>Almost 1/2 the people in Detroit are functionally illiterate? That's just nuts!
>
>http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/05/04/report-nearly-half-of-detroiters-cant-read/

I'd say this is about right. Memphis is probably in similar shape, as are a lot of cities that have similar demographics. It is well known that black, inner city, kids try their best to dissuade learning. They are more into gang banging. Add the absence of a strong father figure to the equation and you have a very consistent formula for failure.