As an actor and advocate for literacy, Esai Morales entreated educators to follow their hearts and keep fighting the fight.
Books can open doors to reading in particular and learning in general, Morales emphasized during his General Session presentation. The actor, whose credits include the television shows NYPD Blue and American Family, is cochair of the National Education Association's Read Across America program, which promotes reading in homes and classrooms.
Esai Morales
Reading can open a young person's eyes to new possibilities, Morales said. "Books act as gateways to the imagination and as bridges between cultures." He stressed how important it is for children to see positive role models in books and on television. When authors write about different cultural communities, "they offer a window into their world so children of color can see themselves in the pages of a great book," he noted.
Morales also revealed his personal interest in promoting education. "I've got a secret," he told the audience. "I don't have a high school diploma." But he noted that when he was young he had a talent for reading, and that gave him confidence. "As an actor," he said, "you really need your reading skills. Reading exercises the muscles of the imagination."
Besides imagination, Morales stressed, youngsters today need to understand their roles in democracy. "The point of education, in my opinion, is to teach our citizenry, especially our young, not only how to read but how to read between the lines—so that they may be better able to read between the lies" of political messages, he said.
Lead by example and "show students what democracy is really all about," he said. Don't let your creative energy be sapped by "cynical programs" that gut the system of its resources, he advised the audience. "Fight the fight. Organize. Get together. Protect your resources." Education is important to all of us, he stressed, because we are citizens of the world.