Black “Deaf” History Month

History of National Black Deaf Advocates

• 30 Years of NBDA History: The People, The Leadership, & The Movement
• History of National Black Deaf Advocates
• History of NBDA Board Members
• NBDA National & Regional Conference Chronology
• History of Miss Black Deaf America Titleholders

Notable Black Deaf Heroes & Sheroes

• Andrew Foster, Father of Deaf Education in Africa
• Linwood Smith, Pioneer of Mental Health Service for Deaf People
• Dr. Glenn B. Anderson, First Deaf African-American with Ph.D.
• Dr. Shirley Allen, First Deaf African-American Female with Ph.D.
• Roger D. O'Kelly, First Deaf African-American Lawyer
• Claudia Gordon, First Deaf Female African-American Lawyer

Notable Black Deaf Americans with Ph.D.s

• Dr. Glenn Anderson, New York University, 1982
• Dr. Ernest Hairston, Gallaudet University, 1994
• Dr. Reginald Redding, Gallaudet University 1995
• Dr. Laurene Simms, University of Arizona, 2000
• Dr. Angela McCaskill & Dr. Carolyn McCaskill (Deaf Sisters with Ph.D.s at Gallaudet University, 2004 & 2005 Respectively)
• Dr. Nathie Marbury, Lamar University, 2007
• Dr. Joseph Hill, Gallaudet University

Notable Black Deaf Artists & Performers

• Michelle Banks, Actress
• Evon Black, Comedian/Entertainer
• Kamau Buchanan, Filmmaker
• CJ Jones, Internationally Known Deaf Comedian
• Nathie Marbury, Comedian/Entertainer
• Darius McCall, Musician
• Joseph Sarpy, First Known Black Deaf Actor & First to Join the National Theatre of the Deaf
• Michael Spady, Actor
• Wawa Snipe, Entertainer
• Aarron Loggins, Musician
• Shawn Richardson, Cartoonist
• Antoine Hunter, Performer

Notable Black Deaf Americans in Professional Sports

• Kenny Walker, Football Player, Played in NFL 1991-1993
• Curtis Pride, Baseball Player, Played in MLB 1993-2006
• Kevin Hall, Current Professional Golfer
• Eugene “Silent” Hairston, Boxer, Boxed in 1950s
• Tamika Catchings, Women’s Basketball Player, Current Playing in WNBA
• Derrick Coleman, Current NFL Football Player (Seattle Seahawks)

Notable Former Schools for the Black Deaf

• The North Carolina State School for the Colored Deaf and Blind (1867)
• Maryland School for the Colored Blind and Deaf (1872)
• Georgia School for the Negro Deaf (1882)
• Alabama School for Negro Deaf and Blind (1891)
• Southern School for the Negro Deaf (Baton Rouge, LA - 1938)

Notable Books by & about Black Deaf

• “Black and Deaf in America, Are We That Different?”
• “Sounds Like Home: Growing Up Black and Deaf in the South”
• “Black Deaf Students: A Model for Educational Success”
• “Roar of Silence: Trial & Triumph Through Deaf”
• “Still I Rise: The Enduring Legacy of Black Deaf Arkansans Before & After Integration”
• "The Hidden Treasure of Black ASL: Its History and Structure"

Notable Black Deaf Americans at Gallaudet University

• Andrew Foster, First Black Deaf to Graduate from Gallaudet, 1954
• Ida Grey Hampton, First Black Deaf Female to Graduate from Gallaudet, 1957
• Dr. Ernest Hairston, First Black Deaf to Earn His Ph.D. from Gallaudet, 1994
• Darius McCall, First Black Deaf President of Student Body Government, 2002
• Angela McCaskill, First Black Deaf Female to Earn Her Ph.D. from Gallaudet, 2004
• Katie Brown, Former Member of Board of Trustees
• Charles V. Williams, Former Member of Board of Trustees
• Dr. Glenn B. Anderson, Former Member and Chair of Board of Trustees
• Pamela Lloyd-Ogoke, Member of Board of Trustees
• Claudia Gordon, Member of Board of Trustees
• Duane Halliburton, Member of Board of Trustees

Notable Black Deaf Authors

• Connie Briscoe
• Mary Herring Wright
• Dr. Glenn B. Anderson
• Dr. Ernest Hairston
• Dr. Carolyn McCaskill
• Linwood Smith

Notable History About NBDA

• The first NBDA Conference was held in Cleveland, OH in 1982
• South Carolina BDA became the first chapter with state name
• Virgin Islands BDA is the only chapter not located in USA mainland
• Tennessee was the first state to hold two BDA chapters
• NBDA has held conference outside USA twice. 1993 in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands and 1999 in Jamaica.

First Five Local BDA Chapters Established

• District of Columbia Area Black Deaf Advocates, 1981
• Cleveland Black Deaf Advocates, 1982
• Philadelphia Chapter of Black Deaf Advocates, 1982
• New York City Black Deaf Advocates, 1983
• Atlanta Black Deaf Advocates, 1984

Six Founding Members of NBDA

• Dr. Ernest Hairston
• Linwood Smith
• Charles Williams
• Ann Wilson
• Lottie Cook
• Willard Shorter