An estimated 43 million Americans struggle to read or write. The issue of adult literacy was cast into the spotlight recently when R. Kelly's legal cited his long-rumored illiteracy as to why he didn't show up to court for a sex abuse lawsuit.
George is a 79-year-old retiree who ran a car detailing business for two decades, repaired airplanes, served as a deacon in his church and has nine children.
Kelly’s criminal attorney, Steve Greenberg, told ABC News that the singer, who has 14 albums to his name – most of which he is credited with writing – along with an autobiography, is not able to write traditionally.The notion that all or most native English speakers in America know how to read and write -- at least on a basic level -- is widespread and false, research shows.
"People don’t realize what a huge problem it is," said Gina Solomon, the executive director of the Florida Literacy League. "My reading was like a first grade student all that time," George said."I was just blessed. I always had people that was willing to help me and I had a determination that I was willing to make it, that I would have a decent life."
Solomon said that coping mechanisms like this are common among those with low literacy. For instance, in some cases, those who can’t read say that they’ve left their glasses at home when they're tasked with filling out a form or reading a menu, and then ask friends or people nearby to read for them. Greenberg said that on a note he had received from Kelly, the word"money" was missing the e,"rumor" was spelled"roomer" and"which" was spelled"whche."
"I was ashamed to say ‘Oh I was 22 and I could not read.’ I was ashamed of a lot of things and being in this world people, don’t embrace you right off the bat," she said."They judge you and they make you feel ashamed of whatever you went through in your life." Michele Diecuch, the director of programs at ProLiteracy Worldwide, a nonprofit adult education organization, said that harassment of non-English speakers is"one thing that we’re keeping an eye on."
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