Muhammad Ali's New Fight: Literacy

(CBS)  Muhammad Ali may have been a natural poet, but believe it or not, he hated to read. In fact, Ali was dyslexic, and barely graduated from high school, CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric reports.

He graduated 376 out of a class of 391.

"As Muhammad said, 'I never said I was the smartest, I said I was the greatest,'" says Lonnie Ali, his wife, laughing.

But now, Lonnie and Muhammad Ali are joining another fight: improving the literacy of African Americans.

According to one national assessment, only 45 percent of black male students graduate from high school.

"It is a travesty. But I think part of the problem is that young black males don't feel enfranchised in the learning process," Lonnie says. "If you can't read, you feel left out of everything. And it's important that whatever they're reading, in the classroom, that they can relate to it."

So the Alis and Scholastic have teamed up to create "Go The Distance," a series of hand-picked books and magazines designed to educate and inspire young black readers.

"All the titles that have been selected were selected to motivate kids to read. To achieve," Lonnie explains.

Form a diary written by a child who was a slave, to a novel about a student flunking out of school, Lonnie says the stories can empower children to overcome their obstacles and follow their dreams.

"And if you motivate them, you can engage them in the act of reading. It will lead to achievement. And then it will lead to empowerment," she says.

But while the emphasis may be on reading, these kids are learning life lessons too.

"They can connect the text to their lives. They can connect these values to their lives. And hopefully, I can just become a facilitator," says teacher Anne Marie Bryant. "Less of a teacher, and more of a facilitator."

It helps having a heavyweight in your corner, and the fifth graders at Grimes Elementary School in Mt. Vernon, NY, told CBS News Muhammad Ali really knocks them out.

"I still think of him as the greatest even though he's not in the ring anymore," Rickey Freeman says.

More proof there's till some sting left in the bee.

How will the Alis know if the program has been a success?

"Well, I think if we can change the life of one child, to me, that's a success," Lonnie says. "If we caused one child to graduate from high school and go onto college, that's a success. We need to make learning alive for them. Otherwise we're going to lose them."

[terrenceblan]

The series does help all the races. It is a very diverse multicultural collection of books that engages all readers. These are not books about black history, they are books about kids and all of the trials and tribulations that they go through. The first book is entitled, "Standford Wong." It is a book about a Chinese American boy who excels in basketball and flunks English. See how it breaks down all the sterotypes. Teachers are as excited about the program as the kids. These books are very motivational for all students. So AMy, it doesn't leave anyone out.

[quandercom]

I think some of you folks are missing the point here. The idea is to get kids to read. Too teach them how to read. Once they learn how to read and develop a love for books, literature and reading, they'll be free to read about whatever they'd like. ANd I would encourage them to read everything! But first, they must learn how to read. And for this I applaud the GOAT, and his wife Lonnie!!

[armytrixter]

I think they are doing a great thing by trying to increase literacy, however I think it is racist to aim their campaign towards one race over another. I think children should be taught to relate to a story regardless of what color, creed or religion the main character is, because if you don't teach them that way it will cause them to grow up believing that we are different in ways other than the color of our skin. By all means keep the books about the African history, but include books about other races history too.

In my opinion while this is a good cause by trying to increase literacy it is still sending a bad message to children of other races. It is excluding them from an activity when it is entirely uncalled for.

I hope this campaign does increase literacy, I just think it is terrible that the entire campaign wasn't aimed at all children. Instead of helping one race, help humanity.

[marcelde]

The books seem to be geared toward the black American experience but that doesn't mean that they can't help other races. Blacks have been disenfranchised by a dominant white culture even if it was not meant to harm. I applaud Muhammad and Lonnie Ali.

I'm so called "white" and have worked 23 years as a public school teacher in many different urban poor areas. Kids need to relate to what they read. Lonnie and Muhammad are fighting the good fight and they are "the greatest!"

[rsa612]

This is a great cause, but what about helping all races. Like the native americans. I'm wondering how many young native american males graduate from high school let alone go to college, or hispanic????