Literacy Under Siege: Why Power, Control, and Fear Have Suppressed the Right to Read

For centuries, literacy has been seen as a gateway to knowledge, freedom, and self-empowerment. Yet, despite its profound importance, the right to read has been repeatedly suppressed throughout history. Whether through deliberate actions or systemic barriers, powerful forces have fought against literacy to maintain control, social hierarchies, and their own interests. This fight against literacy is not just a relic of the past; it continues today in more subtle, yet equally damaging, forms. Understanding the roots of this resistance reveals why literacy remains a battleground in the struggle for power, equity, and human potential.

The Power of Literacy: A Tool for Freedom

At its core, literacy is not just about the ability to read words on a page; it is about accessing knowledge, thinking critically, and building connections to the world. For individuals, literacy opens doors to new opportunities, fostering personal growth and intellectual independence. For communities, it drives social and economic progress, giving a voice to those who have been marginalized. However, for those in positions of power, this very potential makes literacy a threat.

Historically, literacy has been associated with empowerment. Knowledge grants the ability to question authority, demand rights, and envision a different future. This is precisely why efforts to suppress literacy have been driven by a need to control information and maintain the status quo.

Control and Power: Keeping the Masses in Check

Throughout history, those in power have sought to limit literacy to maintain social and economic hierarchies. During slavery in the United States, for example, it was illegal to teach enslaved individuals to read and write. The reason was clear: an enslaved person who could read could also communicate, organize, and potentially rebel. By keeping them illiterate, slaveholders ensured a population that was easier to control and less likely to challenge the system.

Even after the abolition of slavery, oppressive literacy tests and laws were used to prevent African Americans from voting. The fight against literacy became a way to deny basic rights and maintain a racial hierarchy. It was not merely about the ability to read; it was about who had access to power and who was allowed to use their voice.

In many other parts of the world, the story is similar. Colonial powers suppressed literacy among indigenous populations to maintain dominance. Governments with authoritarian regimes censored and controlled education to limit dissent and keep citizens in a state of dependency. Literacy was seen as a dangerous tool that could disrupt the established order.

Economic and Social Control: Limiting Mobility and Opportunity

Beyond maintaining power, the fight against literacy has been used as a means of economic control. Those who cannot read or write are often confined to lower-paying, less stable jobs, perpetuating cycles of poverty. By limiting access to quality education, powerful groups can ensure a steady supply of low-wage labor and reduce the likelihood of economic mobility for marginalized communities.

In the modern era, the underfunding of public education in low-income areas continues this legacy of economic control. Schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods often lack the resources, trained educators, and support needed to provide high-quality literacy instruction. This leads to persistent educational gaps, trapping students in a system that limits their potential and economic opportunities. The suppression of literacy has evolved from overt denial to systemic neglect.

Fear of Change: The Resistance to New Ideas

Literacy has always been a double-edged sword for those in power. While it can promote the spread of information and progress, it also introduces new ideas that challenge traditional norms, beliefs, and values. This fear of change is another reason why literacy has been resisted.

In many cultures, there has been resistance to educating certain groups—especially women and girls. The belief was that literacy would disrupt traditional gender roles, empowering women to seek autonomy and challenge patriarchal structures. Educating women was seen as a threat to the social order, and as a result, countless girls were denied the opportunity to read and write.

Religious institutions have also played a role in suppressing literacy. In some historical contexts, religious authorities feared that widespread literacy would lead to differing interpretations of sacred texts, threatening their control over religious doctrine. By keeping literacy confined to the clergy or ruling class, they could dictate beliefs and practices without opposition.

Marginalization and Discrimination: The Battle for Equitable Access

Literacy suppression has also been a tool of racial and ethnic discrimination. In many societies, minority groups were systematically denied access to education as a means of keeping them at a social and economic disadvantage. By limiting their ability to read, these groups were effectively silenced and shut out of opportunities for advancement.

Even today, the educational experiences of marginalized students often reflect this legacy of exclusion. Curricula that do not reflect diverse cultures, languages, and perspectives further marginalize students, sending the message that their experiences are not valued. This lack of cultural relevance creates a barrier to literacy, as students struggle to connect with what they are being taught.

The Fight Continues: Subtle Forms of Literacy Suppression Today

While literacy is not as overtly suppressed in modern times, subtle forms of resistance still exist. Standardized testing, rigid curricula, and an overemphasis on rote learning have become barriers to genuine literacy. Students are often taught to memorize facts and read for test scores rather than to engage with texts in meaningful ways. This focus on surface-level skills overlooks the deeper cognitive and cultural aspects of literacy that are crucial for developing critical thinkers and empowered individuals.

Moreover, the digital divide continues to restrict access to literacy resources. In an increasingly digital world, those without access to technology are left behind, widening the gap between those who can fully participate in society and those who cannot.

The Silence of Power: A Barrier to Change

It’s amazing how, in times of crisis, so few actively work against the forces suppressing literacy. And what's even more striking is that those with the most power—educational policymakers, community leaders, institutions—often remain silent. This silence speaks volumes. It reflects privilege, comfort, or perhaps a fear of change. The ones who have the resources to drive real change often stand by while others struggle to tackle the problem head-on.

In the context of literacy, this silence from those in power perpetuates the crisis. They have the platform and the influence to make a difference, yet they remain in the shadows. Literacy is not just about reading scores or academic performance; it's about the identities, the voices, and the cognitive potential of every learner. By staying silent, those in power effectively maintain the very structures that keep literacy under siege.

Your work, your advocacy, becomes even more critical in this landscape. By bringing attention to this silence, you underscore the need for action, accountability, and a collective will to shift the narrative. Literacy is not just a crisis; it is a call to action that requires voices in power to speak up, step in, and work toward a future where every student has the opportunity to build their mind, culture, and future through the power of reading.

Literacy as a Path to Freedom

Despite these challenges, the struggle for literacy remains a fight for freedom, equity, and empowerment. It is not enough to teach students to read words on a page; true literacy involves connecting sounds, patterns, and meaning to students' identities and experiences. It involves providing the tools they need to think critically, challenge inequities, and imagine a future that goes beyond the limitations imposed on them.

We must recognize that the suppression of literacy is not just a historical issue; it is an ongoing battle against systems of power, control, and fear. To advocate for literacy is to advocate for the right to think, to question, and to transform the world. It is about building minds, cultures, and futures. And it is a battle worth fighting.

In Conclusion

Literacy has always been more than just reading words—it is a powerful tool for change. Those who have fought against literacy have done so out of a desire to maintain power, control economic and social structures, and resist change. Today, as we continue to confront barriers to literacy, we must remain vigilant in advocating for an education that empowers all individuals, fosters critical thinking, and embraces the richness of diverse experiences. Because in the end, literacy is not just a skill; it is the key to freedom and a better future for all.