Literacies of Power: What Americans Are Not Allowed to Know

by Donaldo Macedo

Book Overview

Literacies of Power illustrates the many ways American schools, media, and other social institutions perpetuate ignorance. In this new, expanded edition, Donaldo Macedo shows why so-called common... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0813322537
• ISBN13: 9780813322537
• Release Date: September 1994
• Publisher: Westview Press
• Length: 206 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Advanced Reader

This book might be preaching to the converted. The sort of people who need to read it are so invested in the dominant culture that they dismiss it out of hand. Its outsider perspective will appeal to anyone who felt alienated by their education but didn't know why. Macedo puts his finger on the techniques and manipulations that the American education system uses to make sure we all end up as competent workers but not thinkers, obediant, if not satisfied. His academic prose might put some readers off. I recommend reading Dumbing Us Down by John Gatto for more concrete examples of how institutional learning facilities work.

Eye Opener

This book opened my eyes and my mind to things I never questioned before. It taught me how to ask critical questions of why I do the things I do and how to change them.I also enjoyed reading about his conversations with Paolo Freire. I would buy this book to give to my friends, who dare to know the truth.

A must read for every critical educator

This book gives a fresh and enlightening perspective on American history. It is an essential read for everyone concerned with transformative education.

Reading the World

Macedo's analysis of contemporary U.S. society is refreshing and insightful. He discusses in depth how the public was manipulated into supporting the contradictory Persian Gulf War. He also discusses the backlash against Multiculturalism, and in whose interest it is to continue teaching this historically multi-cultural, linguistically diverse country, the Anglo-Saxon, elitist version of history. This book brings all of our theory on understanding the politics of power and privelage in the U.S., into a contemporary focus and allows us to understand our very old problems, using contemporary situations. I truly appreciate Macedo's diligence in documenting his experiences with racism and our human denial of injustice, and his book has brought me into the new millenium in understanding the challenges our country faces.

Great book for those who can read with an open mind.

This book is decidedly not for those conditioned by the system. It is a critical analysis of the American education system. It describes the pradoxical situation of America as the land of free information, populated by the most misinformed individuals on the planet.