Last Updated: Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, 11:58 p.m. 

One of Greg Trompe's favorite places is the library.

"When I used to read and when I read, I open myself up to new channels of learning," said Trompe, a Bethune-Cookman University student.

As a young black college student, he said he was criticized for his love for books since he was a kid.

"I was kind of shy to read, because when you're growing up in the African-American community, many people look at you different," Trompe said.

Dr. Evelyn Bethune mentors many young black students like Trompe. She said that stigma has steered people away from reading.

Reading and writing is a right slaves such as her great-grandparents fought for during the civil rights movement.

"It's acceptable to be smart," Bethune said. "It's not some kind of detrimental thing to know how to read and speak well. Somebody had to die in order for them to get that education."

Bethune said she's tutored many blacks who could barely read or write. According to the Florida Department of Education's 2014 FCAT 2.0 reading scores, 65 percent of black students in third grade received failing scores compared with 36 percent of white students.

"Their scores are so low. Vocabulary is critical to reading," Bethune said.

That's part of the reason Donna Gray-Banks started the Fresh Book Festival. The festival focuses on literacy and promoting black authors.

"We really have to start from scratch to make people understand how important literacy is, especially in our community," Gray-Banks said.

Trompe hopes others in his community will be inspired to read. He knows he won't let books get dusty on the shelves.

"It's a gateway. It's what shaped and formed my life," Trompe said. "Reading saved my life."