Help Me, See Me: The Cost of Illiteracy Series – Finale

In this deeply moving finale of The Cost of Illiteracy series, Dr. Jacqui Virgil closes with raw honesty in Help Me, See Me. For the first time on the podcast, she shares her personal story as a student—one marked by pain, isolation, and the struggle to be seen within a system not designed to recognize her brilliance.

This episode was difficult to record, as it resurfaced many traumatic memories from her school years—times when her voice was dismissed, her identity misunderstood, and her potential overlooked. Yet, amidst the weight of those recollections, Dr. Virgil also revisits one unexpectedly fond experience that reminded her of the power of being genuinely acknowledged.

More than a reflection, Help Me, See Me is a bold call to dismantle the systems that continue to fail Black children in the U.S. It is a plea for educators, policymakers, and communities to defend every child’s right—not just to read, but to see themselves reflected, respected, and valued in their learning environments.