Statement on Racism and Oppression

Published on June 1, 2020

We at the National Deaf Center grieve for the lost lives of Black people as a result of systemic violence and racism.

Racism is also a painful reality within the deaf community. Disparities in opportunity and outcomes for Black deaf Americans are high. Our report on Postsecondary Achievement of Black Deaf People in the United States lays bare the reality that high school, college, and technical training program completion rates for Black deaf people are lower than the national average.

These inequities in education lead to lifelong gaps in employment. In spite of the fact that many Black deaf people are looking for work, only 38% have a job. The median annual income for Black deaf people is significantly lower than white colleagues. Black deaf women, and Black deafdisabled people, earn even less.

As this 2019 report concludes: “We must tackle systemic racism, audism, sexism, classism and other forms of oppression that create cracks throughout the educational pipeline that deeply impact Black deaf students’ college access, achievement, and overall quality of life.”

These are facts that cannot be ignored. While the numbers are important, they do not replace learning from Black deaf people themselves, who experience microaggressions and racism throughout their education and professional careers.

Watch and learn from the experiences of these Black deaf people. We are grateful to them for sharing their stories and encourage you to share them widely.

We have seen first hand that local deaf communities across the United States believe in the importance of dismantling intersectional oppressions. We recognize and honor the work of other community organizations in this fight, and encourage you to support their efforts, including:

To our community members who are suffering: we are in solidarity with you. Black lives matter.

 

Stephanie W. Cawthon, Director

Carrie Lou Garberoglio, Associate Director

Tia Ivanko, Director of Operations

Save This
ClosePlease login

Other News Items

summercamp
March 28, 2024
In The News and Opinions, All News
...For deaf youth, summer camps bring opportunities to build relationships, develop their identities, and strengthen skills for the future. Whether they are day camps focused on coding, virtual programs in the arts, or overnight outdoor adventures, research shows that summer programs can have a significant, positive impact on the lives of deaf youth....
Two person sitting and discussing while looking at a laptop.
March 15, 2024
...If you were unable to join us for our recent webinar, Breaking Barriers: Enhancing Self-Advocacy Skills & Navigating the Grievance Process for Deaf Students, don’t worry! We've got you covered with a recap of the essential insights on navigating college accessibility as a deaf student—especially when the process hits bumps along the way....
Diversity group of people raising their hands.
March 8, 2024
All News, Resources and Initiatives
...More and more people are working in healthcare fields – including deaf people. Our analysis of the American Community Survey reveals that over the last 10 years there has been a 72% increase in deaf students enrolling or majoring in healthcare-related fields (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024)....

Need Help?

Fill out this form to get help from the NDC team.  Can’t see the form below? Click here to contact the NDC team.