Past BDA President Kim Wassenaar, BDA member Helene with Liz Brown, ASL Interpreter

Black Deaf Advocates (BDA), Minnesota Chapter#25
Minnesota BDA became the 25th Chapter Affiliate of National BDA on March 22, 1997, receiving non-profit status. The President must be Deaf and African-American, but membership and advocay is open to all.

The National BDA is the first and largest consumer organization for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people of color established in the United States. NBDA was founded in 1982 because of Black leaders' concern that the African-American community was not adequately represented in leadership and policy-making affecting their lives. In 1994 NBDA had their convention in the St. Paul. That is when our local BDA formed.

Usually we have potlucks at the Thompson Hall Deaf Club as a social opportunity and to raise funds to send our officers to the annual national conference. In August 1997 most of our Board members attended the conference in Washington, D.C. We also have monthly board meetings open to all members. In December we celebrate Kwanzaa. We have an active and motivated membership who meets monthly in the public library across from Thompson Hall. Please join us!You don't need to be Black or Deaf to join us. You just need to be an advocate.

BDA hosts an annual December Kwanzaa Feast open to all!!!

BDA President Cheryl Moody:
ebonycam@wyndtell.com

Assistant to President, Kim Wassenaar:
kyw@wyndtell.com
K7Wazza@aol.com
fax: 763-757-0452

Minnesota Deaf Women of Color
With Their Interpreters
Sandra B. Colson, Photographer

A Photo Documentary Edited By Helene E.R. Oppenheimer

Billie Interpreting Gospel Songs
My name is Billie Howard and I am a professional sign language interpreter. I have had a love for American Sign Language since I was young. As a child, I would turn down the sound on the TV and try to read lips. When I watched Patty Duke as Helen Keller, it moved me that no one could understand her language until Ann Sullivan appeared. Helen did have a language and such passion. Helen became an open vessel once she had an interpretersomeone who could help her communicate. I remember Patty Duke/Helen Keller, running through the fields, touching things, labeling things. That vision inspired me to become a mediator, a vessel between 2 languages-spoken and manual.
Once I entered the Interpreter Program I realized there was a sub-culture of Deaf minorities. As an African-American, it became more than a profession. It was a gift to become an Interpreter. I received financial aid, assistance to realize my dream. I was going through a divorce, raising 3 children, working days and attending night school. My struggle became a metaphor for the struggle of my people. The obstacles we have had to overcome as a culture, living in America is a symbol of my struggle and my victory.
Some interpreting I volunteer. Some people don't even know about our agencies or the ADA Regulations. They don't know how the system works. So I will work with them at a church or at a funeral. Then a larger event like a workshop or conference; that is a paid gig.
Being out there with African-Americans, interpreting for them is like being at church for me. ASL is awesome. I am living my dream. I have the best of both worlds because I interpret church, spiritual, religious and at the same time it includes the theatrical and the music. My first love is gospel as that's where my roots are-with God and church. It is my essence to be emotional and animated. Others do legal, educational, medical - I do some medical, but not like the church interpreting. Some see the church interpreting negatively. But it takes skill to interpret for a minister. I take my spirituality seriously and my lifestyle seriously. It is not just a job when I am interpreting possible salvation or spiritual maturity.
I am connecting with my people with interpreting. When African-Americans are talking about their needs-housing, daycare - best that it come through a person who has been there. I was on welfare and I got myself off of it and became an Interpreter. I know where they are coming from, these are not just words. I match my speaker-if she is angry or depressed or sadthen I show that passion with my body. To me this is the ultimate. When I interpreted for Niki Giovanni, it was like a surge of power coming through me. Her words flowed through me like being "in the zone".
I have come up against other Interpreters feeling threatened by me, fearing I am competing them out of business. But who else best to be a vessel for a Deaf person of color? After attending cultural events, I have become aware of the cultural diversity among the Deaf population. There is plenty of business for us all. But when it comes to the African-American community, watch out! I will be there! I am not exclusively zoning out Caucasians but I am here to serve my community and I will seek out those jobs.

A Conversation
My full name is Kim Yvette Wassenaar. I was born hearing but there was an accident with the forceps that went into my ears at birth. I had a big head which was why I could not come out (LOL- that means laughing out loud)!
The doctor found out years later that I had problems with my hearing. So at age 8 I heard my feet tapping on the sidewalk for the very first time. That's when I got my first hearing aid. I was taken outside with my mom to hear the sounds everywhere along. Doctors and nurses around me made noises. I was so fascinated with the sounds of my shoes tapping on the sidewalk. It was a beautiful sound to me. The sounds were soooo clear to me. That was sweet music to my ears.
By the year 1978 I became totally deaf right here in Minnesota, 2 days after my arrival from Dayton, Ohio. I was only 19 years old. I speak English, sign ASL and I also lipread. In 1983, I married Gerry, a Deaf man. We have 2 hearing daughters, Kymberly and Cori.
I'm involved with the Great Lakes Deaf Bowling Association and the Twin Cities Deaf Bowling Association. I am also President of our local chapter St Paul/Mpls Black Deaf Advocates(BDA). We became Chapter # 25 on March 22, 1997. We serve food at BDA potlucks, celebrate Kwanzaa at the Thompson Hall Deaf Club in St. Paul, and attend national BDA events.
Society doesn't always accept us being Deaf. Since we cannot hear the words people are saying, it is very hard to grasp what people are trying to tell us. Many people take perfect hearing for granted, and thousands can't hear at all.
As for other problems, sometimes racism can be an issue. It really gets difficult, being Deaf and Of Color all at once. People try to convince you that you're not as good as them because you're not able to hear what they're saying, but it's when you're African-American that it really changes your concept on the "American dream". If we're all the same on the inside, why would it matter what's on the outside? It doesn't matter if you can't hear or see, it's your attitude. If people don't really believe that, they've really missed out on life.
Being unique in our way, people don't see Deaf African-Americans through our talents and the way we express ourselves. Remember the song called He's Got The Whole World In His Hands? I would like to see something like that in a sculpture because it tells us that African-American Deafs are important to God too.

Liz Fingerspelling
I, Liz G. Brown, am a consultant at the Metro Regional Service Center for Deaf & Hard of Hearing people. I provide consultations and training to private and public agencies regarding Deaf & Hard of Hearing issues and accessibility. I provide information, referral and technical assistance to individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and to their families. I have worked with Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons sincel982. I functioned for 4 years as an educational interpreter. For 10 years I was the Housing Coordinator/Financial Aid Counselor for all Deaf & Hard of Hearing Students within the St. Paul Technical Colleges Program for Deaf Students. I have served on numerous advisory boards and currently serve as the liaison for the local BDA Chapter in Minnesota.

Nicole Interpreting
My name is Nicloe Cruz. I am a full-time educational Interpreter for the Transitional Plus Program of the St. Paul Public Schools. I am studying to be a Social Worker. Then I hope to integrate my ASL skills in my Social Work. The interpreting I have done in the past 5 years has been very fulfilling. ASL is beautiftil and wonderful and to be involved with this language and culture has also been rewarding.
When I was in 6th grade there were 4 Deaf students mainstreamed into our classroom. One Interpreter would come and I would watch her. I was fascinated! So I picked it up and became friends with the Deaf students. This was in the 70's. Then they transferred to a different junior high school so I didn't see them for 2 years. And then we connected again in about 10th grade and the ASL was still with me. I was still able to communicate! During the time we didn't see each other, I would go in my room and sign from the radio in front of the mirror. That was how I got my start.

A-J and Yolanda, Student Interpreters