curtis aikens and the american dream

By wiliiam
  • pg.306

    Curtis is from Conyers, Georgia (rural area)
  • pg 306

    In third grade he had a teacher conference
  • pg. 306

    Teacher said he is a nice boy but has a reading problem and needs to repeat the 3rd grade
  • pg. 307

    Curtis decided to lie about not being able to read or write so people would not call him dumb or stupid
  • pg.307

    He doesn't blame the school for not helping him but he is learning the skills to lie and not be questioned
  • pg. 307

    If you sound smart people will think your smart. he watched tv/videos to get some vocabulary to keep up the scam
  • pg. 308

    Heavy electives and light on academics for his schedule in high school
  • pg. 308

    Star football player, student council member and won a cooking competition
  • pg. 309

    He got a scholarship for college his whole family was happy. he was scared because he had to lie for 4 more years
  • pg.309

    halfway through his sophomore year (1,5. years) he dropped out of college
  • pg. 309

    he moved to california.
  • pg. 310

    got a job at a grocery store but he got in trouble with the boss because he can't read
  • pg. 310

    he wanted to open his own produce company (fruits/vegetables)
  • pg. 311

    he would give blank checks to the companies because he could not read the invoises
  • pg. 311

    curtis did not know he had to lower his prices and lost customers and his business fell
  • pg. 312

    curtis was traveling and could not read the road sign or airport sign
  • pg. 312

    curtis saw a PSA for a program that helps people read with no judgment
  • pg. 313

    he took literally classes with Steve and ginny. he felt happy to be honest about his problem
  • pg. 313

    he does really well with the literacy program and can now read a book a week
  • pg. 314

    he goes back to Georgia- starts another produce company and eventually becomes a food columnist
  • pg. 314

    he decided to become a celebrity and use his platform to reach out to the illiterate community
  • pg. 314

    he called an old friend and confessed his past and the friend called the news shows to share his story
  • pg. 314

    published his first cookbook
  • pg.315

    curtis messed up on TV reading the a teleprompter and cried on national TV
  • pg. 315

    people called the TV show looking for help with reading because of curtis