As we dive into Black History Month, it’s crucial to not only celebrate but also amplify the diverse stories that make up the Black community. One often overlooked aspect is the intersection of Black and Deaf identities, stories that offer unique perspectives on resilience, triumph, and cultural richness. These aren’t just personal journeys; they’re a vital part of the big picture of Black history, reminding us why diverse representation and inclusion matters.
8 Biographies about Black Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Stories
1. Sounds Like Home: Growing Up Black and Deaf in the South
Author: Mary Herring Wright
Mary Herring Wright’s memoir, “Sounds Like Home,” provides a unique and historically significant perspective on growing up as an African American Deaf child in Iron Mine, North Carolina, from the 1920s to the 1940s. Her narrative sheds light on life at the North Carolina school for Black Deaf and Blind students, offering valuable insights into faculty, curriculum, and the physical facilities. Covering major historical events like the Depression and World War II, the memoir captures the author’s enduring faith, perseverance, and optimism.
2. Far From Home: Memories of World War II and Afterward
Author: Mary Herring Wright
In the second installment of her autobiography, Mary Herring Wright recounts her journey from a sleepy Southern town to the dynamic geopolitical hub of Washington, DC. Despite her father’s initial skepticism, Mary’s move to the nation’s capital in 1942 proved transformative. Passing the civil service examination with high marks, she became a valued Navy employee, maintaining rosters for servicemen worldwide during World War II.
Despite her successful career, the emotional toll eventually led Mary back to her family in Iron Mine, where she married, raised four daughters, and navigated the joys and sorrows of rural Southern life. Her memoir blends personal experiences with historical events, providing a unique narrative history marked by Mary’s confidence in herself.
3. Unspeakable: The Story of Junius Wilson
Authors: Susan Burch, Hannah Joyner
“Unspeakable” recounts the tragic life of Junius Wilson (1908-2001), who endured seventy-six years at a North Carolina mental health hospital, six in the criminal ward, solely because he was Deaf and Black in the Jim Crow South. Despite never being declared insane or convicted, Wilson faced unimaginable hardships, including forced labor and castration.
Susan Burch and Hannah Joyner, using legal records and oral history interviews conducted in sign language, piece together Wilson’s story. Against the backdrop of major 20th-century developments, the book explores the intersections of race, disability, and language, expanding the boundaries of traditional biography. “Unspeakable” serves as a poignant reminder of Junius Wilson’s unspeakable history and the countless others who endured similar fates.
4. Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law
Author: Haben Girma
In this inspiring memoir, Haben Girma shares her remarkable journey from isolation to becoming the first DeafBlind graduate of Harvard Law School. Growing up in the enchanting Eritrean city of Asmara, Haben discovered courage through facing challenges, including a confrontation with a bull she couldn’t see. Inspired by her parents’ experiences during Eritrea’s thirty-year war with Ethiopia, she embarked on a global quest for knowledge, contributing to the construction of a school in Mali.
Haben’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and overcoming obstacles. She redefines disability as an opportunity for innovation, developing non-visual techniques for activities like salsa dancing and using her talents to advocate for people with disabilities. From blind hide-and-seek in Louisiana to a moment with President Obama at The White House, Haben’s memoir is a warm, funny, and uplifting testament to her determination to find the keys to connection.
5. No Excuses: Growing Up Deaf and Achieving My Super Bowl Dreams
Authors: Derrick Coleman Jr., Marcus Brotherton
In this compelling memoir, Derrick Coleman Jr., the trailblazing fullback for the Seattle Seahawks and the first deaf athlete to play offense in the NFL, shares his inspirational journey of overcoming obstacles and achieving his Super Bowl dreams. Diagnosed with hearing loss at age three, Coleman defied expectations from a young age, responding to naysayers with a determined “watch me” attitude.
The narrative delves into his unconventional family, emphasizing the constant love that fueled his resilience. Facing bullying and misunderstanding, Coleman turned to football as an outlet, eventually becoming a standout player at UCLA. “No Excuses” is not just a sports legend’s story but a motivational testament to the human spirit, encouraging readers to aim high, give their all, and never settle for excuses.
6. Catch a Star: Shining through Adversity to Become a Champion
Authors: Tamika Catchings, Ken Petersen
Tamika Catchings shares her inspiring journey from a desire to fit in to becoming a basketball superstar and an inspiration. Facing challenges such as hearing loss, separation from family, and the pressure of high expectations, Catchings persevered through debilitating physical injuries with hard work, faith, and determination.
This memoir details her path to success, including leading the Indiana Fever to its first championship, earning a spot on the WNBA’s All-Decade Team, securing four Olympic gold medals, and founding the Catch the Stars Foundation to help young people achieve their dreams. Through her story of overcoming doubt and fear, Catchings encourages readers to reach for their own stars, demonstrating that no challenge is insurmountable.
7. On the Beat of Truth: A Hearing Daughter’s Stories of Her Black Deaf Parents
Author: Maxine Childress Brown
This CODA authored book offers a unique perspective on the transformative events in her parents’ lives, both African Americans hailing from the South. Born in 1943, Maxine, the oldest of three daughters, explores her parents’ journey to raise a family amidst segregation and the additional challenge of being Deaf. Her father, Herbert Childress, and her mother, Thomasina Brown, met and married in Washington, DC, where they settled down.
Despite modest means, Herbert worked as a shoe repairman, and Thomasina, a gifted seamstress, gave up sewing to clean houses. The memoir vividly portrays the family’s struggles, from financial hardships to health challenges, and captures the love, encouragement, and resilience of her parents.
8. Paris in America: A Deaf Nanticoke Shoemaker and His Daughter
Authors: Clara Jean Mosley Hall, Gayle Williamson
Clara Jean Mosley Hall navigates diverse cultural worlds as a hearing daughter of a Deaf Nanticoke man. Growing up in Dover, Delaware, during the 1950s and 60s, Hall shares the intersections of her Native American, African American, Deaf, and hearing identities. The memoir centers on her father, James Paris Mosley, who communicated with her through American Sign Language (ASL), fostering a close bond after her Deaf African American mother abandoned her at a young age.
Hall vividly recounts the social and cultural elements that shaped her, from the era of Jim Crow to the forced integration of public schools, JFK, and Motown. As a child of Deaf adult (CODA) in a time without accessibility services, she became her father’s sole means of communication with the hearing world, a heavy responsibility. Overcoming challenges, Hall becomes a college professor, philanthropist, and advocate for Deaf students, celebrating family, faith, heritage, and personal growth.
These individuals aren’t just characters in a book; they’re real-life role models, enriching our understanding of the shared human experience. The diverse representation presented in these stories is a reminder of the importance of inclusivity and the celebration of every unique intersection within the Black community.
Our Inclusive Team hopes these stories not only resonate during Black History Month but become an ongoing, integral part of our literary and historical landscape.
