Even in the creation of beats, the message was reading — along with a little freestyle rapping and dancing.

Listening to the speakers and listening as C.J. Dickens created beats, the lesson was reinforced that reading is at the root of everything they pursue in life.

Clark talks to the group.

This was the second monthly meeting of the Boys Really Read program at the Weldon Public Library, the creation of its librarian, LaTarsha Thomas-Debro, after reading a study as part of an assignment on gender based learning. That study said while boys excelled in science and math, they did not excel in reading.

Thus the program was born, Thomas-Debro said, “To make those people eat their words.”

The statistics, Thomas-Debro said, don't lie and the guys who do come in the library typically look at magazines and newspapers. “I want everyone to use the library. Reading gives you a vast vocabulary and really opens a lot of doors.”

The program incorporates role models who come in to tell the boys why reading and literacy is important.

Jayquan Smith attended the first program and was back for the second one Thursday. “It told me that I should read,” the 11-year-old said. “It's going to tell me that reading will get you a long way in life.”

Listening with rapt attention.

Smith already has an idea of what he wants to do when he gets older. “I want to go to college and get my degree and go to places around the world and help other children.”

Most of the participants in the Thursday program were made up of boys from the Garysburg midget football team.

Asked why reading was important in football, Antwoine Smith said, “So you can read plays. It will get you a long way in life.”

Semaj Andino, an 8-year-old who ended up being the hit of the program, showing off his break dancing skills when Dickens played the keyboard, simply said it will help him in sports and when he gets old enough to go to college.

Andino was the hit of the program.

Before the boys got a chance to break it down through the flow of music, they listened as members of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity broke it down without the use of music, although they were shown a video of them stepping, at the end chanting the names of famous African-Americans.

“It's really about uplifting the community and talking care of your own,” fraternity member Thomas Alston told the boys.

Said fraternity member Lamont Clark, “Learning how to read, that will carry you a long way in all your relationships.”

Smith, foreground, listens.

Dickens, standing behind his keyboard, told the boys, “Reading helps you process things. That's the most important thing about music is being able to comprehend it.”

As Dickens let the boys create beats, do some freestyle rapping and dancing, his business partner, Adam Flowers, told them, “I like the way you all are paying attention. You can't make the money if you don't know how to read. What you do is focus, keep reading and do what you're supposed to do. Keep reading, it will make you a better person.”

The next session will be November 17 at 5:30 p.m. For more information call the library at 252-536-3837.