Dovey Undaunted: The Social and Cultural Practices of Literacy in Tonya Bolden’s Book

Abstract

Biographies and memoirs, which are the recorded experiences of others, can play a crucial role in formal literacy learning by offering a platform to develop the skills and literacies necessary to build legacies of self-empowerment. By showcasing key events, cultural objects, and social markers in individuals’ lives, biographies become mirrors or windows for building character and shaping lives. They can also serve as a lamp illuminating paths for readers to be guided by others.