Successful Black Deaf
Advocates
Spring 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
A Short History of National Black
Deaf Advocates
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The story begins in 1980 when a small group of locals in DC met with the
board of Deaf Pride. They were concerned about the identity of Black Deaf
people, barriers to achieving their potential, and the lack of leadership. They
focused on shared experiences, ideas, hopes, talents, and abilities, and
dealing with isolation. The group developed goals to encourage individuals’
skills that are usually ignored.
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In July of 1980, NAD held its convention in Ohio. A Black Caucus was
developed that included several members of the DC group. However, this
was not a part of the BDA movement, but separate.
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In August of 1980, Charles (Chuck) Williams came to DC to file a class
action suit against the National Democratic Convention; seeking to force the
convention to televise the meetings including a sign language interpreter so
that proceedings were accessible to D/deaf people.
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Chuck was invited to work with the local BDA planners and the "The Black
Experience" was formulated as a conference theme.
A mini conference was planned for November. The chairperson of the conference
was Ms. Lottie Crook, Vice Chairman, Lindwood Smith, and Interpreter
Coordinator, Ms. Shirley Johnson, and Mr. Robert Howard as the trainer and
consultant.
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On June 25 - 26th of 1981 the conference became a reality. The conference
brought together nearly 100 Black people from the D/deaf community, who
met at Howard University.
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In August of 1982, a conference was held in Cleveland, attracting nearly
300 people from across the United States. Topics included: Section 504,
Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Social Services, and Hearing Parents with
deaf children.
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A debate was held as to whether a national organization should be formed.
The idea was accepted. The national executive secretary, Mr. Albert
Couthen was elected to coordinate the efforts to form a national office. The
next conference was in Philadelphia, PA with Ms. Elizabeth Moore-Aviles as
host and president of that chapter.
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The second conference in August 1983, was held in PA with nearly equal
attendance as the previous year. The conference focused on leadership and
education. The first beauty pageant was held, and Ms. Ronnie Mae Tyson
was chosen as the reigning Miss Black Deaf America. New York was
recognized as Chapter #4 and chosen as host of the 1984 conference. Ms.
Patricia Johnson was president of the NY chapter.
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Transition Services Preparation & Training
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Sheryl Guest-Emery was elected as the new national executive
secretary. She developed a set of national by-laws, procedures for their
implementation, and legally incorporated the organization. Dr. Seth
Tetteh-Ocloo was appointed as acting treasurer and assisted in
development of the bylaws and incorporation. Ms. Pamela Reichelle
Anderson of Detroit Michigan obtained the 501 (C)3 tax exempt status
for NBDA.
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During the conference of 1983-1984, Atlanta joined as Chapter #5,
Detroit became Chapter #6 and Chicago was #7.
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In 1986 Nashville, TN became Chapter #8, and Memphis became
chapter #9 in 1987. Tennessee was the first state to hold two chapters.
Spring 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Deaf Black Success Stories
1. Alesia Howard
2. Angela McCaskill
3. Donald A. Tinsley
4. Fred Beam
5. Glenn B. Anderson
6. Isaac Agboola
7. Joanel Lopez
Spring 2005
8. Marvin “Timothy”
Albert
9. Michelle Banks
10. Nathie Marbury
11. Thomas Samuels
12. Toronja Williams
13. Tyese Wright
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Alesia Howard
*Graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree
in Psychology from Rochester Institute of Technology
(RIT) in Rochester, NY.
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•She's performed in theater productions at RIT's National
Technical Institute for the Deaf, was a member of the
Gospel Ensemble, worked as a resident advisor, and
worked on different committees that fostered a sense of
community and promoted cultural diversity. But her
favorite extra-curricular activity was being a member of
Ebony Club, and she served as President for one year.
•* Her advice to others? “There is so much support out
there these days, that there is no excuse you cannot do
it,” Alesia affirms. “Yes, it's hard. But you can do it, and
never give up.”
•More on Alesia…
Spring 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Angela McCaskill
•Received
her Ph.D May 14, 2004 at Gallaudet University in
Special Education Administration.
•Worked
as Coordinator of Residence Education at the Model
Secondary School for the Deaf and Gallaudet University and
Assistant Principal at the Model Secondary for the Deaf.
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•
“The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called
Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called
Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called
Family, and you will have flats called Jobs. But, if you have a
spare called Determination, an engine called Perseverance,
insurance called Faith, and a driver called Jesus, you can
make it to a place called Success.”
•More
Spring 2005
on Angela…
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Donald A. Tinsley
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*Former National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA)
Treasurer and Board member, Mr. Donald Tinsley,
made history at the Indiana Association of the Deaf
(IAD) biennial conference in April 2003 where he was
elected IAD first Black president. IAD has only once
before had a Black officer—Joe Kindred, who was
elected IAD Secretary in 1963.
•Donald is the Program Director of Deaf and Hard of
Hearing Services (DHHS) at Indiana Government Center in
Indianapolis, Indiana.
•He graduated from the Indiana School for the Deaf in 1969
and attended the National Technical Institute for the
Deaf (NTID), in Rochester, NY. He also earned an
associate degree in Electrical Engineering Technology
from Indiana University—Purdue University at
Indianapolis (IUPUI).
Spring 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
More on Donald…
Fred Beam
•Fred was the first ever to have a Deaf African American
leading role in the history of hearing theater. He was also
the first Deaf African American actor to have a leading role in
Equity Theater in Chicago, and possibly in the nation.
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•Beam is a dedicated member of the National Black Deaf
Advocates— he is a former President of DC Area Black
Deaf Advocates (DCABDA), former DCABDA Board member
and has chaired numerous DCABDA committees.
•Beam is the founder of Invisible Hands Inc., which is made
up of a number of different companies including: The Wild
Zappers, an all male deaf dance company which has toured
nationally and internationally; National Deaf Dance Theatre,
a mainstream dance company for both deaf and hearing
communities; and I Didn’t Hear That Color, a deaf African
American touring theater troupe.
More on Fred…
Spring 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Glenn B. Anderson
*The U.S. Senate confirmed six of President Bush’s
nominees to the National Council on Disability
(NCD) on September 26, 2002. Among those confirmed
was Glenn B. Anderson, Ph.D., of Little Rock, Arkansas.
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* Dr. Anderson is director of training at the University of
Arkansas Rehabilitation and Training Center for Persons
who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
•He is a professor in the Department of Rehabilitation,
Human Resources, and Communications Disorders and
he also serves as chair of the Board of Trustees at
Gallaudet University.
More on Glenn…
Spring 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Isaac Agboola
* Was appointed chair of the Department of Business at
Gallaudet University effective May 2003. He is the first
deaf African American chair of an academic department
at Gallaudet University.
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*Was the secretary of the District of Columbia Black Deaf
Advocates and Workshops Chair for the 2003 NBDA
Conference.
*He is involved in numerous community activities including
serving on the Maryland Governor's Advisory Board for
Telecommunications Relay (GABTR), Treasurer of the
Gallaudet University Alumni Association, and advisor to the
Zeta Sigma Psi fraternity, a new fraternity established by
black male students at Gallaudet University.
More on Isaac…
Spring 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Joanel Lopez
* Lopez is a Lexington School for the Deaf graduating senior
who has his mind set on enrolling at Howard University
in the fall. Only once before in the 140 year history of
Lexington has a graduating senior applied, got accepted,
and elected to enroll into Howard University, a historically
Black college.
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* He participated on the Lexington soccer, softball,
and wrestling teams. He also served as his class
representative to the school’s student government.
•His goal is to study politics and science in the hopes to
protect the environment.
More on Joanel…
Spring 2005
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Marvin “Timothy” Albert
*He become the first Deaf president of a hearing
organization, overseeing all of RIT’s black Greek and non-Greek
organizations. Also, he pledged Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity,
Inc., an international black Greek fraternity.
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•While juggling school, Tim served on several local and national
NBDA committees. He received two national awards from NBDA
and also holds the distinction as being the NBDA’s first and only
King. Today, he is the President of District of Columbia Area BDA
(DCABDA) and on his ninth year as NBDA Youth Empowerment
Summit (Y.E.S.) Director. He also serves as the only man on the
Board of Directors for Deaf Abused Women Network (D.A.W.N.).
•He is graduating with a Masters of Social Work degree, and is
talking about getting a Ph.D in the future.
•More on Timothy…
Spring 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Michelle Banks
*Michelle Banks is the founder and artistic director of Onyx
Theatre, Inc. Her films credits include Malcolm X and
Compensation.
*Played in her first television role last fall in a popular Black
television series called "Soul Food."
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•Serves as the Cultural Director for LABDA.
•* She attended Kendall Demonstration Elementary
School (KDES), the Model Secondary School
for the Deaf (MSSD), and Gallaudet University.
More on Michelle…
Spring 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Nathie Marbury
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Her face is familiar—it is on the cover of
videotapes about sign language
storytelling. Upon completion of her
coursework for her PhD in Applied
Linguistics at the University of
California, Los Angeles, Nathie Marbury
considers herself primarily a teacher.
Marbury has taught deaf and hearing
students throughout the United States.
She is part owner of a sign language
videotape company, Building Bridges,
and teaches at Shoreline Community
College in Seattle.
More on Nathie…
Spring 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Thomas Samuels
* He was the first Chairperson of the National Black Deaf
Advocates (NBDA) Board of Directors and also served
as NBDA Vice-President for three years.
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*Also a Black Deaf history researcher, Samuels has given
numerous Black Deaf history presentations/workshops
locally and nationally to Deaf and hearing organizations,
Deaf Senior Citizens, Schools, Colleges, Libraries, and
social groups.
*Thomas is a professional videographer and photographer
and is currently working on developing Black Deaf related
literatures, videotapes, photos and CD of Black Deaf history.
More on Thomas…
Spring 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Toronja Williams
* Was crowned Miss Black Deaf America (MBDA)
2003 during the 19th Annual NBDA Conference in Detroit.
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•A graduate of the American School for the Deaf (ASD)
in West Hartford, Connecticut, she currently attends a
community college and hopes to transfer to University of
Pennsylvania for her bachelor's degree in Political Science.
“You've got to have a positive self-esteem and believe
that you can be anything you want to be!"
http://www.nbda.org/missbdahistory.html
More on Toronja…
Spring 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Tyese Wright
*Graduated Valedictorian and received the Linwood
Smith Award and the Kendall Cup which is Kendall's
most prestigious award, for excellence in academics,
leadership and extracurricular activities.
•She currently teaches kindergarten at Kendall
Demonstration Elementary School (KDES).
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•At the tender age of nine, she recited the Pledge of
Allegiance in sign language for President Ronald Reagan
at the bicentennial celebration of the United States
Constitution in front of over two hundred thousand
spectators.
•At age eleven, she served as a U.S. delegate in Paris,
France for the Children's International Summer Village, a
volunteer organization that promotes peace, leadership
and long friendships and was featured in the 1995 issue
of World Around Us Magazine, entitled "An American in
Paris." She's also featured in the first book written on
successful deaf women.
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Transition Services Preparation & Training
More on Tyese…
References
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http://www.deafweb.org/bdahistory.htm
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NDBA website:
http://www.nbda.org/index.html
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http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/WorldArou
ndYou/nov-dec97/interview.html
Spring 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training