Exploratory Analysis of Literacy Skills, Civic Engagement, and Political Efficacy of Black Adults in the United States.

This article examines the relationships between literacy proficiency, educational attainment, civic engagement, and political efficacy among Black adults in the United States, using data from the 2012, 2014, and 2017 U.S. Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). The study highlights within-group differences by gender, finding that higher literacy proficiency and college-level education are associated with greater political efficacy, particularly among Black women, while educational attainment correlates with increased volunteerism for Black women and political efficacy for Black men. Although literacy proficiency was not linked to volunteering for either gender, age and marital status showed varying associations with civic engagement. The findings underscore the importance of tailored adult education programs that consider sociocultural and gender-specific factors to enhance civic and political participation and promote social equity within the Black adult population.