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The article itself is a factoid. It might be evidence of a "new and unusual phenomenon." Nearly 50% illiteracy in a major urban centre is surprising to me. There's also the potential for interesting discussion, and I expect that the value of this post will lie in the commentary. If we devolve to a reddit-like level where we discuss how this is what happens when black people overrun a city, we will get one thing. If we discuss the causes of this problem, the likelihood if it appearing in other cities, and possible remedies, we will get another.

    ... I expect that the value of this post
    will lie in the commentary.
I'll return in a few days and see. I don't expect that to be the case, but I hope my expectations are confounded, and that there really is something interesting emerge. My question was sincere, and the fact that genuine enquiries such as this get downvoted further suggests to me that it's simply car-crash voyeurism and a form of schadenfreude.

If only we could define all these terms I'd be willing to stake money, but, as I say, I'll come back later and hope to find a decent, enlightening and constructive commentary.

I honestly have no idea which way it will go myself. I'm sorry your question received downvotes. Although this didn't seem worth flagging to me, I didn't think it was beyond asking the question politely. But I'm just one person with one vote, I don't speak for the moderators or the community :-S
Please fully read the page you linked to :)

"Please don't submit comments complaining that a submission is inappropriate for the site. If you think something is spam or offtopic, flag it by going to its page and clicking on the "flag" link. (Not all users will see this; there is a karma threshold.) If you flag something, please don't also comment that you did."

I personally think that asking the question lies in a grey area where it is often a complaint couched as a question, sometimes a genuine question that should nevertheless not be asked, but sometimes appropriate. If a post has a lot of votes and a lively discussion, complaining or asking is counterproductive. Flag it and cross your fingers that the moderators will recognize when something is popular but harmful to Hacker News.

If a post is fairly new with little discussion, perhaps patience is a better strategy. The discussion may emerge and you will be able to see for yourself whether the post is an exception to the apparent rules.

Sometimes a post has a lot of upvotes but very little discussion, and the discussion is fairly thin. In that case, the question can be sincere and helpful. After all, if there is very little discussion it's hard to figure out whether to flag it or not, perhaps there is some hidden value to the post.

I'm saying nothing about this post or this question, mind you, just musing about when such a question might be appropriate and sincere.

I have read it fully, several times. I'm not complaining, I'm seeking to understand. I haven't flagged it, as I am reluctant to claim that my understanding is "better" than another's.

So in reply, please read what I wrote, and don't assume that I meant something else.

Thx.

PS (added in edit): Why the smiley? Were you joking? Did you not mean it? I don't understand - can you explain? TIA.