Summary
Profiles of Black Deaf teachers, scholars, and artists, including Louise B. Miller, Andrew Foster, Dr. David James, Dr. Glenn B. Anderson, CJ Jones, and Jade Bryan.
While you’ve probably heard of iconic African-American historical figures like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Billie Holiday, the d/Deaf communities often do not receive the same recognition. In honor of Black History Month, here is a spotlight on some of the most prominent individuals in the Black Deaf community.
Educators
Louise B. Miller was a mother of four children, three of whom were deaf. She fought for the educational rights of Black deaf children in Washington, D.C., and filed a lawsuit against the D.C. Board of Education in 1952. Her lawsuit, Miller v. D.C. Board of Education, challenged the segregation and discrimination that forced Black deaf children to attend schools outside the District at their own expense. She won the case and paved the way for the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision that ended school segregation in the United States. She is honored by Gallaudet University with a memorial and a doctorate degree for her legacy and impact on Black deaf history and culture.
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Andrew Foster was an American educator and missionary who dedicated his life to improving the education and welfare of deaf people in Africa. He was the first African American to graduate from Gallaudet University, the American university for the deaf, in 1954. He then founded the Christian Mission for the Deaf in 1956 and traveled to Africa to establish the first deaf school in West Africa in Ghana. He later set up 31 more schools for the deaf in 13 African countries, overcoming many challenges and barriers. He is widely regarded as the “father of deaf education in Africa” and a visionary leader in the deaf community.
Doctors and Scholars
Dr. David James was the first Black Deaf person to earn a Ph.D in 1977. He studied linguistics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and became a professor at several universities, including Indiana University, Howard University, and Rutgers University. He also served as the president of the National Black Deaf Advocates from 1988 to 1990. He is known for his research on Black American Sign Language and his advocacy for the rights and education of Black Deaf people. He is a role model and a mentor for many aspiring Black Deaf scholars and leaders.
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Dr. Glenn B Anderson earned his doctorate degree in 1982. He studied rehabilitation counseling at New York University and became a professor and director of training at the University of Arkansas. He also served as the chair of the Board of Trustees at Gallaudet University for 12 years, and was appointed by President Clinton to serve on the National Council of Disability. He is known for his research on Deaf culture and his leadership in various Deaf organizations, such as the National Black Deaf Advocates. He is an author, a mentor, and a recipient of many awards and honors.
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Artists and Performers
CJ Jones is a deaf actor, director, and producer who has done just about everything, from acting in a Tony Award winning play on National Tour to directing Deaf kids in their own productions. He has also appeared in Film and TV, written one-man shows, and given motivational speeches. He was born in St. Louis, MO, one of seven hearing children born to deaf parents. He has a BA in Theater from NTID/RIT and an MA in Theater from NTID/RIT. He is one of the subjects of the documentary See What I’m Saying: The Deaf Entertainers Documentary and made his feature film debut with Baby Driver. He also created a Na’vi sign language for Avatar: The Way of Water.
Jade Bryan is the first Black Deaf award-winning filmmaker who graduated with a BFA degree in film production from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in 1993. She is also a social justice activist who cares about equality and accessibility for the Deaf and POC communities. She founded Jade Films and Entertainment, LLC and DeafVision Filmworks, Inc. and has produced and directed several documentaries and feature films, such as “The Shattered Mind”, which won 17 awards at various film festivals. She also created the #DeafTalent Movement on social media in 2012 to raise awareness and visibility of Deaf Talent of Color in the media, entertainment and technology industries. She is a speaker, a mentor, and a leader who strives to change the narrative and representation of Deaf people of color on the screen.
Accessible Content for All
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This is an expanded, updated version of an article originally published in 2022.
Illustrations do not depict the individuals mentioned in the article.