My dad was a janitor for U.S. Radium Corporation, and he stayed there for 37 years. So he didn't read.

Walter Dean Myers’ quote reflects the hardships and limitations faced by his father, who worked as a janitor for U.S. Radium Corporation for 37 years. By stating that "he didn’t read," Myers highlights the significant barriers his father faced in terms of education and intellectual growth due to his demanding job. The repetition of his father’s career at the same company for such a long time suggests a lack of opportunities for advancement or personal development, which limited his access to resources like books or leisure activities that could have expanded his knowledge.

The quote also underscores the theme of social class and the impact of economic and occupational circumstances on one’s life. As a janitor, Myers’ father likely worked long hours in a physically demanding job, which left him with little time or energy for personal interests like reading. This reveals the often invisible challenges that individuals in blue-collar jobs face, where survival and work commitments can overshadow intellectual and personal enrichment.

Moreover, Myers’ statement reflects his awareness of his father’s situation and its influence on his own life. It may also serve as a critique of the inequalities in society, where people are often constrained by their social status and unable to pursue broader interests or develop themselves in the same way that those in more privileged positions can. The mention of his father not reading could be a subtle reflection on the cycle of limited opportunities that can trap individuals in their social class.

The origin of this quote lies in Myers’ reflections on his family’s background and the hardships his father faced. As an acclaimed author, Myers often wrote about issues of identity, race, and class, drawing from his own life experiences growing up in Harlem. This quote sheds light on the barriers that restricted his father and, by extension, the struggles that many people face in less privileged circumstances.