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LeVar Burton Offers Powerful Response After Ye Admits That He's Never 'Read Any Book'
22 September 2022
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival; Brad Barket/Getty Images for Fast Company
From 1983 to 2006, LeVar Burton fostered a love of books in millions of children while instilling the value of reading for all as host of the PBS series Reading Rainbow.
Children learned they could "go anywhere" and "be anything" according to the theme song, as we all know finishes with:
"Take a look, it's in a book, a reading rainbow."
Sadly for Burton, it seems not everyone is on board with reading.
He recently found out rapper and fashion designer Ye claims he never read a book.
In the interview below, Ye compared reading to eating Brussels sprouts.
\u201cKanye West says he\u2019s never read any book.\ud83d\udc40\ud83d\udcda\n\n\u201cReading is like eating Brussels sprouts for me.\u201d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\u201d— Hip Hop Ties (@Hip Hop Ties) 1663459308
Burton responded with a Tweet.
The Roots and Star Trek: The Next Generation actor posted:
"Hmmm… I’m going have to take Mr. West at his word."
"I hope however, that he shares a different message with the children enrolled in the school he’s founded named after his mother, who was an professor of English."
"I’m fairly certain she read a book or two."
\u201c\ud83d\udc40Hmmm\u2026 I\u2019m going have to take Mr. West at his word. I hope however, that he shares a different message with the children enrolled in the school he\u2019s founded named after his mother, who was an professor of English. I\u2019m fairly certain she read a book or two. #bydhttmwfi\u201d— LeVar Burton (@LeVar Burton) 1663629800
Burton is referring to Donda Academy, Ye's private school he named after his late mother Donda West who was an English professor.
Twitter users replied to Burton, most of them thanking Burton for nurturing their love of reading and some even sharing how shows like Reading Rainbow helped them learn English.
I grew up with icons like LeVar Burton and Fred Rogers. Loved Reading Rainbow when I was young. Was happy to support the new program for it.
I've been an avid reader thanks to Burton. I couldn't imagine ever hating reading. What a limited worldview that would leave you with.
— Adam Taylor (@AdamLBTaylor) September 21, 2022
Hi, just want you to know when I moved here I didn’t speak any English; between you and Sesame Street, I learned.
Thank you.
You kept me company! 🙃
— Maria Eugenia Luna (@mariucha00) September 20, 2022
I can’t even comprehend how many children you helped turn on to reading. Thousands? Millions? Thank you
— Dave Coviello (@dcoviello32) September 19, 2022
You brought my childhood to life thanks to your love of reading and Reading Rainbow. It allowed me to picture everything I read and that imagination is still within me. I wish there were more people like you instead of Kanye....
— Will (@Wpark1991) September 21, 2022
Reading is fundamental to society. Reading for leisure is the best. Nowadays, we are so engrossed in our smart devices that we lose site of the capabilities of our imagination.
— Gilly The Kidd (@freegilly) September 21, 2022
Thank you for inspiring so many children to love reading. Reading Rainbow always brought me such joy.
— Jilly ✡️ (@jillyvstheworld) September 19, 2022
Seriously though, your show changed my life. It helped my husband and I get the station we wanted for the military and also got me a great job- it’s a bit of a long story but it’s directly / specifically related to my love of reading rainbow - haha. So thank you!!! 💗💗💗
— Avion 🇺🇦 🌻 💙💛 (@AvionLukas) September 19, 2022
And that, ladies and gents, is Levar Burton, dropping a whole lot of knowledge. This man, more than many others, is the reason I write books.
— Daniel Gallo (@fictionreviewDG) September 20, 2022
Thank you for your dedication to literature, youth, reading, and just being extraordinary. I know I have loved life more because of your influence throughout with RR, TNG, and your podcast!! ❤️🌈📖
— Rita M (@abovo79) September 19, 2022
And finally, someone posted:
If only he got a good, early start in reading from somewhere...like many others did. pic.twitter.com/RcCODrsdt1
— Enthusiastic Cynic (@EnthusiasticCy1) September 21, 2022
We have to agree.
Perhaps if Ye tuned in to PBS, he would have loved books.
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