Literacy in Language & Literacy in Self: The Two Highest Forms of Currency Now and Forever

Jul 29

3 min read

“If you can't read, you can't think. If you can't think, someone else is doing it for you.”

Welcome to the modern battlefield. It's not fought with swords or bullets. It's fought with prompts, policies, narratives, and nuance. And you, dear reader, are either the one wielding language like a weapon, or you're the one being carved up by it.

This isn't just about school. It's about freedom, function, and fate.

I. THE AMERICAN LITERACY COLLAPSE

Let’s get to brass tacks. America has millions of adults who can barely read a newspaper, fill out a form, or process basic written logic.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): 54% of U.S. adults (ages 16-74) read below a 6th grade level.
The 2022 NAEP results show the worst drop in reading scores in 30 years. Over 60% of 8th graders are not proficient in reading.
Black and Hispanic students are disproportionately impacted—setting up generational disadvantage.

This isn’t a gap. It’s a gaping wound.

You can’t write a resume. Can’t read legalese. Can’t analyze misinformation. And worst of all? You don’t know you don’t know.

II. THE AGE OF LANGUAGE-BASED MACHINES

Every AI advancement we see is powered by one thing: language inputs.

Midjourney doesn’t need a designer.
ChatGPT doesn’t need a coder.
Google Bard and Claude can write strategies, pitches, emails—but only if the prompt is clear.

In the AI economy, the person who communicates best gets the best outputs. Period.

When you write a prompt like:

“A muscular humanoid AI with a glowing pen in one hand and swirling holographic code in the other, cinematic lighting, concept art, volumetric fog”

...you’re not being creative.

You're being strategic. You’re building in style, structure, shot composition, and intent. That's what great prompting is: language used with purpose.

And if you can’t do that? You're left with generic slop.

III. ILLITERACY = INVISIBLE SLAVERY

Most people think not reading well just means struggling in school. But in today’s world, it means:

Signing contracts you don’t understand.
Voting based on memes instead of policy.
Falling for every scam, grift, or shiny headline.
Letting algorithms parent your kids.

If you can't read between the lines, you are owned by whoever writes them.

Let that sink in. Deep.

IV. LITERACY IN SELF: THE MIRROR TWIN

So let’s say you can read. Awesome. But who are you reading for?

The second half of the currency is Literacy in Self:

Knowing what you value
Knowing what your emotions mean
Knowing when to rest, to fight, to speak, to walk away
Knowing how you actually sound to others

The truth? A lot of people sound like strangers to themselves. Their self-talk is abusive. Their decisions are chaotic. Their purpose? Nonexistent.

AI doesn't care if you're emotionally broken. It just follows commands.

Which means if you don’t know yourself, you’re handing tools of infinite power to a ghost.

V. THE NEW GOLD STANDARD

Reading isn’t for school. It’s for strategy. Writing isn’t for grades. It’s for leverage. Self-awareness isn’t therapy fluff. It’s for mission clarity.

These two literacies form the currency of tomorrow’s leadership: