Books Matter: Hector Sabido
March is National Reading Month, a whole month designated to encouraging Americans – and by extension Wacoans – to read! The Act Locally Waco blog is beating the drum for National Reading Month by hosting a blog series throughout the month of March, called “Books Matter.” Every day throughout March we will be sharing a post about a Waco resident and a book that matters to him/her. Thank you to students from the Baylor Department of Journalism, Public Relations and New Media and professor Amber Adamson for help with this fun project. To read all the blog posts so far, click here.
By Amanda Wunder
City Councilman Hector Sabido realizes the crucial role of books in our society and the impact even one book can have on someone’s life or career.
“I’ve always had an interest in politics,” Sabido said. “It’s always intrigued me to see how the political process has played out throughout our country.”
Sabido wonders if perhaps his interest in politics stemmed from his favorite book, To Kill a Mockingbird, which he first read in his ninth grade English class.
“From the very moment that I read this book, I fell in love with it,” Sabido said.
He discussed the obvious social injustice in Harper Lee’s book but also praised the fact that good triumphs.
“I want to live in a community, in a society, where we see that good in people…We know that even though we might make decisions or stand up for things that might not be popular today, but we do it because we know it’s the right thing to do,” Sabido said.
According to Sabido, the universal message of “To Kill a Mockingbird” is that there should be justice and equality for all.
“Just when I think we live in a society where we think we might have racism under control, something happens that reminds me we have some growth to do,” Sabido said. “And reading this book, and reading through the end, it gives me some type of hope that eventually we’re going to get there…It’s all about what’s inside of us, what makes us human.”
Sabido emphasized the importance of inspiring a love of reading in children, calling it “the basic foundation of an education.” He suggested exposing babies to reading, even at the infant stage.
“I think we need to bring back the culture where it’s OK to enjoy reading,” Sabido said.
He recommended Wacoans start with reading the newspaper, encouraging library memberships and pushing literacy not only with children but also with adults.
“Our world is full of books,” Sabido said. “It’s finding something you enjoy reading. I think that’s the key.”