Obamaīs Inaugural Address, Music & Social Justice, Lessons for a Different Minority
Donna W. Hill
February 19, 2009
Is bigotry really dead? If not, can music help? Obamaīs inaugural celebrations featured Queen Latifah talking about African-American contralto Marian Anderson. Eleanor Roosevelt invited the singer to share her music at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939. The DAR had banned her from Constitution Hall. Today, Andersonīs story has significance for another minority, virtually invisible, experiencing massive unemployment, discrimination and bigotry.
The media, which has played a vital role in civil rights, however, rarely covers their issues or the debates about resolving them. The only female representative of this group known by most people died over fifty years ago. There are, however, women entertainers in all genres ready to do for their group what Anderson did for hers. So far, no Eleanor Roosevelt has stepped forward to make the invitation.
What minority? Blind Americans. Over two-thirds of working-age blind Americans are unemployed. Blind women are more likely to be unemployed, underemployed and living in poverty. Nonetheless, there are blind women lawyers, chemists, journalists, teachers, engineers, entertainers, etc.
The disparity springs from social attitudes. Ironically, Negative stereotypes of blindness impact those who hold them. Generally, men donīt wake up as women and whites donīt just turn black. However, this is exactly what happens with blindness. Most blind people grew up sighted. If society teaches that blindness means a life of uselessness and dependence, thatīs what they become. Any rehab counselor will tell you that the biggest obstacles to rehabilitation are not learning to use a talking computer or guide dog but oneīs own prejudices about blindness.
Bigotry takes many forms. Blind people, especially women, frequently encounter strangers who donīt respect their right to make their own decisions. People become angry when they are told to ignore guide dogs, a practice taught by all guide dog schools. Despite the ADA, issues with Taxis and restaurants persist. Many blind people report that medical professionals treat them like children. Less than ten percent of blind kids are taught to read Braille, the only tool offering true literacy.
Blind people also report many interactions often at job interviews in which the sighted person is overly focused on "how remarkable it is" that the blind person can do simple tasks. Imagine trying to interest a prospective boss in your skills and talents when they canīt get over the fact that you got to the interview by yourself and can hold a conversation without staring off into space.
Blind Americans have much to offer. Most want to be included in the group to which President Obama referred when he said, "All deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."
Welcoming blind Americans into the fold is not just the right thing to do. Itīs the pragmatic thing as well. The CDC recently projected a three-fold increase in diabetes-related blindness among working-age Americans by 2050.
Without significant changes in social attitudes, America faces substantial increases in disability costs. As Obama said in his inaugural address, "The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart -- not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good."
Minority entertainers, like Ms. Anderson, have changed public opinion, leading to improved understanding and opportunities for their minorities. There hasnīt been a new blind American superstar, however, in decades. Worse yet, the only blind woman most people know is Helen Keller, who died in 1958.
A small, volunteer-run nonprofit is trying to change this. The Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind (PAD, NFB):
http://www.padnfb.org
supports blind entertainers through scholarships, subsidies and networking.
PADīs president, Dennis Holston persuaded eighteen blind recording artists -- including some excellent women -- to donate tracks to PADīs multi-genre "Sound in Sight" CD, which supports the scholarship fund. Decide for yourself if any of them are worth backing. Listen free at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/padotnfotb
Hip hop fans can download a free MP3 at http://www.padnfb.org
The media, which has played a vital role in civil rights, however, rarely covers their issues or the debates about resolving them. The only female representative of this group known by most people died over fifty years ago. There are, however, women entertainers in all genres ready to do for their group what Anderson did for hers. So far, no Eleanor Roosevelt has stepped forward to make the invitation.
What minority? Blind Americans. Over two-thirds of working-age blind Americans are unemployed. Blind women are more likely to be unemployed, underemployed and living in poverty. Nonetheless, there are blind women lawyers, chemists, journalists, teachers, engineers, entertainers, etc.
The disparity springs from social attitudes. Ironically, Negative stereotypes of blindness impact those who hold them. Generally, men donīt wake up as women and whites donīt just turn black. However, this is exactly what happens with blindness. Most blind people grew up sighted. If society teaches that blindness means a life of uselessness and dependence, thatīs what they become. Any rehab counselor will tell you that the biggest obstacles to rehabilitation are not learning to use a talking computer or guide dog but oneīs own prejudices about blindness.
Bigotry takes many forms. Blind people, especially women, frequently encounter strangers who donīt respect their right to make their own decisions. People become angry when they are told to ignore guide dogs, a practice taught by all guide dog schools. Despite the ADA, issues with Taxis and restaurants persist. Many blind people report that medical professionals treat them like children. Less than ten percent of blind kids are taught to read Braille, the only tool offering true literacy.
Blind people also report many interactions often at job interviews in which the sighted person is overly focused on "how remarkable it is" that the blind person can do simple tasks. Imagine trying to interest a prospective boss in your skills and talents when they canīt get over the fact that you got to the interview by yourself and can hold a conversation without staring off into space.
Blind Americans have much to offer. Most want to be included in the group to which President Obama referred when he said, "All deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."
Welcoming blind Americans into the fold is not just the right thing to do. Itīs the pragmatic thing as well. The CDC recently projected a three-fold increase in diabetes-related blindness among working-age Americans by 2050.
Without significant changes in social attitudes, America faces substantial increases in disability costs. As Obama said in his inaugural address, "The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart -- not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good."
Minority entertainers, like Ms. Anderson, have changed public opinion, leading to improved understanding and opportunities for their minorities. There hasnīt been a new blind American superstar, however, in decades. Worse yet, the only blind woman most people know is Helen Keller, who died in 1958.
A small, volunteer-run nonprofit is trying to change this. The Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind (PAD, NFB):
http://www.padnfb.org
supports blind entertainers through scholarships, subsidies and networking.
PADīs president, Dennis Holston persuaded eighteen blind recording artists -- including some excellent women -- to donate tracks to PADīs multi-genre "Sound in Sight" CD, which supports the scholarship fund. Decide for yourself if any of them are worth backing. Listen free at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/padotnfotb
Hip hop fans can download a free MP3 at http://www.padnfb.org
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