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Word of the Day: Sagacity (CRC)


📣 Word of the Day: SAGACITY

Pronunciation: suh-GAS-i-tee

Part of Speech: Noun

What Does Sagacity Mean?

Sagacity is wisdom built from experience: the kind of good sense and sharp judgment that comes from listening, learning, and living life with your eyes wide open.

It's not just about being smart. Sagacity is deeper than that. It's the ability to see situations clearly, separate truth from noise, and make sound decisions even when the path forward isn't obvious. Think of it as practical wisdom: the kind that helps you navigate real life, not just pass a test.

The word comes from the Latin sagax, meaning "of quick perception" or "acute." That same root connects to the word "seek": and that's fitting, because sagacity is what you develop when you actively seek understanding instead of waiting for answers to fall into your lap.

Young Person Reading in Barbershop

Why Sagacity Matters for Our Sons

Here's the truth: our boys and young men are constantly being told what to think, how to act, and who to be. Social media, music, peers, and the world at large are all competing for their attention and shaping their worldview: whether we like it or not.

Sagacity is the antidote.

When a young man develops sagacity, he builds an internal compass. He learns to pause before reacting. He starts asking better questions. He recognizes when someone's trying to manipulate him, and he knows when to walk away from situations that don't serve his growth.

Sagacity is listening, learning, then leading.

That's not something you're born with: it's something you practice. And it's something that gets passed down through relationships, mentorship, and intentional conversations between generations.

At The Competitive Readers Coalition (CRC), we believe every boy deserves access to wise voices. That's why we create spaces where young men can connect with fathers, mentors, and community leaders who model sagacity every day: not through lectures, but through presence, patience, and real talk.

Use It in a Sentence (CRC-Style)

"His grandfather's sagacity taught him to think twice before speaking: and to always keep his word."
"The barber's sagacity wasn't just about cutting hair; it was about cutting through the noise and giving real advice."
"Sagacity is what separates a boy who reacts from a young man who responds."

🎨 Today's Mini-Antonio Graphic Direction

Character: Mini-Antonio (same face)

Outfit: Barber cape

Scene: Mini-Antonio is seated in a barber chair, wearing the classic barber cape, with a speech bubble that reads: "SAGACITY: Wisdom built from listening, learning, and leading."

Vibe: Warm, community-centered, intergenerational. The barbershop setting reinforces the idea that wisdom is passed down in trusted spaces: through conversation, connection, and care.

(Graphic for blog + socials only. Not for email templates or footers.)

The Barbershop as a Classroom for Sagacity

If you've ever sat in a Black barbershop, you know it's more than a place to get a fresh cut. It's a space where generations collide: where elders share stories, young men ask questions, and wisdom flows as freely as the conversation.

That's sagacity in action.

Community Literacy and Enrichment Event

At CRC, we tap into this tradition through programs like From the Barbershop to the Boardroom, which transforms barbershops into literacy hubs and leadership pipelines. When a young man sees his barber reading to him, talking about financial goals, or encouraging him to dream bigger: that's mentorship. That's sagacity being modeled in real time.

We also see it in Our Fatherhood Initiative, where dads and father figures are equipped with tools to lead their families with intention. Because here's the thing: you can't teach sagacity if you haven't cultivated it yourself. Our programs help fathers build their own wisdom so they can pass it down with confidence.

🧠 Try It at Home (60 Seconds)

Here's a quick way to spark a conversation about sagacity with your child tonight:

Ask:"Who's someone you think is really wise? What do they do that makes you think that?"

Then listen. Don't correct. Don't add your opinion right away. Just let them talk.

Follow up with: "What's one thing you could learn from that person?"

This simple exchange does three things:

  1. It gets your child thinking about the qualities of wisdom (not just intelligence).

  2. It reinforces the value of learning from others: especially elders and mentors.

  3. It opens the door for you to share your own examples of sagacity in action.

Bonus challenge: Share a story from your own life when someone's wise advice helped you make a better decision. Let your child see that you're still learning too.

How CRC Builds Sagacity Across Our 8-Program Family

Sagacity isn't developed in isolation. It grows through relationships, experiences, and environments that encourage reflection and growth. That's why CRC's Identity-Centered Programming is designed to surround boys and young men with opportunities to build wisdom at every stage.

Here's how sagacity shows up across our work:

From the Barbershop to the Boardroom

Barbershops become classrooms where young men hear real talk from real men. Barbers model sagacity through mentorship, literacy, and life advice.

Our Fatherhood Initiative

Fathers and father figures develop their own sagacity so they can lead their families with wisdom, patience, and intentionality.

The Dads Treasure Chest

Dads learn to use reading time as a space for connection and conversation: planting seeds of wisdom through stories.

Youth Workforce Development and Training

Young men build sagacity by learning how to navigate professional environments, make smart decisions, and plan for the future.

Financial Literacy and Homeownership Program (Partner: LMCU)

Sagacity meets money management. Young men and families learn to build generational wealth through informed, wise financial choices.

9-Week Summer Camp

Campers develop sagacity through hands-on learning, team challenges, and mentorship from CRC staff and volunteers.

The Library Barbershop Studio Model

Trusted community spaces become hubs for literacy and wisdom-building: bringing sagacity into libraries, recreation centers, and beyond.

Barber-Preneur Program

Aspiring barbers learn that entrepreneurship requires more than skill: it requires sagacity: the wisdom to run a business, serve clients, and lead with integrity.

CRC Community Outreach Event

Sagacity in the Real World

Let's be honest: the world doesn't always reward wisdom. It often rewards speed, loudness, and flash. But sagacity is a long game: and it pays off.

A young man with sagacity knows when to speak up and when to stay quiet. He recognizes opportunity and avoids traps. He respects his elders without losing his own voice. He makes decisions that serve his future, not just his feelings in the moment.

That's the kind of young man CRC is building: one word, one book, one conversation at a time.

📚 This Week's Word of the Day Lineup

Sagacity is Day 3 of our Word of the Day: Deep Dive series. Here's what's coming:

Day

Word

Theme

1

Erudition

Deep knowledge through learning

2

Acumen

Sharp judgment and smart choices

3

Sagacity

Wisdom built from experience ✅

4

Efficacy

The power to produce results

5

Reciprocity

Mutual support and community

6

Magnanimity

Big-hearted leadership

7

Lexicon

Building your personal word-bank

Follow along all week as we build vocabulary, confidence, and identity: one word at a time.

Join the Movement

Sagacity isn't just a word: it's a way of living. And it's something every young man deserves to develop.

At CRC, we're building spaces where wisdom is shared, literacy is celebrated, and boys grow into confident, capable young men. Whether it's in a barbershop, a library, or a living room: we're committed to surrounding our sons with the voices, tools, and experiences they need to lead their own lives with sagacity.

Ready to get involved?

👉 Visit crcbooks.org to learn more about our programs, upcoming events, and how you can support the mission.

👉 Check out our community events and bring your family into the fold.

👉 Follow us on social media for daily inspiration, vocabulary boosts, and stories from the CRC community.

Sagacity is listening, learning, then leading.

Let's build it together.

The Competitive Readers Coalition (CRC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving literacy outcomes for boys and young men of color through identity-centered programming, community partnerships, and trusted spaces like barbershops and libraries.

 
 
 

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