Former Rep. J.C. Watts delivered the annual State of African American Literacy address. Topics included literacy as a pathway to economic, political, and social leadership. He described the history of literacy among black slaves in the U.S., and talked about Phyllis Wheatley, a slave in the 18th century who published her first poem at age 14. He also talked about illiteracy being highly correlated to crime. 

This event from the 9th Annual Harlem Book Fair was held at the Schomburg Center’s Langston Hughes Auditorium.