Black Deaf Activism
Activism is when efforts are made to enact social, political, or environmental reform. It differs from person to person, but Black activists agree that it is a matter of doing the work. It is being loud and defiant in the face of oppression, even one’s own. It is fighting back against the system, which often requires knowing the system. Activism can happen through many different avenues. Activism can manifest in many ways, such as distributing flyers, petitioning, boycotting, contributing to organizations, rallying, street marches, strikes, sit-ins, making art, storytelling, educating, and more. Out of activism comes activists who campaign and promote the need to bring about change. Activism is most effective when there is collective action where many people get together and organize over a period of time, becoming a social movement.
The fight for human rights is an essential part of activism. According to the World Federation of the Deaf, “Human rights are universal, indivisible and interconnected. They belong to all people, regardless of gender, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status such as disability or deafness. Unfortunately, due to societal prejudices and incorrect assumptions, deaf people’s rights are often overlooked or denied.” Examples of these rights include access to sign language, equal work opportunity, and bilingual education. It could also mean having a community of support, feeling safe in your city, and not being afraid of the systems that are supposed to protect you.
For those with intersectional identities or multiple oppressed identities, activism requires a multifaceted approach that is not always accommodated by social justice movements. For Black Deaf individuals, race, access, gender, education, and many other identities are intertwined with activism. To participate in activism, Black Deaf people must be able to understand, communicate, and learn alongside everyone else. These needs have been witnessed within the Black Live Matter events and protests within Los Angeles county. Black Deaf Californians have and continue to contribute to anti-Black and anti-audist movements, including flighting for Black lives, language access, improved Deaf education in California, women’s rights, and much more. The following community members share their stories of doing the work and how they are contributing to the ongoing struggle and liberation for Black, Deaf, and all marginalized communities.
Awet Moges
Awet Moges is a mythopoet whose dreams are full of ancient mythologies but revised with subversive science fiction tropes. As a writer-artist with over 15 years of experience, he has worked on all sorts of jobs in a variety of industries, and worked with various organizations and has won several awards of recognition (just ask his mother!). He is currently teaching ASL at California State University, Long Beach.
His first book, PANTHEON: HETEROTOPIA, is the first among its kind: the first graphic novel written and drawn by a deaf Eritrean-American, and the first instance of a brand-new genre: panfuturism.
When he is neither drawing nor writing, you may locate him at the nearest cigar lounge, pontificating on something philosophical or other.
You can find him on Instagram or Twitter or check his blog .
Watch Interview with Awet Moges
Interviewer: Keila Marroquin
Michael Agyin
Michael Agyin is a Deaf & Disability rights advocate. The Son of immigrants from Ghana, he was raised in Compton, CA. He didn't know there was a word for people like himself until college: Deaf. Empowered by learning American Sign Language (ASL) while earning his bachelor's degree at California State University Northridge, he began to see the need for Deaf advocacy, Michael became determined to break the barrier that exists between the Hearing and Deaf worlds. This determination earned him the CSUN National Center on Deafness Outstanding Humanitarian Award. Michael further emphasizes the connection between ASL, self-esteem, cultural identity, while bridging the gap between the Deaf and the Hearing communities by providing accessibility awareness, fostering inclusion and Deaf pride.
After College Michael continued working to be an advocate. He has spent the last 7 years as a Behavior Therapist for Deaf youth with Autism. He's also a Commissioner serving on the Commission on Disability for the county of Los Angeles representing Supervisor Holly Mitchell. He is the founder of Compton ASL Club which foster to teach and spread Sign Language in urban communities from a BIPOC perspective. He has also served as a Governor appointee to the State Independent Living Council, volunteer for the California Youth Leadership Forum for Youth with Disabilities and as former President of Hear Zero (an African American Deaf Advocacy group). Outside of advocacy, he is a Runner, a Star Wars enthusiast, Uncle extraordinaire, & friend to many.
Watch Interview with Michael Agyin
Interviewer: Brianni Webb
JC Cobbs
JC Cobbs was born and raised in Sacramento, California. A first generation college graduate, she earned her B.A. and M.A. in Deaf Studies at CSUN. JC is a teacher of the Deaf and an accessibility and Deaf advocate.
Interviewer: Lissa Ramirez-Stapleton
Liann Osborne
Dr. Liann Osborne works at the Mt. San Antonio College as the Director for the Deaf and Hardof Hearing Services. Before entering the higher education field, she worked as the first Black Deaf Career Technical Education Principal. Vocational Rehabilitation (11 ½ years) and Mental Health Counselor (8 years). Osborne saw so many social inequities and civil rights issues that led to a career shift in moving from counseling to the field of higher education. She believed that by working in higher education she would be able to teach Black and Brown Deaf students the importance of being mindful activists and become critically conscious of the society that does not value them.
Watch Interview with Liann Osborne
Interviewer: Darla Hitchens
