[NABS-L] Seeking Feedback on Draft Resolution about Changing the Name of a School for the Blind

[kim drudge]

Hello,
I somewhat agree, but somewhat disagree. Mr. Perkins made the Perkins
brailler, the smart brailler, and the light-touch brailler.
Instead of having the name of Perkins Asylum and Institution, it should
just be named "Perkins School for the Blind". Also, I believe Perkins
should expand to include people who are deafblind.
Thank you,
Kim

On Thu, May 30, 2024 at 6:55 PM Justin Salisbury via NABS-L <
nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Dear NABS members and leaders,
>
> I am preparing to submit a resolution to be considered by the National
> Federation of the Blind Convention in July. Since this is the NFB's
> national student division, and since this resolution is about a school for
> the blind, I am writing to ask for feedback that anyone might have about
> the content and/or structure of this resolution. I plan to submit this
> before the June 4 submission deadline, but I would love to hear any
> thoughts that our students can offer.
>
> I will say even before posting the resolution that I expect that some
> people may have strong feelings about this. For me, however the national
> convention votes, I think it will be very instructive for all of us as we
> come to more fully and completely understand the philosophy of the National
> Federation of the Blind and what we truly mean when we say that we are
> committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. These conversations are
> complex, and they can be messy. They are also very important. At this point
> in time, I truly don't know how I think the full national convention will
> vote, but I would like to learn. I want to hear what people think about
> this.
>
> Here is the current draft of the resolution
>
> Resolution 2024-##, Regarding the Harmful Namesake of the Perkins School
> for the Blind
>
> WHERAS, The New England Asylum for the Blind was incorporated in 1829 and
> opened its doors in August 1832 in Boston, Massachusetts; and
>
> WHEREAS, The school changed its name in 1839 to become the Perkins
> Institution and Massachusetts Asylum for the Blind in appreciation for
> generous financial support from Thomas Handasyd Perkins; and
>
> WHEREAS, The Perkins School for the Blind, as a collective institution
> including its library and products, remains a major factor in blind
> services in New England today; and
>
> WHEREAS, Born in 1764, T. H. Perkins used money from his wealthy family to
> start an international trading business, where he traded slaves and the
> goods produced by their labor, including cotton, sugar, and rum, in the
> Caribbean, until the Haitian Revolution in 1791; and
>
> WHEREAS, T. H. Perkins later expanded his fortune by illegally smuggling
> opium into China; and
>
> WHEREAS, Pairing valuable products, services, and educational experiences
> with the name of a known opium smuggler and slave trader teaches students
> and community members of all backgrounds that these immoral acts are not
> disqualifiers for being publicly honored; and
>
> WHEREAS, Continuing to honor a known slave trader and opium smuggler
> perpetuates intergenerational trauma for people of all colors; and
>
> WHEREAS, On its website, the Perkins School for the Blind acknowledges
> that it has financially benefitted from both the slave trade and opium
> smuggling, and acknowledges the problems caused by this, particularly to
> those in Black and Chinese communities; now, therefore
>
> BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
> assembled this seventh day of July, 2024, in the City of Orlando, Florida,
> that this organization asserts that the enslavement of human beings and
> illegal smuggling of opium are unequivocally immoral and that participating
> in these wrongdoings is a disqualifier for being honored in any space
> sufficiently influenced by the National Federation of the Blind; and
>
> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this organization commends the Perkins School
> for the Blind for acknowledging how it has benefited from these historical
> wrongs; and
>
> BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, That this organization urges the Perkins School
> for the Blind to advance its efforts to promote diversity, equity, and
> inclusion by changing its name to remove all references to Thomas Handasyd
> Perkins.
>
>
> Thank you in advance for your feedback.
>
> Justin
>
> Justin MH Salisbury, MEd, NOMC, NCRTB
> English Pronouns: he/him/his
> Phone: 808.797.8606
> Email: President at Alumni.ECU.edu
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-- 
Kim Drudge
Behind a great man is a strong woman.