Foundational skills and foundational texts: A focus on Black adolescent males in the United States

Abstract

I discuss the complementary strengths of foundational literacy skills and foundational texts to support the academic and life journeys of Black adolescent males in this commentary. Foundational texts are defined as texts central to life-outcome, personal, intellectual, and professional trajectories accompanied by self-assurance while being psychologically and culturally intact. Five implications, grounded in historical and contemporary examples, are provided for identifying and selecting foundational texts to hold the literacy development and lives of Black adolescent males in high regard in U.S. schools.