Cochlear implant continues to be marketable and practice public shaming of the Deaf community. Exploitation targets Deaf to be immediately identifiable and forget their Deaf identity. False hope is not cool. Audism leads to false hope, yes?
Tag: Deafhood Journey
DEAF: No Room for Shame
There is no room to feel state of shame as being Deaf to please the system of Audism around the world.
DHF: Ten Years Ago and Now
As a student in 2009, Deafhood Foundation (DHF) was founded ten years ago that time, opened my eyes and still finding the meaning in Deafhood journey.
The Face of New £50 Banknote: Think Resist!
The news appeared on November 27, 2018: So, the Bank of England has been considering Alexander Graham Bell’s face on paper money for his contribution to “science”—someone who was two-faced gaslighter as I found interesting the definition of “gaslighter”—When a gaslighter thinks that they are not the problem and everyone else is, this is called having an ego-syntonic personality. (Jan 30, 2017: psychology today.com)
Alexander Graham Bell thinks he is not the problem, but thinks Deaf people are the problem. He is the poster child of gaslighter. “Science”—from the dictionary: the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.
Whether Bank of England considered his name, because of his idea to create telephone that changed the face of humans, but there is another hidden science what Alexander Graham Bell has contributed to use Deaf children as lab experiment. It was a tradition of genocide.
If the Bank of England has chosen Alexander Graham Bell as the top choice, people who would carry paper money with his face around in the pocket, wallet, coat, purse, whatever it is, to remind those people that it is OK to allow Deaf-hating ideologist, with the ultimate goal of eradicating Deaf people in the name of hate crime is the greatest threat to Deaf people’s democracy.
We need to remind ourselves two quotes by the world’s leading eugenicist of the Deaf people:
“The main object of the education of the deaf is to fit them to live in the world of a hearing-speaking people.”
“We should try ourselves to forget that they are deaf. We should try to teach to forget that they are deaf.”
Power hunger or power struggle? As the Deaf community enter the global phrase of being under-privileged, it becomes obvious that the money is the root of evil. The paper money of AGBell’s face oppressing of the most invisible minority are dangerous, requiring a huge commitment of cultural appropriation to accomplish their renewal and rebuilt AGBell’s fame.
The power of money is complicated by the cycle of oppression constitute consciousness of Deaf people whose lives is limited—denying them the passion. Unfortunately, there is no unique passion that gives the Deaf community break from money-free oppression. Every day, Deaf people are being targeted for big money and character assassination.
Deaf people’s lives are in the danger of cultural appropriation, and that would be undesirable for everyone. It is necessary to fight against hatred practices by Alexander Graham Bell’s ideology that is infectious enough to warrant a protest by members of Deaf community. In this case, hatred will survive because of survival itself and not only because it has been influenced by stories. The goal of creating activism is not to allow Alexander Graham Bell’s face on the paper money, the first kind in the world, and challenge the practices of hate speech.
Truth itself can be revolutionary topic in a society steeped in hearing privileges that makes necessary to take respect away from Deaf people. The society we live in, Alexander Graham Bell is pushing for Surdophobia culture, ‘the fear of Deaf people’ not just because it was deemed cultural hegemony in the eyes of Deaf people but also the ignorance and lack of cultural respect cannot be “un-done”—Deaf people are human beings—they are not human doings.
The awareness of Deaf culture has been grossly neglected in the society, and it is deteriorating. It has nothing to do with right or left really, but the powerful knowledge about Deaf people has skewed for profit and not for facts.
The final question, Is the face of Alexander Graham Bell on paper money, need any more arrogance, the leadership that exploits Deaf children with the lies as they make “deficit-thinking” decisions on those facts and not only on the emotionalized, oppressive of Deaf community and the misinformed public sentiment? Will Bank of England print this image on banknote (paper money bill) like this one below?
-JT
Copyright © 2018 Jason Tozier
This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message.
Deafhood Foundation: A Criminal Record Shouldn’t Define Your Entire Existence
Deafhood Foundation writes, “Your donation will help end the economic exploitation of Deaf people, support anti-audism work, and create a society where everyone experiences full humanity and celebrates American Sign Language and Deaf culture.”
I have had been thinking about this for a while. For the last eight years, I have had invested a lot of heart and believability in Deafhood Foundation after reading Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood written by Paddy Ladd. The book arrived at my apartment in Portland, Oregon in April 2010 and I finished that book on the same day. It was mind-blowing experience. As soon as I finished that book, I remember calling up a friend who was one of certified Deafhood presenters and had brief discussion about it. I understood the magnitude of healing. That was the goal.
Two weeks after finishing that book, I was walking on Hawthorne Street in Portland, one of the famous streets, most laid-back streets, and there was a tattoo shop, and I decided to walk in and asked them to give me a tattoo, ‘Deafhood’ on my left arm where it ends up being first Deaf person to have ‘Deafhood’ in America. I was very proud of it.
Fast forward. June 2011. I was awarded with three degrees with honors. I worked very hard as Deaf returnee. I remember that day when I was released from jail in 1996, I told myself; I will never look back and make a huge difference in future. Day after day, year after year, I had no guidance, no space to call my own, or where to go. It was very difficult to deal with. I was separated from friends and Deaf community. I refused to be the scapegoat.
Couple of years later, a Deaf person informed me that the board position was open on the same day, and I immediately became interested in board position. I contacted one of the founding board members for Deafhood Foundation, and the board member said to me that I would not be welcomed on the board and I was devastated more than anything in my life all because I am a Deaf returnee. WITHOUT due process or screened—nothing just like that. Just right on spot right there. I was completely surprised and hurt, too.
It was a major discriminatory. I was surprised that the founding board member signed to me that I’d be “frustrated” and knew that it was discriminating against its own Deaf member in Deaf community. It was a huge blow. It shows that Deafhood Foundation does not support recidivism in Deaf community.
When I had to re-read the book by Paddy Ladd, I realized that the book does not support Deaf returnees either. If less than 0.00000005 percent of Deaf returnees suffering today—the truth supported by lack of awareness, the support matters, and goes a long way, How can we improve this conscious?
Think about emotional and physical impact that has gone deep enough to deal with struggles, with the capacity to think strong that has stored enough. Thought-provoking adventures. I live by reading books doing everything I can to make a living on the streets, and effectively deal with a world that most of us would never understand would never understand what it is like or known about. I often wonder about discovering the origin of life.
It will make a big impact of the overall quality of life. Can we articulate the specific needs of empowerment by building bridges to Deaf community? Maya Angelou once said, “When people show you who they are, believe them”—that’s where it starts right there.
So, why not Deafhood Foundation supports Deaf returnees? The “philosophy” of Deafhood Foundation in the broadest sense, ignoring a barrier repertoire—stories, literacy expressions and the like—against Deaf returnees whose forms of expressions exert upon them.
Where are the tears of joy—and tears of pride? Having being “incarcerated” since my early teen years, I had ever experienced a pursuit of happiness before and never thought I would have that opportunity, my young adulthood forever lost. Deaf returnees do not given a second chance as “productive contributor” to Deaf community.
Deafhood Foundation, where is the compassion and willingness about Deaf returnees to put their lives on the line for others is deeply rooted in their own struggles for being given the opportunity for redemption and for being welcomed back into society?
In Paddy’s Corner: “Dr. Ladd coined the word “Deafhood” to describe positive ways of being Deaf in spite of the discrimination and oppression, and to present a framework to understand our past, work within the present, and plan for the future.”
What about the positive framework to understand Deaf returnees’ past, work with the present, and plan for the future to focus on positive ways of being Deaf in spite of the discrimination and oppression every day?
Few months ago, when I attended as lone Deaf attendee for ACLU National Conference in Washington, D.C.—I saw a powerful image that says “I believe a criminal record shouldn’t define your entire existence”—sadly, Deafhood Foundation does not see that way that it would always define your entire existence forever because Deaf community is small–and quickly judged by its looks and books.
-JT
Copyright © 2018 Jason Tozier
This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message.
Open Video for Deafhood Foundation
Audism: It’s Not A Joke
Another Hearing Privilege in Hollywood Industry
Honestly, when I learned about the movie, “The Silence”, the hearing actress would play a role as Deaf person. It’s another language war. The term of war comes from old English, “wyrre”—bringing into confusion. It is also an insult to Deaf culture. It’s the bandwagon of hearing privileges that always the stronghold to overcome. Deaf people should never been confused. It’s the hearing people who are confusing.
I do not really understand this social phenomenon why hearing people keep denying by unpacking own privileges. I mean…it’s no excuse! What is so special about Deaf community? Deaf actors and actresses are talented and attuned to their people.
I remember when I was selected to act as Hansel in Deaf program in 1983, that time I was 9 years old. The joy and excitement of learning as much acting as possible through which it can be understand, intellectually and emotionally, that Deaf people can act and understand the presence in their life experience is the consequence of those learning experiences so we are better prepared to act once we leave the acting experience.
It was a big deal for me even I realized just now. It’s really big deal. You know, Deaf children are precious to be given and empowered with acting skills. The study of acting as Deaf person had shown that the study of ASL is a creative process based upon the analysis of linguistic/cultural evidence, which results in a conversation between ASL and its users.
When I become an actor for Deafhood Monologues, it was a learning experience at Gallaudet. I believe that not only in ASL but in all areas Deaf actresses and Deaf actors should have the opportunity to reach their full potential as informed and knowledge young women and men. As they have chosen to learn about the language and culture.
It’s just impossible and unthinkable that hearing actresses and actors would deprive away from Deaf talent. It’s an invisible tool that Deaf community continues to be oppressed. We all need to be reminding of Homer’s Odyssey, Deaf people are challenged to overcome the unknown. It’s the same that goes to Hollywood industry.
Deaf actresses and actors had a joy of learning something novel—something mind-blowing. They are the ones who have gained from the learning journey that shall furnish their home. Back in 2011, I attended Toronto International Deaf Film + Arts Festival, the Gala event was a huge insult to Deaf community, the gala film was showing 88 minutes of hearing actresses and actors until three minutes left in the movie, finally Deaf actress. What does it mean?
What happened to the safe and rigorous, one that empowers Deaf actresses and actors in pursing ASL for Hollywood industry? After Gala night, the film festival begun and the opening of the festival, I’m Deaf and I Didn’t Know made by French Deaf filmmaker was the best film of the festival that morning that I decided to write down this film as best film and sure enough, the film won the best film of festival. It should be in the gala first place!
Yet, SEVEN years later, the film industry is still dominated by hearing privileges. Oh yeah, 30 years later after Marlee Matlin won Academy Award for the movie, Children of a Lesser God is still oppressed in the name of hearing privileges. I mean, what’s worst the most of all? The Silence.
The term: silence—complete absence of sound and cause to become silent; prohibit or prevent from speaking.
Yes, speaking from pain. Speaking from experience. Speaking from truth. It’s really unbelievable and insulting that Deaf culture continues to be oppressed from the absence of sound and prevent from showing Deaf talent. It’s quite shameful, hmm?
-JT
Copyright © 2018 Jason Tozier
This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message.
Why “Deaf” Should be Capitalized
Be Greater than Average
Can mathematics (in terms of ASL/Deaf-centric thinking) become Deaf community’s best friend?
...And the Truth Shall Set You Free. 
You must be logged in to post a comment.