The Deaf Double-Consciousness of Carlin and Straddling Two Worlds as a Student at Gallaudet

What Did You Learn About Carlin As a Deaf Person Straddling Two Worlds Deaf And Hearing?

A) What Did You Learn About Carlin As a Deaf Person Straddling Two Worlds Deaf And Hearing?

B) Can You Apply On Yourself As a Student, Person Straddling More Than One World, And Making Choices In What You Participate In Life At Gallaudet? 

Carlin remained amongst the most accomplished deaf individuals in mid-19^th century America. He went on to an efficacious career as a painter, writer, sculptor, acquaintance of hearing leaders such as leader William Seward. He was the first individual to issue a written demand for a national college for deaf persons in America in 1854. I also learned that deafness never barred Carlin from his success. This was seen when his call for a national college for deaf Americans was inaugurated and went on to deliver the major address which saw him receive the college’s 1^st honorary degree in acknowledgement of his achievements (Greenwald & Van Cleve, 2008). I have learned that even though Carlin utilized sign language, married equally deaf woman and remained a life-long advocate for deaf individuals, he displayed deeper ambivalence in his written works towards his deaf identity, which oscillated between perceiving deaf individuals as inferior and assertion of their equal capability and intelligence. I have learned that Carlin showed a deaf double-consciousness had consequences for the present-day comprehension not merely of the educated deaf mindset then, but also of the start of the 1^st college of higher education for deaf individuals in the globe. I have also learned that in his works, for example, the poem “The Mute’s Lament” he viewed himself via the eyes of the majority despite his implicit question of such a view. Indeed, Carlin displays himself as a miserable outcast, manifesting not merely the withdrawal he felt from hearing individuals around him, but further some fashionable Byronic alienation. I have also learned that Carlin omitted sign language and any specific hint of the deaf society, and exhibiting himself as a secluded deaf, “I” making him follow the case of the 1^st published deaf poet in the US, who had gone through an identical strategy in his work, The Ministrel Boy. This remains a classic display of inferiority complex as Carlin seems to have methodically internalized attitude of the majority casting him as a subordinate other. We learn that his attitude remains reasonable in certain ways: Carlin undoubtedly faced harder life because of being a deaf, and it remains customary to expect all worldly woes being removed from the heaven. I have also learned that Carlin replicated the prevailing stereotypes and managed to implicitly critique them via his poem’s key paradox.

Can You Apply On Yourself As a Student, Person Straddling More Than One World, And Making Choices In What You Participate In Life At Gallaudet?

As a student who is straddling more than a single world, and making choices in what I partake in life at the Gallaudet, I can use Michael Oliver’s 4 areas on personal as well as political (adjusted to fit higher education academic experience) in guiding my discussion. These four areas include looking at my growing political awareness, the way my career developed as well as influence this had on my growing political consciousness, my growing involvement with disabled persons and organization that I create and effect which this has on my developing comprehension of this disability as a personal, sociological and social phenomenon and lastly, my gradual retreat from academic alongside political life to concentrate on other things, primarily doing nothing. In terms of “personal is the personal,” my personal experience helps me determine what I will take part in the Gallaudet. By this, I will overweigh positive and negative sides before making decisions which have more positivities.

In respect to “personal and the professional,” I will utilize my professional interest in disability to shape the decision I make while at this institution. Thus, where I am persuaded that whatever interest I am seeking has opportunities, then I will make a positive decision to live in this institution. In respect to “the personal becomes the political” I will make decisions based on my attitudes even if they are never popular amongst the disabled individuals. This would entail the need to accept that I am also a disable person and hence make decisions to be in contact with them. This will help me live in the institutions easily with my fellow disabled persons without denial.

Lastly, the fourth area, “the personal is the political,” I will be able to make decisions based on my understanding based on the things or events that took place in my life which will help me identify the need to transform my  individual consciousness of disability from my personal challenges to political concerns. For instance, I will resolve not to become active in left politics but instead listen to what other authors have said about injustices, moral outage as well as inequalities. This will help me make decisions to participate in discussions which seek to ensure equity for all.   

By examining my growing political awareness as a learner at Gallaudet University, I will be able to engage in politics, not as an active person, but who looks at what academicians have said about the inequity and injustices facing the disabled persons. Also, in terms of how my career or academic experience develops and influences my growing political consciousness, I will be able to make decisions on what to engage in while at the Gallaudet based on the knowledge I have gained throughout my career and academics. By this, I shall be able to focus on advocating for good things and treatment for the disabled because I have realized from these experiences that they are not being given justice and being viewed as inferior beings.

In terms of my involvement with such organizations as SBG, LSU, APA, ELISO, Jr NAD or NAD, Greek community, sports and the impact of such involvement on my comprehension of my being deaf as a personal, social or political experience on campus or life, I will be able to make decisions on what I can participate in on this basis. Specifically, my involvement in the above organization enhances my understanding of my identity as a deaf and hence rids of my denial. In this case, I will be able to accept my condition and engage equally in political, social, persona experience which will help me denounce the perception of inferior complex and work hard towards the achievement of my goals.

Lastly, in terms of my gradual lessening of responsibilities from social as well as political life to focus on other things like my academic studies, I will be able to appreciate the need to care more for my own achievements (Oliver, 1995).  This is based on my realization that “the personal is still the personal, after all” and hence the need to withdraw from the political and social responsibilities to shape what I really want to achieve in life. This will help me self-actualize since I shall have understood that irrespective of whether one is disable or not, the capacity and intelligence is based on what one does to be intelligent and capable rather than merely being born a disable or abled person.

References

Greenwald, B. H., & Van Cleve, J. V. (2008). A fair chance in the race of life: The role of Gallaudet University in deaf history. Gallaudet University Press.

Oliver, M. (1995). Understanding disability: From theory to practice. Macmillan International Higher Education.