GeorgeDawsonwasborninthestateofTexas. Hewasthegrandsonofslaves. Hebeganworkingonthefamilyfarmwhenhewasfour. Whenhewastwelveheworked 25 anearbyfarmtohelpfeedhisparentsandfouryoungerbrothersandsisters. Forthenexteighty-fiveyearsheheldanumberofdifferentjobsmostoftheminvolvinghardlabor.
GeorgeDawsonlivedahappylife 26 ______conditionsweredifficult. WhenhewastenyearsoldhesawayoungAfrican-Americanman 27 (murder). Hewouldhavetoldpeopleaboutitbuthesaidhis 28 (big)problemwashisinabilitytoreadandwrite.
GeorgeDawsonkeptitasecretthathecouldnotread. Buthesaidhealwaysdreamedthathewouldlearn.Althoughhehadnoeducationhetaughthischildren 29 (work)hardinschool.
GeorgeDawson’slifechangedin1996. AmancametohishouseinTexasandtoldhimthatadulteducationclasseswerebeingtaughtatanearbyschool. Sothemanwho 30 (sign)hisnamewithan“X”foralmostone-hundredyearswenttoschool.
Peoplewondered 31 Mr.Dawsondidnotgotoschoolearlier. Hesaidheneverhadthetimebecauseofhisfarmwork.Andheneverknewaboutadulteducationprograms.
GeorgeDawsondidallhe 32 tolearntoreadwhichinfluencedstudentsofallages. Hespoketoyoungpeopleabouttheimportanceoflearningtoreadandwrite.