NAACP today hosted a publicity event in which they symbolically “bury” the N-word. That got me thinking about following their example and bury the unfriendly term, “Deaf and Dumb”.
People are debating that the N-word is not completely negative because it is used amongst the blacks to refer to their friends. For example, one may say “What’s up, my nigga?”
We don’t even say that within our own deaf circles, “How are you, deaf and dumb?”
Should NAD, the equivalent of NAACP, be the organization that takes the lead on the funeral for the term “Deaf and Dumb”? We could ride the wave created by NAACP’s N-word funeral.
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Posted on July 9th, 2007 by tayler
July 9th, 2007 2:13 pm
Throw out Deaf mute, too!!!
July 9th, 2007 2:23 pm
What about “hearing-impaired”? Its use is so widespread.
July 9th, 2007 2:38 pm
Throw out Cochlear Implant!
July 9th, 2007 2:48 pm
Hearing Impaired brings in the money.
Use that and you’ll get paid for it. We started expanding fast once we started using ‘hearing-impaired’ in our works. We’ve gone from 2 rooms to 5 rooms this year because of ‘hearing-impaired’. And this year for the first time, our OC Fair booth has a strong professional touch with a lot of expensive tradeshow materials.
Take a look at it and see the gold in ‘hearing-impaired’ for yourself.
July 9th, 2007 2:50 pm
Sure, let’s ban ‘hearing impaired’!
July 9th, 2007 2:50 pm
2 rooms to 5 rooms in a storage unit does not mean anything, Roehm.
R-
July 9th, 2007 2:53 pm
Richard Roehm, I cannot believe you are saying this. This is like saying “Nigger brings in the money”. It is not possible to have any direct evidence that using “hearing-impaired” proved advantageous to your organization versus “deaf”.
July 9th, 2007 3:36 pm
Thoughts:
1.) Remember Ella Lentz’s vlog about how “Deaf and Dumb” does explain to people that we don’t hear AND we don’t talk. It’s more accurate than “Deaf” for some of us. Not saying I like “Deaf and Dumb”..just offering food for thought here.
2.) Personally, I think the NAD has better things to do than eliminating “D and D” from the vernacular of the American people.
3.) I do not really see, “Deaf and Dumb” used. It seems that “dumb” is more used to explain “stupid” than “mute” these days…so if someone were to call me “D and D” they’d probably be intending to insult me. We are more likely to see “Deaf Mute” used than “D and D”, IMO.
4.) Roehm, I do agree that the writer needs to write with his audience in mind. So, if I were to ask for a grant from the government, I might use “Hearing Impaired” because I expect it would be read by those that don’t really know much about the Deaf community. Nonetheless, I think there’s nothing wrong with being called “Deaf” and I honestly prefer “Deaf” over “Hearing Imparied”. It is in my opinion, that when using “Hearing Impaired” people tend to evoke feelings of sympathy. Then again, I don’t mind too much.
5.) Another final thought, this can be compared to little people. We no longer call them “Midgets” and we don’t call them “vertically challenged”.
Just my two cents….
July 9th, 2007 4:14 pm
1) Ella was referring to “Deaf Mute”. I don’t think she would ever favor the term “Deaf and Dumb”
2) NAACP had better things to do, still they did it.
3) I still see “Deaf and Dumb” being used.
4) Everyone knows what “deaf” means, and I could argue it’s more common than “hearing-impaired”.
5) Exactly, thus Richard Roehm’s lack of sensitivity. He succumbs to pressures in order to bring in money, rather than doing what is right.
July 9th, 2007 4:27 pm
Right, Ella said “D & M”, not “D and D”
Where do you see “D and D” being used?
Yes, everyone knows what “Deaf” means, but if I were to write a grant I think I’d use “HI”. After all, grant writing is a form of begging for money…just sayin’
July 9th, 2007 4:59 pm
JJ Puorro, explain why you’d use “hearing-impaired” over “deaf” if they mean the same thing in their eyes?
I would not want to be granted funds from an organization that turns down applications using the word “deaf”, however it is unlikely such organizations exist. Citing “hearing-impaired” as advantageous over “deaf” is unproven and cannot be proved. And it is our responsibility not to succumb but instead educate. That is precisely what the NAACP attempted to do today. It certainly does not help that we have a person claiming to be head of a deaf advocacy group not only use the politically incorrect term, but favor and push its usage.
July 9th, 2007 5:09 pm
“Dumb and Dumber” made millions. I think we should make a movie and spread the wealth.
Retire the “and ‘fill-in-blank’ terms.
July 9th, 2007 5:12 pm
Very funny, drmzz.
How about we make one about your fishing trips?
July 9th, 2007 6:59 pm
I take it you guys haven’t really watched my vlog about “100% Deaf & DUMB”?
July 9th, 2007 10:00 pm
Tayler: JJ Puorro, explain why you’d use “hearing-impaired” over “deaf” if they mean the same thing in their eyes?
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Let’s say I am wrting to request a grant for some computers from Microsoft…
I have two choices:
“We need ten PC’s for Deaf children at our school”
OR
“We need ten PC’s for the hearing impaired children at our school”
I think the second sentence would garner more sympathy and perhaps more dollars.
In no way am I agreeing with Roehm here…and I also agree that it’s impossible to prove whether using “HI” is better or not…I’m just saying that “HI” garners more sympathy…
When I think of the words, “Hearing Impaired” I get an image in my head of a hearing person saying the words while wincing and pointing a finger to one ear…
July 9th, 2007 10:30 pm
JJ, I completely see your point. So you do agree the term “hearing-impaired” is to a degree derogatory? Otherwise, it wouldn’t garner sympathy.
My point is I should not write anything that puts down myself and the group or culture to which I belong. This is true for any group or culture.
Using it encourages others to do the same and they wouldn’t be at fault.
I wouldn’t exactly encourage a funeral for “hearing-impaired” but I would love to see it ushered out of our society’s vocabulary. It’s the term “Deaf and Dumb” that is more or less equivalent to the N-word. I don’t hear it often, but everyone has heard it before. Hearing it even once reinforces negative attitudes many people have about deaf people.
July 9th, 2007 10:38 pm
Would it be acceptable to engrave “State School for Deaf and Dumb Asylum” on a historical timeline granite memorial at a hearing university location? This memorial was built about five years ago.
(just after the civil war, this hearing university reestablished their classes at a deaf school…that’s why that deaf state school was mentioned)
BTW, this memorial used “African American” for famous (such as Frederick Douglass)
notable persons.
July 9th, 2007 10:46 pm
Let me add….This timeline is engraved on a long long sidewalk in middle of the campus and the size of the “S S D D A” letters are big…like 6 inches tall and four inches wide so so the whole thing for 1866 looked like six feet long.
If no one believes me I can submit pictures.
July 9th, 2007 10:49 pm
Humor us and submit the pictures.
July 9th, 2007 10:52 pm
it’s funny bec this university is noted for its center on deafness and deaf ed training programs…should “Deaf and Dumb Asylum” be ok for us to use in a historical context.
But with this big university with 35,000 students walking over this huge sidewalk daily and seeing deaf mentioned with the dumb word. Dumb has a different meaning today and I’m sure many of the hearing students don’t know that.
July 9th, 2007 10:53 pm
I completely agree. Submit pictures to tmayer@deafread.com - Thanks!
July 9th, 2007 10:54 pm
Ok tayler I will email them to you tomorrow with some info…it was only recently that I got a digital camera. Perphaps you’d like to put it in your blog. I don’t want to cause controversy here where I am.
July 9th, 2007 10:55 pm
Thanks, whoever you are
I hope you don’t forget (I have no way of reaching you). I would put them here and maintain your anonymity.
July 10th, 2007 4:50 am
Richard - I recommend you change the name of your agency to:
Orange County Center for Hearing Impaired Peddlars…
OCCHIP … almost like HICCUP
July 10th, 2007 5:50 am
Tell the interviewer you’re “hearing impaired” and you get the job
Tell the interviewer you’re “deaf” and you’ll be told there’s no openings
Get real!
July 10th, 2007 7:33 pm
Update:
The commenter “Wondering..” sent me pictures along with an explanation. Instead of posting them here, I encouraged the commenter to establish a blog dedicated to the cause brought forth. Stay posted!
July 11th, 2007 8:41 am
I’m not caving into pressures. I’m paving a golden brick road to the future of deaf society. It seems the absolutists prefer a muddy road back to the past. Yesterday, I picked up 85 golden bricks for the road.