More than 8 million Americans can’t read.
In a world where reading is needed for nearly every aspect of life, that can be a daunting number. Even more daunting for the person who is illiterate.
So when Oliver James posted his first video on TikTok, his quick and to-the-point greeting sent him viral: “What’s up! I can’t read.”
From that first video, James has gained more than 270,000 followers.
“I went in my van and I pretty much just said 5 words … and that just started the whole entire journey on TikTok,” James said.
When James was young he had learning disabilities that led to him being placed in special education, he said. Inside the school, James said, there was abuse by the adults that were supposed to be helping him. He found he couldn’t concentrate on school or learning to read.
@oliverspeaks1 Black history month post 28 @aliciakeys girl on fire. #booktok #books #girlonfirebyaliciakeys ♬ original sound – Oliver James
James, who works as a personal trainer in California, said that he knew just enough words to “get by” but not enough to keep up with others. For example, he said, if he had to read a menu, it would take him an hour to make sense of it.
So he decided it was time to teach himself to read. Using TikTok, James said his goal was to help others who might be ashamed of not being able to read.
“If you struggle with the same things, no matter what your age is, it’s all good,” he said in one of his videos. “No need to be embarrassed because we can learn.”
James spent his time during videos, reading slowly and going through book-after-book to teach himself to read. The video struck a chord with viewers, and landed him in a niche corner of TikTok called ‘Booktok’ where viewers share the books they love to one another.
“I think my main goal was to put out motivational content to grow in any aspect of their life,” James said.
James said the messages from viewers often tell him the videos have brought back their love of reading.
Thank you for sharing your story! You are healing others by speaking your truth,” one user wrote.
Now a voracious reader, James has been slowly building his library of books up. He has received more than 200 books through donations, and has bought many himself thanks to a gift card given to him by Barnes & Noble.
Oliver James accepts the Barbara Bush National Literacy Honor Award from Barbara Bush Foundation Honorary Chair Doro Bush Koch and Interim President & CEO Andrew Roberts. Photo by Tony Powell
“When they gave me the gift card, I was just like, ‘I’m going to be able to build a library.’ I went from no books at all when I put that (first) post up,” James said. “It’s shocking. It’s support toward the dream.”
James said his goal is to read 100 books in a year. “I like to go zero to 100 real quick,” he said. “I like to kind of push the barrier a little farther than it needs to go so I can learn.”
But, it doesn’t have to necessarily be a book – as long as he is making the effort to read.
“So if I’m just reading the back of a cereal box, that’s what I did today,” he said. “If I decide I want to binge read and just do it, then I treat myself that way.”
The goal is now personal to him – he has a newborn son at home.
“I want to merge it into my life,” he said. “I’m reading so much so that my son sees me read as much as he sees me talk.”
James said he hopes to set an example for his son one day.
“If you wanna know the answer for how to teach somebody something, be it,” he said. “Be what you’re trying to teach them.”
Watch below for a look at this inspiring man!
