Literacy practices among different ethnic groups: The role of socioeconomic and cultural factors

Abstract This study investigated socioeconomic and cultural factors that interplay with racial differences in adult literacy. African‐American adults were shown to have statistically significantly higher book and periodical reading practices than European‐Americans when income was controlled, demonstrating the important relationship between socioeconomic factors and African‐Americans’ literacy. African‐Americans and other racial minorities obtained more information from television, magazines, and books than European‐Americans, but these activities were not sufficient to overcome the gap in literacy skills between minority and majority groups. Results are discussed from Ogbu's (1990) cultural identity perspective.