Procrastadabbler

There’s the compulsion to write without the filter of worrying about meeting the demands of academic quality. I’ve come to realize that’s the attractiveness of blogs. For me. I don’t have to cite. I don’t have to build an argument. I don’t have to examine my warrants. I can rant if I so choose and if people don’t like it, so be it. And if someone wants to join in the conversation, fantastico.

I’ve been conducting interviews with urban Latino youth about their literacy practices. I’ve also been transcribing those interviews. These kids are friggin amazing. They are up against incredible odds. They came to the US anywhere between 5 months and 5 years ago and they hold on to the American Dream that they’ll be able to make it. The odds are against them. They are sweet and polite. They have such incredible commitment to their families. And they have incredible literacy practices.

I want to smack up people who disregard what youth have to offer. When I hear people’s responses to the new literacies, to youth engagement in digital literacies, it tells me more about the speakers limitations than about anything else. I admit, the new literacies aren’t a panacea. They aren’t going to cure the world’s trouble. But when I look at what these kids are doing and what the new literacies means to them, it shakes my world.