Adult literacy is a long-lasting issue in modern US and adult literacy education often falls off the radar of the support system for education. This study examined and synthesized extensive literature relevant to adult literacy education with a focus on minorities in the US. It identified progresses and challenges in three major issues in adult literacy education: leadership, retention and funding. Although gains have been achieved in this field during the past few decades, there are still a lot of barriers that necessitate strengthened efforts in various social sectors to advance adult education for minorities. This study attempted to illuminate solutions for the problems faced by adult literacy education for minorities and generate perspectives for policy makers, adult literacy educators, administrators and researchers in this field.