[Ohio-Talk] Braille Monitor: Being Black Helped Me Be Blind and Being Blind Helped by Anil Lewis

[Andra Stover]

Thank you for sharing this. Great read. I looked forward to listening to
him and Melissa a half hour before the general sessions during this year‘s
convention.

On Mon, Jul 27, 2020 at 9:09 AM ali benmerzouga via Ohio-Talk <
ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Thank you Suzanne for sharing! Two thumbs up!
>
>
>
> Very good article and worth reading. I will send the information of the
> three books he suggested in a separate email.
>
>
>
> Keep safe and take care.
>
>
>
> Ali
>
>
>
>
>
> From: Suzanne Turner <smturner.234 at gmail.com>
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> Subject: Braille Monitor: Being Black Helped Me Be Blind and Being Blind
> Helped by Anil Lewis
>
>
>
>
> Being Black Helped Me Be Blind and Being Blind Helped Me Understand that
> #BlackLivesMatter
>
>
> by Anil Lewis
>
> From the Editor: Anil Lewis is a person with such prominence in the
> Federation that writing a headnote about him seems almost as unnecessary as
> writing an introduction for President Riccobono, Immediate Past President
> Maurer, or our first vice president and chairman of the National Federation
> of the Blind Board of Directors, Pam Allen. Therefore, I will not use the
> space to introduce Anil but to express my appreciation to him for the
> writing of an article that required going beyond the past and the present
> and demanded that he look into his soul and share with us what he found
> there. This takes guts; it takes honesty; it takes humility; it assumes
> that
> for all of his effort we, the readers, will invest some of ourselves,
> including our souls, in trying to understand the messages being expressed.
> I
> will never know what it is like to be a black man, but Anil Lewis believes
> that I have the capacity to learn more than I now know, and both publicly
> and privately I give him my pledge to honor his faith and trust. Here is
> what I believe to be the most moving and educational article I have ever
> had
> the privilege of editing and publishing:
>
> Although my father died when I was six, I grew up as part of a large
> extended family. My mother raised four children on her own, two of whom
> were
> blind (I became blind at age twenty-five). I am also blessed to have a host
> of aunts, uncles, and cousins who are all like mothers, fathers, sisters,
> and brothers.
>
> Growing up as a young black man in Atlanta, one of the most progressive
> civil rights cities in the country, I was aware of the challenges I would
> have to face as a black person in a predominately-white society. I grew up
> realizing that I am the beneficiary of the work of many civil rights
> leaders
> who paved the way for me to receive a proper education and opportunities
> for
> gainful employment. Thanks to my family, I developed a positive
> self-concept
> of myself as a black man despite society's negative depiction of black
> people throughout the mainstream media. With their support and
> encouragement, I was able to secure opportunities to receive the
> interventions that made it possible for me to excel. I was told that I
> would
> need to be better just to be perceived as equal, and as a result, I became
> extremely self-confident, regardless of any environment or situation. My
> academic success enabled me to receive college scholarships and
> subsequently
> made it possible for me to obtain relatively good jobs with above-average
> pay.
> My extended family also taught me the skill of successful interracial
> interaction, or how to wear the "mask," a skill that allows me to navigate
> within a racially charged environment in a manner that is not perceived as
> intimidating, but allows me to use intimidation when it helps me reach my
> objective. Although I code-switch (use vocabulary that is appropriate to
> the
> audience), I am able to do this without compromising myself or altering my
> true identity-"When in France.." Little did I know, but this lived
> experience and acquired skill set would help me adapt to being blind later
> in life.
>
> With the relatively quick onset of my blindness due to retinitis pigmentosa
> (RP), I lost a significant amount of my sight over a weekend, leaving me
> unable to read the text on my computer screen and making it next to
> impossible for me to continue to operate as a sighted person. My mother
> made
> no excuses. She encouraged me to "Get up and do something." Luckily, I was
> referred to the services offered by the state vocational rehabilitation
> agency and a local community rehabilitation center, where I learned that I
> needed to acquire the alternative skills of blindness in order to regain my
> independence. However, the systems in place set the bar so low that I would
> not be encouraged, supported, or allowed to reach my full potential. I
> attained a mediocre skill set at best. My acquisition of limited cane
> travel
> abilities using routes, a Braille reading speed of thirty-three words per
> minute, and an inability to cook anything without the use of a microwave
> allowed me to graduate from my blindness training with praise and
> accolades.
> Fortunately, I possessed good computer skills prior to my blindness, so I
> was able to teach myself how to use JAWS to access the computer and was an
> above average user.
>
> Soon after my graduation, I quickly became a staff member at the same
> center, teaching others Braille and access technology. I was proud of my
> accomplishments, but I did not realize that my "achievement" was
> perpetuating a system of inadequate training and low expectations. Then I
> met members of the National Federation of the Blind. This newly acquired
> extended family acknowledged my skill set and immediately began encouraging
> me to set higher expectations for myself and for other blind people. With
> their support, I worked hard in order to maintain my self-confidence and
> develop a positive self-concept as a blind person. I improved my blindness
> skills and learned a new language of blindness: Structured Discovery, long
> white cane, competing on terms of equality, etc.
>
> As a member of the 1999 Three Strikes Leadership Seminar, I participated in
> a week-long leadership training at the NFB national center that exposed me
> to the history of the blindness movement, educated me about the
> achievements
> of the NFB, and inspired me to work collectively to overcome the challenges
> to our liberty that still remain. I became aware that I have benefitted
> from
> the work that many have done before me to create opportunities to learn,
> grow, and be accepted as an equal in society. Once I gained this
> consciousness of the struggle and the dedication of the blind people that
> came before me and the continued systemic ableism that still exists and
> prohibits blind people from reaching their full potential, I engaged in the
> collective action of the NFB.
>
> My Federation family taught me the skill of coping with public attitudes
> about blindness and how to blend in on terms of equality. My new mask
> allows
> me to navigate within a custodial-rich environment in a manner that
> commands
> respect. Often the only blind person in the room, I am able to make others
> comfortable with my presence and still be able to engage in those
> uncomfortable conversations in a manner that facilitates learning rather
> than denial. However, in order to educate myself so that I could influence
> others, I needed to learn the truth about blindness.
>
> The knowledge I needed to acquire was not readily available, and the role
> models I needed were not depicted on TV or radio. In fact, mainstream
> coverage of blind people perpetuates negative stereotypes and
> misconceptions
> about blindness, much like the media has for too long portrayed black
> people. I knew it would require a dedicated effort to gain a true
> understanding of blindness, and I soon received the support and guidance of
> my Federation family. I read Walking Alone and Marching Together, the
> written history of our movement, along with other informative materials.
> With these and my ongoing contact, I gained a greater understanding of the
> truth about blindness and the systemic obstacles to our full participation.
> Subsequently, as an active member of the NFB for over twenty years, I have
> worked to address the discriminatory policies and practices that prevent
> blind people from living the lives we want and to fight for the security,
> equality, and opportunity that will enable us to serve as full
> participating
> members of society.
>
> Recently, in the wake of the extreme social unrest (awakening), brought
> about by the videos depicting the racial injustices leading to the murder
> of
> George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and far too many other black people, I have
> realized that I have not exercised the same degree of dedication to address
> the systemic racism that prohibits black people from living the lives we
> want. If I am to be honest, my lack of dedication to educate myself has
> resulted in my ignorance, which is no excuse for my silence and is
> shameful.
> It has made me complicit in the tragedy, which is completely unacceptable.
> As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated, "The ultimate tragedy is not the
> oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the
> good people." I consider myself a good person, and I am recommitted to
> acquiring the knowledge to effectively exercise my voice toward ending the
> tragedy of systemic racism.
>
> First, I had to process the internal and external anger that grew from my
> guilt and newly evolved awareness. Most do not know that I have a really
> bad
> temper, but anyone who really knows me understands that I process anger
> through humor. I do not mean laughing at the situation but adopting a less
> frustrating perspective that helps me dissipate the anger and focus on the
> problem toward a solution. It is imperative for me to be able to decompress
> before taking action, or my anger results in my making bad decisions.
>
> I had to resolve a profound internal conflict in order to determine how I
> would take action. A dear friend shared a video from Trevor Noah, the host
> of the Daily Show, which was about a twenty-minute train of consciousness
> giving his perspective on the recent racially charged situations that have
> raised worldwide awareness of systemic racism. Trevor possesses an amazing
> talent to use his humor to address socially relevant issues in a manner
> that
> offers alternate perspectives that challenge your existing paradigm.
> Subsequently, I read Trevor Noah's book, Born a Crime: Stories from a South
> African Childhood, which, for my blind friends, is available on BARD. This
> was the therapy I needed in order to deal with my emotional crisis and to
> begin my real education. Trevor's lived experience, chronicled in this
> book,
> serves to entertain and enlighten. I encourage anyone who like myself, has
> anger issues that prevent them from making a conscious decision to educate
> themselves about the nuances of race, racism, and racial interaction to
> read
> this book.
>
> Let me be clear: I am not suggesting that reading Born a Crime is the
> textbook to the understanding and enlightenment about systemic racism. I am
> only stating that it helped me to get past the anger to be open to learning
> more. Far too many people stop at denial, or in my case, presumed
> enlightenment. We want to be able to ingest all understanding by watching
> the news, reading a newspaper article, and watching YouTube videos.
> Although
> these are tremendous resources to stay informed, as demonstrated by the
> impact of the George Floyd video, true understanding requires a dedicated
> effort to educate oneself.
>
> Even the formal systems meant to educate usually present an inadequate
> presentation of our history. In school I learned black history from a
> perspective that was so watered down. I took pride that a black man
> invented
> the cotton gin. I actually thought the Brown vs. Board of Education-after
> initial resistance that required National Guard intervention-eliminated
> school segregation. I thought the Voting Rights Act was no longer necessary
> because I had no problems exercising my right to cast a private,
> independent
> ballot. My work within the NFB has taught me how to effectively advocate
> for
> the passage of civil rights legislation. Moreover, I have learned that
> passing legislation is not enough. The ongoing work of advocacy toward
> enforcement is essential, lest we regress to the system that we fought to
> change. I am extremely embarrassed about my lack of understanding of the
> systems and practices that exist and serve to limit opportunities for black
> people in this country. I actively work to cope with a significant amount
> of
> guilt related to my ignorance and constantly seek information to educate
> myself so that I can fight for the change that is necessary.
>
> In my recent recommitment to self-educate, I have turned to two books:
> White
> Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide, written by Carol Anderson,
> and White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about
> Racism,
> written by Robin DiAngelo, both also available on BARD. In White Rage, I
> read information about black history that shook me to my core and had never
> been shared with me in any of my history books. Moreover, the details
> provided about everything from school segregation to the Iran Contra
> scandal
> offered information that framed these in a completely new light. White
> Fragility was written by a white American author from a white point of view
> to address "the challenges of talking to white people about racism." I
> thought it would be helpful for me to take a look from this perspective,
> and
> it was more than helpful. It helped me in my quest to acquire the language
> to have meaningful conversations about racism by differentiating between
> the
> discrimination caused by prejudice, and the systemic racism resulting from
> racist policies and practices.
>
> I encourage everyone to read both books. However, if you identify as black
> or any other minority, I suggest that you start by reading White Rage. The
> information you gain will be helpful in maintaining your conviction that
> the
> struggle is real. If you identify as white, begin with White Fragility. I
> specifically suggest starting with chapter four, "How Does Race shape the
> Lives of White People." It begins with a quote from Ijeoma Oluo, "White
> people: I don't want you to understand me better, I want you to understand
> yourselves." I realize the flaw in executing a strategy that attempts to
> get
> white people to understand the lived experience of black people. It is
> similar to the challenge of getting the sighted to understand what it is
> like to live as a blind person. However, it is my experience that a better
> understanding of your ignorance helps you better understand the problem and
> will hopefully motivate you to become part of the solution.
> Many of my white brothers and sisters within my Federation family have
> reached out to express their support and understanding. I am blessed to
> have
> these relationships, and I hope and pledge to continue to build more allies
> to advocate for the systemic change that is necessary. The work we have
> done
> within the Federation to address diversity and inclusion is exemplary, and
> I
> feel it will continue to build awareness in a manner that empowers our
> blind
> black members and our allies to play an active role in this effort. My plan
> is to take the skills I have learned as a member of the National Federation
> of the Blind and use them to support the work of another organization
> focused on addressing systemic racism. I believe I have the capacity to
> work
> within both circles and hope to find concentric areas that leverage what I
> learn from one organization to strengthen the work I do for the other.
>
> The National Federation of the Blind fights tirelessly for the rights of
> blind people. Other disability organizations continue to encourage us to
> become immersed within a broader coalition of people with disabilities. We
> have specific needs that need to be addressed that are unique to blindness,
> like Braille, nonvisual access technology, and accessible instructional
> materials. Although we participate in advocacy efforts that help to meet
> our
> goals, we cannot afford to have our voices diluted in a sea of other voices
> seemingly advocating for the same things. We realize that blind lives
> matter
> and require specific intervention and action to eliminate the
> discrimination
> blind people face. This is also the case with black lives. The systemic
> racism that black people face requires specific intervention and action.
> #BlackLivesMatter is a movement that acknowledges that we cannot afford to
> build a larger coalition of "All Lives Matter" when we need to use our time
> and talent to add resources, develop specific strategies, policies, and
> legislation to address systemic racism. Reinforcing that #BlackLivesMatter
> will help you #LiveTheLifeYouWant.
>
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