Can Free Haircuts Really Help Boys; Reading Confidence? Find Out Here
- Antonio Brown
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
What if the key to unlocking your son's reading potential wasn't in a classroom, but in the chair at your local barbershop?
It sounds unconventional, but across St. Petersburg, FL and Pinellas County, something remarkable is happening. Boys who once struggled to pick up a book are now eagerly reading aloud between clips and fades. Young men who never saw themselves as "readers" are discovering a new identity: one page at a time.
Welcome to the transformative world of barbershop literacy programs, where trusted community spaces are becoming launchpads for lifelong learning and success.
The Literacy Challenge Facing Our Sons
Let's be real: too many of our boys are falling through the cracks when it comes to reading. National statistics paint a concerning picture, but here in Pinellas County, families are fighting back with innovative solutions that meet children where they already are.
The challenge isn't just about reading levels: it's about reading identity. When boys don't see themselves as readers, when they associate books with struggle or boredom, they disconnect. And that disconnection can have lasting consequences that ripple through their academic journey and beyond.
But what if we could change that narrative? What if reading became something cool, something connected to the people and places our sons already trust and admire?
That's exactly what's happening through programs like FROM THE BARBERSHOP TO THE BOARDROOM right here in our community.
Why Barbershops? The Power of Trusted Community Spaces
Here's something powerful to consider: less than 7 percent of public school teachers are Black men. For many of our sons, positive male role models who look like them can be hard to find in traditional educational settings.
But barbershops? That's different.
Barbershops have always been more than places to get a haircut. They're community hubs: spaces where generations of Black men have gathered to share wisdom, debate ideas, and build connections. They're places where boys see successful men from their own community, where conversations flow freely, and where trust runs deep.
When we bring literacy into these trusted community spaces, something magical happens. Reading stops being "school stuff" and becomes part of real life. Books become conversation starters. And barbers: already respected figures in boys' lives: become literacy champions.
Research from a two-year evaluation by New York University professor Susan B. Neuman confirms what many families already know intuitively: the presence of books in barbershops, combined with barbers' active support for reading, "positively affected self-image and Black boys were more likely to identify as readers."
This wasn't just about reading skills: it was about reading identity. Boys began to see themselves differently. They started to believe that reading was, in fact, "for them."
FROM THE BARBERSHOP TO THE BOARDROOM: CRC's Vision for Our Sons
The Competitive Readers Coalition (CRC) is leading this charge in St. Petersburg, FL and throughout Pinellas County with our signature program: FROM THE BARBERSHOP TO THE BOARDROOM.
The name says it all. We believe that the confidence, curiosity, and critical thinking skills our boys develop through literacy today will carry them into boardrooms, courtrooms, classrooms, and every room where decisions are made tomorrow.
Our barbershop literacy program isn't just about putting books in shops: though that's part of it. It's about creating a comprehensive ecosystem of support that includes:
Culturally responsive books that feature characters and stories our boys can see themselves in
Trained barbers who understand how to encourage and celebrate reading
Family engagement that extends the learning beyond the shop
Connection to CRC's broader programming, including our Youth Workforce Development and Training program and Financial Literacy and Homeownership Program (in partnership with LMCU)
When a young man reads confidently at the barbershop, he's not just practicing literacy: he's practicing leadership. He's building the foundation for generational success.
The Research Is Clear: This Works
Independent research on barbershop-based literacy initiatives has shown remarkable results. Students who participated in these programs showed statistically significant improvements in:
Viewing reading as fun and cool (not just a school requirement)
Identifying themselves as readers (a crucial shift in self-perception)
Confidence in public speaking and sharing ideas aloud
In fact, the NYU research was the first independent study to demonstrate that this type of intervention significantly impacted reading identity development in children. That's groundbreaking.
Across the country, programs that combine haircuts with reading are seeing similar success. In Pennsylvania, a barber pays children $3 to read aloud during haircuts, reporting improved reading skills and public speaking confidence. In Iowa, a barber offers free haircuts to children who read stories to him and sends them home with books.
The common thread? Meeting boys where they are, in spaces they trust, with people who believe in them.
Word of the Day: Erudition
At CRC, we believe in building not just readers, but scholars. That's why we incorporate vocabulary building into everything we do. This week's Word of the Day is erudition.
Erudition (noun): Profound knowledge acquired through extensive reading and study.
Pronunciation: air-yoo-DISH-un
When we talk about taking our sons FROM THE BARBERSHOP TO THE BOARDROOM, we're talking about cultivating erudition: deep, meaningful knowledge that opens doors and commands respect.
Use it in a sentence: "Marcus's erudition impressed everyone at the spelling bee; his years of reading at the barbershop had clearly paid off."
Encourage your son to use this word this week. Watch how his confidence grows when he realizes he can master language that many adults don't even know!
What Parents Are Seeing in Pinellas County
The impact of literacy in barbershops extends far beyond reading scores. Parents throughout St. Petersburg FL youth literacy programs are reporting transformations they never expected:
Sons who used to dread reading are now asking for books
Boys who were shy about speaking up are reading aloud with confidence
Young men are making connections between what they read and their own futures
Families are having richer conversations about goals, dreams, and success
One of the most powerful aspects of this approach is how it reframes reading from a solitary, academic activity into a community experience. When boys see their barber: a respected man in the community: celebrating books, it sends a message that resonates deeper than any classroom lesson.
How You Can Get Involved
Ready to see the transformation for yourself? Here's how Pinellas County families can tap into the power of barbershop literacy programs:
1. Visit a Participating Barbershop Ask about literacy programming when you schedule your son's next haircut. Many shops in our network have book collections specifically curated for young readers.
2. Bring a Book Even if your local shop isn't formally part of a program yet, you can start the tradition yourself. Bring a book to your son's next appointment and encourage him to read while he waits: or even in the chair.
3. Talk to Your Barber Barbers want to support the young men in their chairs. Let them know you value literacy, and don't be surprised if they become your son's biggest reading cheerleader.
4. Connect with CRC Visit crcbooks.org to learn more about our programming, find resources for your family, and discover how you can support boys reading confidence in our community.
5. Spread the Word Share this article with other parents. The more families know about trusted community spaces literacy initiatives, the stronger our collective impact becomes.
The Journey from Confidence to Success
Every successful leader started somewhere. Every boardroom executive, every entrepreneur, every change-maker once sat in a chair much like the one at your local barbershop.
The difference between a boy who believes he can succeed and one who doesn't often comes down to moments: moments when someone believed in him, when he discovered he was capable of more than he thought, when reading stopped being a chore and became a superpower.
FROM THE BARBERSHOP TO THE BOARDROOM isn't just a program name. It's a promise. It's CRC's commitment to every young man in St. Petersburg, FL and Pinellas County that his story matters, his potential is limitless, and his community is invested in his success.
The clippers are buzzing. The books are waiting. And your son's next chapter is ready to begin.
Ready to learn more? Visit crcbooks.org to explore CRC's full family of programs, find participating barbershops in Pinellas County, and join the movement building the next generation of competitive readers.
Connect with The Competitive Readers Coalition:
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