Ameer baraka biography of michael jackson

By Staff

What happened that you learned about having dyslexia?

Throughout my childhood I went undiagnosed. At 23 years of age and serving a four year prison sentence, I was screened for my reading ability.

Each inmate has to be processed. That process encompasses mental and physical abilities. I was reading on a 3rd grade level. My brother and sister were precocious.

From Real Life to 'Zatima': Ameer Baraka’s Inspiring Journey

They both read fluently early in life. I knew something was wrong with me around the 3rd grade but just didn’t understand my inability to spell and read until the GED instructor in the prison started asking questions. Questions such as, does all your siblings read poorly, what was the last grade I completed and did my parents read well.

All of these was befuddling me. He asked me would it be ok if he had me screen for dyslexia. I was oblivious to that word and immediately placed in in the same category as me being dumb. I was called that so much in my young years. I proceeded through that screenin