old son died before Mary did. She was the only living member of her family when, at 114, she became a student in a literacy program in 1963. She was determined to learn. Six years later she was verified to be the oldest student in the nation. Many celebrations honored Mary and her outstanding accomplishments. Mary died in 1969. She was 121 years of age.
I am a big fan of Oge Mora's mixed media artwork. Mary and the other characters and scenes created in collage and textured papers add depth to the storytelling. Children will be engaged in seeing Mary through the years, and knowing more about her. Observant listeners will note that everything written prior to Mary's learning to read cannot be read. Once she learns, that changes.
What an inspiration she was then, and should be now, to children and adults. Her story is worthy of telling, and now you can share with your own children and your students. Be sure to get a copy.
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