#83: How One Man Discovered he Was Dyslexic in Prison And Transformed His Life Through Reading with Ameer Baraka
“The moment I knew school wasn’t for me, I was nine years old and already dropping out.“
That’s what Ameer Baraka told me as he described what it was like growing up in the projects, being beaten for not knowing how to read, and feeling completely abandoned by a system that never asked why he struggled.
As teachers, we’re trained to spot when something’s “off” in a child’s behavior. But how many Ameers are still sitting in our classrooms—quietly shutting down, slowly slipping through the cracks?
Because no one stopped to ask: Could this be dyslexia?
From Shame to Survival: Ameer’s Early School Experience
Ameer’s childhood was full of community and connection—but school was a different story. While his siblings excelled, he was punished for every missed word, every failed test, every sign that something wasn’t clicking.
By third grade, the trauma had already taken root.
“I started cutting school. My stomach always hurt. I always had the flu. I was being beaten for not being able to read.”
He was held back. Shamed. Called “stupid” and “dumb”—not just by adults, but by siblings who didn’t understand. That shame turned into rage. Rage turned into drugs. Drugs led to violence. And eventually, prison.
The Turning Point: How Prison Led to a Life-Changing Diagnosis
Ameer was 23 when a teacher at Angola prison tested his reading level: third grade.
But this teacher—an older white man passionate about Black history and human potential—didn’t just hand Ameer a book and walk away. He saw him. He screened him. And for the first time in Ameer’s life, he heard the word: dyslexia.
“I told my mama, ‘I’m not dumb, mama. They said I have a reading problem. It’s called dyslexia.’ And I started to feel good about myself.”
With that knowledge came freedom—not just from shame, but from the internal prison Ameer had lived in for decades.
He spent the next four years writing down words. Studying. Learning. Rising.
And just before he was released, he earned his GED.
From Inmate to Advocate: A Story of True Literacy Transformation
Today, Ameer is an actor, author, and national speaker. He acts for Tyler Perry. He travels the country speaking to teachers and students. And he’s written a book called Undiagnosed: The Ugly Side of Dyslexia to reach those still trapped in silence.
But he never forgets what made the difference.
“That teacher loved us. You could feel it. Teachers—if you’re not whole inside, if you don’t have a passion for your students, they will know. Especially kids like me.”
Ameer reminds us that students from trauma don’t need perfect instruction first.
They need belief. They need someone to say, “I see you. I believe in you. Let’s figure this out.”
In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
- What undiagnosed dyslexia can look like in early childhood
- How trauma and reading failure are often deeply connected
- Why students act out, shut down, or disappear emotionally in school
- How one teacher’s belief can transform a life—even behind bars
- The power of showing up with both skill and heart
Bringing It All Together
If you’ve ever felt frustrated by a student who “just won’t try,” or heartbroken watching a child give up on themselves… let Ameer’s story remind you: There’s always something underneath the struggle.
Behind every act of defiance or silence, there may be a brilliant, creative, worthy child who just hasn’t been seen yet.
Be the teacher who sees them.
Want More Support? Join The Science of Reading Formula
Inside The Science of Reading Formula, you’ll get the tools, training, and community you need to reach every student—including the ones others overlook.
👉 Click here to join The Science of Reading Formula
LINKS
Ameer Baraka’s Book / Instagram / Zatima Show
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