[NABS-L] Draft Resolution 2.0, Seeking Further Feedback

[kim drudge]

OK, I agree. However, it's always been called Perkins School for the Blind
Could it be renamed "The Boston School for the Blind" or "Massachusetts
School for the Blind", or "Massachusetts School of Succession for the
Blind"?
Could it also be renamed "U.S. School for Succession for the Blind?"
Kim

On Fri, May 31, 2024 at 8:54 AM Justin Salisbury via NABS-L <
nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Hi Everyone,
>
> After the feedback I've gotten so far, here is a second version of this
> resolution. Please continue to share any thoughts that you have. It is
> improving because of your participation in the process.
>
> Resolution 2024-##, Regarding the Harmful Namesake of the Perkins School
> for the Blind
>
> WHEREAS, The New England Asylum for the Blind was incorporated in 1829 and
> opened its doors in August 1832 in Boston, Massachusetts; and
>
> WHEREAS, In 1839, the Asylum was renamed after Thomas Handasyd Perkins
> after he donated to it, and, after further name changes, that entity is
> known today as the Perkins School for the Blind; and
>
> WHEREAS, The Perkins School for the Blind, as a collective institution
> including its library and products, remains an important provider of
> blindness-related services today; and
>
> WHEREAS, Born in 1764, T. H. Perkins used money from his wealthy family to
> start an international trading business, where he traded human 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 all,
>
> 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.