WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

Peru Negro, the Peruvian dance troup, represents something deeper than just a night out. They are part of a musical renaissance, reclaiming the history and culture of Afro-Peruvians.

In this special broadcast – part of  Front and Center's literacy series – we look into India's booming book industry. Then we examine how literacy rates have impacted the training of Afghan security forces. In a country estimated to be only 28 percent literate, Afghan soldiers can’t even read ID badges to determine who should be allowed through security checkpoints.

Each Thursday, we turn to our Global Activism segment to hear about someone working to make the world a better place.

Many anthropologists say we're in the middle of a massive wave of cultural extinction as hundreds of tiny indigenous groups lose their languages and customs.

About 500 activists marched Monday afternoon in downtown Chicago to protest U.S. trade negotiations with some Latin American and Asian nations.