Literacy: The Great American Theft | Asil Yassine | TEDxAustinCollege

Literacy is so foundational to innumerable aspects of our lives that it is diffcult to navigate the world without it. It is precisely this that has made literacy a potent tool for racial oppression. The argument here is simple but transformative for our nation: literacy must be considered a civil right. Asil Yassine is the daughter of Lebanese immigrants and was raised in Plano, Texas. A proud graduate of Austin College, she recently completed her master’s degree in education at Harvard University. She taught middle school and high school math in Detroit to students who largely emigrated from Yemen, which catalyzed her interest in literacy and identity development. She previously worked at The Commit! Partnership, serving to improve education for kids in Dallas County. She enjoys hiking, camping, exploring bookstores, and watercolor painting. Asil Yassine is the daughter of Lebanese immigrants and was raised in Plano, Texas. A proud graduate of Austin College, she recently completed her master’s degree in education at Harvard University. She taught middle school and high school math in Detroit to students who largely emigrated from Yemen, which catalyzed her interest in literacy and identity development. She previously worked at The Commit! Partnership, serving to improve education for kids in Dallas County. She enjoys hiking, camping, exploring bookstores, and watercolor painting. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx