According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than 82% of Black fourth-grade boys in the U.S. are not proficient in reading. Alvin Irby’s mission is to lower those numbers by filling Black barbershops with free books.
The former first-grade teacher was inspired when he saw one of his students looking bored, then antsy, while getting a haircut.
“The whole time I was watching this unfold, all I kept thinking was he should really be practicing his reading right now, and I wished I had a children’s book with me,” Irby said.
That moment led to the creation of Barbershop Books in 2013. Every year, Barbershop Books turns more than 10,000 children in nearly 60 cities across the country into readers. They also offer an e-library and an online reading platform so kids can keep reading outside their barbershop.
“The raw materials for supporting many children in becoming readers are already in the communities,” Irby said. “Barbershop Books is just providing a spark.”
Edward McFadden, owner of Bee’s Famous Barbershop in the Bronx, said since his barbershop began participating in the program, the environment has completely changed.
“Kids used to have their heads down in their phone or in their tablet, no one talking to each other, not focusing on anything that’s going on around in a shop,” McFadden said. “So now, it gives the kids a little chance to pick up a book and look and see what’s going on.”
Barbershop Books also trains barbers to become mentors and ask the boys questions about the books they’re reading.
“Many barbers really serve as a role model, talking to boys about what’s going on in their life,” Irby said. “And now, they have an opportunity to also talk to boys about reading and what interests them about the titles that are in their barbershop.”
Kaiden Ferguson, an 11-year-old customer at Bee’s Famous Barbershop, said the program has helped him better connect with books and improve his reading comprehension.
“I really do believe that children, just like adults, can fall in and out of love with stuff, including reading,” Irby said. “But if a child identifies as a reader, then reading is much more likely to become a part of their lifelong journey.”
Learn more about Barbershop Books in the video above. Find out more about their programming here.
