>>>>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.
>>
>>I read from several sources that 1 in 7 USA adults is functionally illiterate. How in the heck can 1/7th of the adults in the USA be so uneducated? Isn't "functionally literate" mean like 7th grade reading ability? (which is like 4th grade reading ability when I was in school)
>
>I'd like to see the demographics of that 1 in 7. I doubt it's 1 in 7 across the board. I doubt the Asian community has 1 in 100. Same for Jewish or any other group that has a strong family unit and pushes their kids to do their best.

I agree...and I'm sure income level has something to do with it as well. I didn't speed much time looking around but I did find these:

http://nces.ed.gov/naal/estimates/index.aspx
http://www.livescience.com/3211-14-percent-adults-read.html