Clarice Jackson pushes NAACP and literacy groups to unite on Black literacy

By AI, Created 5:06 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Clarice Jackson is using a new episode of Literacy Now Together to urge NAACP branches, Decoding Dyslexia chapters, educators and parents to align on literacy justice. The conversation ties together her dyslexia advocacy history, new writing on institutional accountability and a call for stronger parent power in reading reform.

Why it matters: - Black literacy advocates say fragmented efforts have slowed progress on reading reform, parent support and teacher training. - Jackson frames parents as an underused force in literacy change, making family engagement a central part of the push for literacy justice. - The episode links advocacy, civil rights and classroom practice at a time when the NAACP is again emphasizing evidence-based instruction and accountability.

What happened: - Clarice Jackson appeared on a new episode of Literacy Now Together with Kareem Weaver of Fulcrum and Brett Tingley of Parents for Reading Justice. - The discussion focused on Black literacy, parent power and cooperation among groups that have often operated separately. - The episode was released in May 2026. - Jackson is the author of the 2014 NAACP National Dyslexia Resolution. - Jackson also founded Voice Advocacy Center and Black Literacy Matters.

The details: - Jackson said her advocacy began at 19, when she became legal guardian of a young girl with severe dyslexia who could not read simple words. - Jackson studied special education law, learned structured literacy and saw her daughter transform in one year. - The NAACP has renewed its call for evidence-based professional education systems, culturally sound instruction, monitoring, accountability and ongoing professional development. - Weaver said, “It’s hard to work for all kids when all adults can’t get along.” - Jackson, Weaver and Tingley called on NAACP branches, Decoding Dyslexia chapters, educators and community advocates to work together on implementation, teacher training, parent support and literacy justice. - Jackson’s new articles in the Spring 2026 Midwest Quarterly, Volume 67, No. 3, special issue “Dyslexia and Reading Failure,” introduce the Reconstruction Literacy Paradox as a framework for institutional accountability. - The episode revisits The Cosby Show and Theo Huxtable’s dyslexia storyline as a cultural reference point for many Black households. - The discussion also cites the 2019 California NAACP Dyslexia Resolution, authored by the Oakland branch and supported by Decoding Dyslexia California, as a collaboration model. - Jackson is preparing for a Black Literacy Matters Conference in 2027, with dates and location still being finalized. - More information is available at Black Literacy Matters and copies of the Spring 2026 Midwest Quarterly can be ordered through The Midwest Quarterly.

Between the lines: - The conversation is as much about movement-building as it is about reading instruction, signaling a push to unify civil-rights groups, parent advocates and educators around implementation. - Jackson’s framing of a Reconstruction Literacy Paradox suggests the debate is moving beyond classroom methods to institutional responsibility. - The emphasis on parent power reflects a belief that policy change will stall without pressure from families.

What’s next: - Jackson’s upcoming 2027 conference could become another organizing point for Black literacy advocates once the dates and location are set. - The new writing in Midwest Quarterly may help sharpen the accountability argument inside literacy and civil-rights circles. - The episode’s call for collaboration points to more joint work among NAACP branches, Decoding Dyslexia groups and local advocates.

The bottom line: - Jackson and her co-panelists are making a direct pitch for unity: literacy reform, in their view, will not move fast enough unless advocacy groups, parents and educators work together.