Black History Month
Borrowed from Sorenson VRS
Famous Deaf African American People February is Black History Month. Deaf African American people have made their mark on American history through the years and today, are still helping shape America. Below, we feature just a few noteworthy African American deaf people. See if you know them.
Educator  | Andrew Jackson Foster (1925 - 1987) Missionary to deaf African people for more than 30 years, in 1956, Foster founded the Christian Mission for the Deaf African. Later in Accra, Ghana, he established the first school in Africa for the deaf. Foster was the first African American deaf person to earn a bachelor's degree from Gallaudet College (now Gallaudet University) and the first African American deaf person to earn a master's degree from Eastern Michigan University. |
Actress  | Michelle Banks Deaf at 1 year old, Banks attended Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, Model Secondary School for the Deaf and Gallaudet University. She graduated from the school of drama at State University of New York (SUNY). In 1990, she created the first deaf theater company in the U.S. for people of color, the Onyx Theater. She has appeared in the movies "Malcom X" and "Compensation," a silent film in which she starred. |
Performer  | C.J. Jones As an entertainer, C.J. Jones has performed a Tony Award-winning play on National Tour, directed deaf kids from high school to kindergarten in their own productions, acted in TV and written several one-man shows that have toured the U.S. and internationally and given motivational speeches to colleges and corporations. Click here to see his website. |
Rapper  | Prinz-D The self-proclaimed "first deaf rapper," combines vocal rapping with American Sign Language. In music videos he adds the element of closed captioning, making hip hop even more accessible through his work. Regardless of the barriers that have been placed in his way, Prinz-D continues to show the ability to overcome obstacles. As a result, he has become widely known nationwide with a sizeable following overseas and in Nordic countries. Learn more about Prinz-D athttp://www.prinzd.com or following him on Facebook. |
Video Editor, Photographer and Actor  | Melvin Patterson Multi-talented, Patterson has most recently appeared in the Deafhood Monologues, an episodic play of deaf experiences, chronicles and reflections delivered through poetry, stories and presentations in American Sign Language. Patterson is also the co-host of "Deaf Perspective," a program on Sorenson Communications' Video Center. You can learn more about Patterson's work at this link:http://deafhoodfoundation.org/Deafhood/FAQs.html. |
Professional Arena Football player Tony Tatum Cleveland Gladiators defensive back and jack linebacker, Tony Tatum attended Gallaudet University where he was one of the top players on Gallaudet's basketball team and cornerback for the Gallaudet football team. After college, he played defensive back for the Utah Blaze arena football team before being transferred to the Cleveland Gladiators. Currently in training, Tatum's first season with the Gladiators begins March 2014. Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz5I2gTPTjg to watch a video featuring Tatum by Storm Smith and Thunderography Productions. To see highlight footage of Tatum playing for the Utah Blaze, click here. To follow the Cleveland Gladiators, visit http://www.arenafootball.com/teams/aflgld. |
Writer  | Connie Briscoe A full-time published author for more than 20 years, Connie Briscoe was born with a hearing impairment. Briscoe never allowed that to stop her from pursuing her dream…writing. Since leaving editing to become a writer, Briscoe has made the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, USA Today and Publishers Weekly best sellers lists. View more about Briscoe athttp://www.victoriasanders.com/connie-briscoe. |
Fashion Designer  | Natasha Ofili A first-generation African American designer who lost her hearing at age 2, Ofili has always been interested in art. Her love for surrealist art has emerged in fashion. After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, where she earned her degree in Product Development, Ofili immediately began working as a product development coordinator for BCBG MAXAZRIA0 where she was responsible for four different lines and worked closely with each design team. To learn more about Ofili, visithttp://www.cargocollective.com/natashaofili. |
Educator and performer Evon Black Black holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in educational technology. Black has been a performer since 1986. She uses folktales from around the nation to teach values, elevated understanding and acceptance of other cultures. Black has worked primarily in student development - from residential deaf schools to Gallaudet University - for the past 22 years. She is also a public speaker. Learn more about Black athttp://www.aslinsideatl.com/evon.shtml. |
NFL Football Player Derrick Coleman Coleman is an American football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League, and the first legally deaf offensive player in the NFL. Click here to see a video featuring Coleman. |
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