Below is a translation of this vlog.
Hello Everyone. I am splitting this vlog into two parts. This vlog, Part I, will define racism and audism, after I share this story. In the second vlog (Part II), the differences between righteous and selfish anger, and how they relate to audism and racism, will be discussed.
This story took place in the evening last Sunday, August 2. My 11-year old son, Troy, loves playing hockey. In the summer, he plays road hockey and ice hockey in the winter time. Last Sunday, he was playing road hockey near my house with a group of friends whose ages ranged from 8 to 12. Troy scored lots of goals against the other team, so that his team was really trouncing the other team soundly.
One 8 year old boy “Jack”, who was on the other team, did not take kindly to losing, so he lost his temper. He took his hockey stick and attacked my son with it. Troy managed to miss being hit. He told Jack to stop it, and called him an idiot. Jack took umbrage and said nastily, “No, I’m not an idiot! You’re the idiot! You got it from your DEAF parents!”
At first, my son was stunned that Jack actually said that. He then promptly lost his temper and struck Jack’s stick away with his own stick. Troy later explained that he did this rather than harm Jack himself. (Violence isn’t appropriate. I had a discussion with him about that.) The point must be emphasized here that Troy was quite furious about the insult against his parents.
The other players who witnessed this altercation were appalled. One boy exclaimed, “That’s racism!” The others concurred. Disgusted, they all left the game on their bikes. Three boys remained: Troy, Jack, and his embarrassed older brother. The older brother proceeded to chew Jack out on his inappropriate racist behaviour and told Jack in no uncertain terms that his behaviour was unacceptable.
Troy was quite upset that this situation occurred. He knew that audism existed, but I don’t think he quite expected to encounter it himself at this time, or any time at all. He came to me and asked me quite insistently to email Jack’s mother and inform her about what happened. I suggested that he approach her himself and discuss the situation with her. He was quite reluctant about this. My husband ended up going with him to Jack’s house for moral support. It was Jack’s father who answered the door, so Troy told him the story.
Upon returning home, Troy and I discussed the incident. We were amazed at his friends. They did not know the term audism, or even what it meant. Yet, they knew enough recognize the behavior and identify it as racist. Interesting. A group of 8-12 years old boys knew! WOW!
Now, let’s talk about the terms: Racism and audism.
Racism is based on the concept that one group is better than another based on a physical feature: skin colour, OR ethnic background. One obvious example could be given: Whites are deemed superior to Blacks. There are other examples that could be given, but for the sake of simplicity, we will leave it at that.
Audism, on the other hand, is based on the concept that it is better to hear than to not hear. Audists are those (often Hearing) people who believe that it is better to hear, and that if Deaf people cannot speak, they are to be pitied.
Audism and racism are similar concepts. Interestingly enough, the behaviours related to audism and racism are recognizable, and similar. In the story I described, Troy’s friends knew enough about racism to recognize the behaviours that included verbally attacking someone based on his parents’ physical feature, deaf(ness), which automatically reduced that individual to a lesser status. That behaviour strongly indicates audism.
That audist behaviour is tantamount to the racist behaviour of calling a Black person the “n” word. The intent behind such behaviour is to pull someone down below one’s level. Now, do you see the parallels between audism and racism, and understand it? Please view the definitions that I typed into my vlog at the end. The links are there. Check them out.
Audism: en.wiktionary.org/wiki/audism
I like the new look of your site, Shel! And this story always bears repeating!
Don, thanks for the compliment… (blushing). I agree that this story is a good one to repeat, in both languages.
Out of the mouths of babes…wonderful that the neighborhood kids recognized the wrong and refused to continue with the game. I hope this pattern repeats all over the world.
There are groups that still don’t get it, or are confused by things like beliefs, hierarchies, caste systems, social class and economic strata and mistakenly believe that it must be maintained. Education is the way out.
Indeed, Dianrez. I’m quite proud of the kids in my neighbourhood, including my own son. You’re right about education. Exposure to, as well as interaction with, a variety of people from different cultures would do it, too.
Hi Shel!
I do not know how to adequately thank you for doing your essay BILINGUALLY — one in ASLlog (DVTV) and the other in ENGblog (DeafRead) herein! Your blogpost has — so far — been the best in that it helps people discern the essence of racism accompanied by audism orchestrated by supporters of Fernandes & Myers.
Hi Jean! One thing this story shows is that audism is real, and not a theory, a figment of someone’s imagination as some people claim. The interesting thing is that audism and racism are so much similar that children who do not know the term audism recognize it as racism. That is very telling. There are indeed parallels between racism and audism as is evident in my son’s experience.
Very good one! I agree with you! It is a good story to share and make people stop and think. I do have anger – a righteous anger.. I never thought of it until you said it!
Thank you for sharing your insights into audism!
We need to combat audism now! It is happening all over the world and we need to reverse the trend.
Paul =)
Very good Vlog Shel! I commend your efforts to explain, the behaviours themselves, the action of superiority or using race or ability to hear or not to hurt another. Its a profound subject that requires a sincere examination of the two -isms, their relationships, and their differences. Bottom line, both are not acceptable. Thank you for doing your part to raise awareness. Looking forward to Part 2.
Shari, I agree that it’s a subject that requires genuine examination. Racism has long been examined for years, and yet it has not been fully plumbed. We have only just now begun to examine audism. Just as there have been naysayers when it comes to racism years ago, there, too are naysayers on whether audism exists. It is up to us to examine not only the behaviours that emanate from audism and racism, but also the attitudes inherent. I have finished vlogging, but I’m working on the translation, and I might have to expand on the concept of anger in English, as well. There are some concepts lost in the translation. Bilingual presentation of the same issues can get complex, if you get my drift.
Paul, I agree that we need to confront audism, and educate the public. Reversing the trend…. I don’t think it’s a trend so much as it’s an attitude that has been ingrained in society. Trend implies temporariness, faddishness. Audism is no fad, and neither is racism. Hope this makes sense.
Shelly, I previously knew you as “Shelly Funk” at Gallaudet.
Real impressive of kids stood up to the wrongfulness of audism at very early age.
You gave pretty vague of what your son was all about.
Is your son hearing or deaf? I assume that your son is hearing which Jack demoralized Troy based on his parents’ hearing status as some kind of inferior to toss out his resentment against Troy on a personal level.
I am sure that you have such an ability to do the public awareness campaign about the existence of audism in Canada.
Kids are usually more socially conscious than many adults give them the credits for.
Why not about you doing the television segement toward issue of audsim on Canadaian Broadcasting System or some Canadian tv programming like “Degrassi Junior High”.
I did read your paper on John Flourney, a deaf idealist for the deaf uptoian colony in the 19th American century. Your paper somewhat found in very odd place after you graduated from Gallaudet.
How interesting about the cycle of you from John Flourney to your kid encountered the audism situation!
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
Hi Robert, my name is spelled Shelley, with an e before y. I do remember your face at Gallaudet, though I’m surprised you remembered my name!
My son is a CODA. I mentioned him in one of my first vlogs a couple years ago. Jack resented the fact that he was losing a hockey game, and he doesn’t like losing, period, so he took that anger out on Troy. You’re correct that kids ARE more socially conscious, thanks to the fact that educational curricula require exposure to various cultures. In Ontario, at least, though I don’t know about the rest of North America, character education is required to be implemented, especially in elementary schools.
We have Deaf Culture Centre in Canada… you could google it. I could suggest your idea to the Ontario Assoc. of the Deaf, and Canadian Assoc. of the Deaf. It’s an excellent one!
As for my paper on John Jacobus Flournoy… yes, I remember writing that paper as a History major. Where did you find that paper? I remember writing it for Dr. Barry Crouch. LOL I’m not quite certain I have come full-circle yet.
However there IS a connection between the utopian Deaf state, the dream for the absence of audism (though that word did not exist then!) and my child’s experience. Interesting that you pointed out the connection.
Shel
Shelley,
Thanks for the correction on spelling of your first name. What a klutz I am!
I assumed that I found your paper (Flourney) out of the computer lab printer at the HMB’s first floor. You apparently struggled to print out your paper, then it somewhat came out later. The year was 1992. I was probably mistaken that you were graduated at that time.
Your paper grabbed my attention while I waited for my papers being printed out. It was left on the table for awhile. I have no idea that was YOU. I checked out the Gallaudet yearbook and found you. That’s how your name embroiled into my gray cranium.
By the way, Dr. Barry Crouch died few years ago. I dearly missed him. I got to know him on a personal level while we bumped into each other on the DC Metrorail (subway). I found him reading non-history stuff and laughed with each other. What a man Dr. Crouch was!
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
Ah, that explains it. You’re correct: I had already graduated in 1989. That means someone else was printing my work?! I wrote that paper, I believe in 1988, or thereabouts.
Yes, I heard of Dr. Crouch’s death. I really enjoyed him as a professor. He had such a sense of humour! That alone made him one of my favourites during my university years.
Shel
Hi Shel,
Your article is excellent written. Yes, the children in your article have much far better understanding about racism/audism than naysayers. I am shaking my head at the naysayers who have no idea how to get out of the box and see the whole picture.
Anyway, your discussion about racism/audism has a lot in common with my vlog about “Deafhood = Nationhood?” Same with Barb DiGi’s as well. My goodness, that hearing children have recognized the problem (I still struggle to understand why the naysayers have not recognized the problem) and could not locate the appropriate term but can use the same concept, racism.
Thanks for sharing the news with us and that is what we need to stay out of the old colonial box.
I just got back from my at least one week vacation (camping with my many wonderful companions, butterflies). Yes they are far better than cockroaches anyway!
Cheers
Deafchip
Shelley
First of all, you said it all. Your message is loud and clear. I think your message is excellent and very well explanation. smile.
My wife sent me your vlog. Do you remember me, David Bailey (former Boronell). If you are on facebook, look for Beca Bailey. That way, I can contact you through her. smile.
Good to see you on vlog.
David Bailey
Hi David, I remember you quite well. You and I are already friends on Facebook. Check your Friends list. I’ll still add Beca to my friends list though. Thanks for leaving a comment here!
Shel
Thank you! The theme is slightly customized from the Morning Coffee theme.