Giving Back: Spotlight on Barbershop Books

From February through April, my Giving Back Initiative will support an impactful and innovative organization called Barbershop Books. A few months back, I heard a Ted Radio Hour, which spurred me to do a bit of research after the show (not terribly uncommon for the Ted Radio Hour!). This episode, School of Life, was about exploring “life lessons that teach us far more than any textbook.” Part three featured Alvin Irby, an educator, author, comedian and founder of the intuitive-upon-reflection, brilliantly modeled organization that captured me in an instant. Barbershop Books’ mission is this:

“Help Black boys ages 4-8 to identify as readers by connecting fun books to a male-centered space and by involving Black men in boys' early reading experiences.”

So how does Barbershop Books do this?

Irby came up with his idea, while watching one of his first-grade students in the Bronx squirm impatiently at a local barbershop. Irby kept wishing he’d had a book to lend the boy, which naturally led to the thought, someone should put books for kids at the barbershop… This idea, coupled with Irby’s impressive background in education and leadership, transformed into his nationally recognized organization.

Barbershop Books offers early literacy training to barbers while placing engaging children’s books into barbershops. Formerly antsy boys can read funny books while hanging at the barbershop! This may sound simple, but the thought behind it is well-researched and effective—which is why it’s so exciting and promising. Reading is power and when there is a stark reading gap among race or gender (see # 2 below), this inequity can follow these individuals for the rest of their lives. Barbershop Books is making progress to close the reading inequity gap, and in so doing, empower these boys for the rest of their lives. Here’s how:

1) Encourage and model reading for young black boys by adult black men.
Irby points out, “Less than 2% of teachers in the United States are black males and a majority of black boys are raised by single mothers. There are literally young black boys who have never seen a black man reading or never had a black man encourage him to read…” So Irby asks, “What cultural factors, what social cues are present that would lead a young black boy to conclude that reading is even something he should do?”

We all know having role models of the same race, ethnicity or gender matters. It matters in everything from art to science to government, so why would it not matter in reading? There is something vital, special, important in seeing these role models. Barbershop Books presents to young black boys those cultural factors, those social cues that they should read. Placing books in a male-centered space, such as a barbershop, gives adult black men the reading material, right in front of them, to share with young boys. “Most black boys go to the barbershop once or twice a month,” Irby says. “Some see their barbers more than they see their fathers.” Even if no adult is reading, having these books approved and displayed in the same physical space as black men, teens and other boys, normalizes and encourages the idea of casual reading.

2) Encourage reading at a young age.
Irby cites, “More than 85% of black male 4th graders are not proficient in reading.” Irby recalls when he moved to an Advanced English class in his High School. He wondered, “Where’d all these white people come from? My High School was over 70% Black and Latino, but this Advanced English class had white students everywhere. This personal encounter with institutionalized racism altered my relationship with reading forever.”

In 4th grade, most children are 9 or 10 years old, and the gap is already wide. Meeting reading needs of a child before this age, when they are 4-8 years old, will have a significant impact for the rest of the child’s life. Reading has a host of benefits to a child’s development, not to mention the necessity of proficient reading for higher education and career success. Reading is power.

3) Give black boys books with black male characters in them.
Representation matters. We know this! Barbershop Books curates a library of books with characters who are young, black, and male. Check out their list of books here or their elibrary here. Even if books do not have central characters of color, the books that are chosen come recommended by young black boys themselves.

4) Give black boys FUNNY books.
Boys are not going to start reading for fun outside of school if they are not compelled to pick up the book in the first place. Irby notes, “Many of the children’s books promoted to black boys focus on serious topics like slavery, civil rights and biographies.” He points out a 2016 Scholastic report that said the top factor children look for in a book is one that will make them laugh. The books Barbershop Books places in barbershops are meant to draw children in, engage them, and encourage them to read for fun, in a non-academic setting. That’s why Irby’s own “Gross Greg” book is such a hit (boogers and kids? Of course!).

At the core of Barbershop Books is one answer to Irby’s question, “How can we inspire children to identify as readers?” There is a lot of work ahead to bridge the inequity reading gap, but Barbershop Books is making a meaningful impact—and, in my opinion, they’re doing it in a fairly seamless and fun way. I am happy to be donating 25% of this quarter’s profits to such a worthwhile organization, Barbershop Books. Learn more about their organization here, find where participating barbershops are here, and donate directly here.