Literary Edition 2016

MANUS A

Production

2016: THE POLITICS EDITION

Timeline

After a four-year quiet, the Manus was almost again discarded due to layout issues, but you are now reading it, and you’re already thinking about joining the fall 2016 competition.

2016

Editor-in-Chief Octavian Robinson pushed it to the 2001 press, where it has inconsistently appeared time and time again.

Editor-in-Chief Loy Golladay took out the creativity from weekly BNB issues, leaving only news. He replaced the literary numbers with a literary magazine, published several times a year. These publications slowly petered out through the years, eventually dropping to just one magazine a year.

1934

1982

The magazine halted again despite efforts to bring it back.

1966 Just four years later, students

resurrected the literary magazine with a fresh name: Manus, Latin for “hand”.

1962

Production was extinguished.

1892

A group of seven Gallaudet students founded The Buff and Blue. Their mission was simple: give students a vessel for self-expression, both in news reporting and literary ability. The Buff and Blue published literary numbers alongside hard-hitting news and advertisements in each issue.

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Politics is everywhere.

It is the ghost in the machine that makes our society tick, and if you don’t understand it, you will be left behind.

Politics is especially relevant today because of the upcoming presidential election, changes in Deaf education, the Islamic State’s hold on the Middle East, and countless other current events. This is why The Buff and Blue had the Gallaudet community send us your writing on politics.

Our winners for the categories of poetry and creative non-fiction exemplify this crucial need to understand the ghost in the machine of our society. Brianna Keogh’s poem asks us to question and challenge politicians in order to carry out our dreams. Aleksandr Rozentsvit’s memoir resonates with some of the Deaf community’s fears about changes in Deaf education.

We challenge you to read these works and then write about how politics unfolds in your own lives.

Enjoy, Paige Foreman Thadeus Suggs Kristin Williams Brianna Stroud-Williams Maggie Kopp 2

4201 Schools Protest

Aleksandr Rozentsvit

I am a transfer student from New York City. I love travelling and exploring new places as well as immersing myself into different cultures. I like to come up with creative puns by playing with news headlines.

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On the cold rainy morning of March 11th 2011, my deaf school, Lexington School for the Deaf, went to the state capitol in Albany, New York. There were ten other special needs schools from New York State packed into the Legislative Office Building.

Why in the world would eleven schools crowd into a state capitol to rally? The New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo wanted to eliminate state funding for the 11 special needs schools under the 4201 schools.

If Albany actually cut the money of the funding toward 4201 schools all the special needs students would be transferred to public schools, and this would cause a huge problem. If the cuts went in effect it would be a huge, devastating blow to the children, parents, and staff. The deaf students would be suffering isolation, suffering from the mainstream world, and not feel connected with hearing students. Some deaf students grew up mainstreamed and had enough of the mainstream environment before transferring to deaf schools. But if the 4201 cuts kicked in, then those students who were victims of the mainstreamed environment would have to suffer all over again.

The public schools were not equipped to handle many deaf students at once. There would be problems with interpreters’ resources trying to find the money, the IEP plans, and how the deaf students would handle the mainstream environment.

A problem was especially the hearing staff that did not grow up with any deaf relatives and did not truly acquire ASL and understand the syntax of sign language. There are no specialized audiologists to repair hearing aids for the deaf students on-site in public schools. Instead the students would have to find an audiologist somewhere else. Many concerns came up and especially the special needs students like blind students would have to find staff specialized in the blind community. The idea of sending the special needs students to public schools was a very scary one.

Thousands of people rallied wearing colorful shirts, holding up banners representing their schools, and chanting out that

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the governor should not cut school funding. The sights of the Albany rally were amazing. So many people turned out, and we even flooded up the stairs so much that the staff at the state capitol had to make a path to allow the legislators to go up and down the steps. Many people went up to the platform and expressed their feelings on the proposed cuts. CEO of NAD Howard Rosenblum was one of the platform speakers and vowed to fight to keep the budget and not to cut the funding. Several other assemblymen rallied that they would reject the budget cuts and support the 4201 schools.

After the rally everybody flocked outside of the Legislative Office Building and stood in front of the Capitol Building where the governor’s office was ocated. Despite the snow on the ground and the chilly weather, we all braved it and continued to chant about not cutting the 4201 funding. We continued to rally for about 30 minutes. A person was peering outside of the window to see what was going on, and we all pointed to that person. The person pulled the shutters down, and we all assumed that whoever it was was scared of the protest.

After all the chanting and the shouting, we all went back to the buses for a long drive back to Queens, New York. We waited for the result of the governor’s budget and found out that he decided not to cut any funding for the 4201 schools. The community breathed a sigh of relief and was thankful that the assembly and the senate rejected the budget cut proposal. This was not the first time the New York state governor threated to cut funding. It occurred in the 1980’s when Andrew Cuomo’s father; Mario Cuomo, threated the same proposal to eliminate funding. It was like déjà vu with the rally and angry letters demanding not to cut funding. Mario backed away and kept the funding for the 4201 schools.

Actions speak louder than words because we all united and rallied for better funding. The community came together, and no matter how lousy the weather was, we continued to rally and came out with a victory.

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Untitled Poem Brianna Keogh From Southern California, Brianna Celeste Keogh is an ordinary girl with a big imagination and love for life. She is majoring in Psychology and considers herself an ambivert, as she loves to be with people but also to be alone. Her aspirations include photography, writing, traveling, spreading awareness about social justice, making memories, and making her life as fulfilling as possible.

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He towers over the audience, a giant giving a speech Only he’s tall in power, sucking our attention like a leech Pulling us forward, stacking lies in our minds We have a dream, but it’s about to be set on fire Climbing mountains and reaching for higher Seeking a land full of unity, of stars in a galaxy If we don’t question the screams on a microphone Words across the screen, of a demanding tone How will we demand change? Time is ticking Your eyes flicker on the screen, brain of consideration The time is now, to be filled with aspiration And make a difference, because you do matter In the lesson of a teacher or the tone of a song We shall keep our eyes and minds open, remaining strong We are the now, we are the future, and we have a dream.

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Canst thou bring me to the party?

Birthday cake!

Selfie

booth!

Celebrate William Shakespeare’s 452nd birthday and learn about the First Folio month in October 2016.

April 25th 3-4pm in SLCC Atrium Sponsored by the Office of the President and the Office of the Provost For more information contact firstfolio@gallaudet.edu

www.thebuffandblue.net

WINNERS

Throughout the years, the Phi Kappa Zeta sorority has held Literary competitions with the goal of promoting literacy, recognizing unique talent, and offering scholarships to young Deaf and Hard of Hearing students.

Gallaudet University also hosted The National Essay, Art, and ASL Competition for several years in the late 2000s.

Neither have had a competition celebrating young Deaf students’ skills in language expression since then. Gallaudet University Youth Programs and Phi Kappa Zeta are excited to announce our collaboration this year in creating the first annual National Literary Competition! The writing category was open to any deaf & hard of hearing student, while the ASL cateogry was a test pilot, with eight schools participating & more sure to come next year! The purpose is to give Deaf and Hard of Hearing students the opportunity to showcase their written English and ASL skills, as well as to instill pride and ownership in their work.

Enjoy!

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Our Judges • Jesse Sanders • Tayla Newman • Maggie Kopp • Jessica Kales • Sharon Pajka, PhD. • Christopher Heuer, PhD. • Mario Hernandez • Raven Taylor • Chelsea Lee • Leticia Arellano • Timothy Gough • Adele Fass Contributors • Andrew Morrill • Claire Tucker • TraciAnn Hoglind • Nikloya Sereda

TABLE OF CONTENTS WRITING CATEGORY

• Poetry High School 4 Middle School 5 • Creative Writing High School 6-7 Middle School 8-11 • Essay High School 12-15 Middle School 16-18

ASL CATEGORY

• Storytelling High School 19 Middle School 20 Elementary School 21 • Presentation High School Middle School Elementary School • Poetry High School Middle School Elementary School Special Needs

WRITING: High School Poetry Winner:

Rohan Ashar, 9th grade Delph Alternative Secondary High School

Music

With my eyes closed and my ears awake I lay in bed and get carried away By lyrics that taste like a great cheesecake And beats that look like the Sun at mid-day Everywhere you go, there is a song to be told Some are of love, while others are of pain But no matter what, they all glow like gold And regardless of race, they entertain Music is wonderful, and oh so great!

For it’s a place to which I can escape To a place where I don’t have to deal with hate Nor be bound by the sadness of today The Beatles, or whoever you may need May music give you happiness indeed

Honorable Mention: Hristina Belevski, 12th grade Delph Alternative Secondary High School

WRITING: Middle School Poetry

Honorable Mention: Juliana Sanchez Washington School for the Deaf

WRITING: High School Creative Writing Winner:

Aylah Cadwell, 12th grade Kansas School for the Deaf I Am Human I held my breath in the room. The striking Man in a sleek suit sat before me. I sat across him. Bare white walls surrounded us and swallowed me whole. The light gleamed out of the walls. My hands were chained to the black table before me.

“You are not human,” he said. Lies. There was shifting inside me, a groaning disbelief at this horrid man.

“I am human” I insisted. A look of pity reflected upon his face. Disgust. That is what I’m feeling. Disgust. Disgust at this man. Isn’t that an emotion? Emotions are flawed, but emotions are human. Therefore I. Am. Human. The Man sat before me, tapping his impatient fingers on the shiny black table, creating a dull tap contributing to the atmosphere. My eyes explored the white room-so bright, I have to adjust to the light.

“Axel-1928, that is your given name, correct?” The Man inquired.

“Axel,” I insisted. “When I left your pathetic lab-your cage, my prison- I no longer was just a number. I became Axel.”

“Axel-1928. Manufactured on December 15, 2058. Diverged on July 12, 2059,” he reported off a folder.

“Manufactured!” I spat. “More like tortured, imprisoned, experimented upon!”

“Artificial Intelligence Axel-1928 developed a malfunction seeded upon by Virus-P on December 20, 2058,” the Man’s voice echoed.

“Artificial Intelligence!” I scoffed. “Tell me, does Artificial Intelligence have flesh such as this!” I pinched my skin. My ebony skin stretched while I pulled and pinched.

“Yes, developed in April 2052.”

“Does Artificial Intelligence speak as I do? Breathe as I do?” I pleaded. This man was denying my very existence. How cruel, how cruel humans can be. No, I am human.

Cruel I am not. He is human, He is cruel, are all humans alike?

“Yes, developed in April 2052. Axel-1 was the first of your brand. Revolutionary.” Stop.

Please.

“I am human. I am not a robot, I am not your product.”

“You are Axel-1928, manufactured on December 15, 2058.” Why? Why was this man so insistent on my lack of humanity? You humans, you breed foolish minds. Wait. He just cannot see. I am human, he will see. He has to understand.

“Tell me, does a manufactured robot as you say, laugh, cry, feel anger?” I whispered.

“No, manufactured products do not develop beyond their program,” the Man phrased as if he had been drilled into it, programed into it. Anger flourished in me. I am not a product! I ravished in the anger. Anger was proof, proof I am living, and proof I am human.

“Well, I do! I feel! I cry! I become disgusted at the likes of you! I am human.”

“You are Axel-1928, manufactured-” “I am human!” I interrupted. The Man in the black suit frowned. Disappointed at my stubbornness. Slowly, he reached for a remote. That dull white remote, cannot control me.Humans are free. I am free. With a click, I watched my arms fold open to see canisters of batteries in my arms. My ebony arms had opened to reveal my very own downfall. The batteries shone blue and white as I stared at my own two arms betraying me.

“No. I am human, I swear!” I pleaded.

“Axel-1928 has been determined far too damaged from Virus-Pathos. Terminate.” The Man pulled out what had been a recorder from his pocket as he wrote my termination on that folder. My folder. I am not broken. My program says I am not broken. No, not my program. My brain. Humans have brains.

“What? No” I mumbled, shocked. But yet what was I seeing? Two batteries resided in my arms. How could I doubt the truth? The Man in the suit pressed a button on the remote. In that instant, an automated voice echoed: “Shut down in 10 seconds” 9.8.7 Where is that coming from?

6.5.4 Me. It’s coming from me.

3.2.1 “I am Human” I whispered.

Shut down commenced.

Honorable Mention: Hannah Carter, 11th grade Ohio School for the Deaf

WRITING: Middle School Creative Writing

Winner:

Henry Severson, 7th grade Cherokee Heights Middle School Zombie Apocalypse From A Zombie’s Point of View The dim subway lights flickered off then on after a brief moment as the steady drone of the subway train grew louder and gradually nearer. It was 5:30 am on a quiet Tuesday morning, and I was freezing my buns off while impatiently waiting for my transport. As I was rubbing my numb hands together suddenly the failing lights faded away to nothing, and stayed that way for several seconds. Even as I stood there, the familiar clatter of the subway train slowly dwindled until it was dead quiet. The normally loud noise that typically filled the station and could most likely wake the dead was gone. There was an ominous tone to the frigid air, and it got worse when I heard faint rustling. No, this wasn’t the rat claws striking the stone floor this time. It sounded like shuffling. And it sounded like it was getting closer. Thankfully, it wasn’t completely pitch black; the stars shining down the stairwell were able to provide enough light to make out a shadow heading straight for me. At 15 years old and counting, my natural instinct has always been to fight rather than flee. And so I readied myself. As the figure made its way closer, I took a step forward, making a louder sound than I would have liked. The thud echoed throughout the corridors. The thing drew ever nearer, moving even faster than before. When it was about five yards away it stretched out its arms for me, as if wanting to embrace me in a tight hug. Or strangle me. I decided I would do everything I could to keep both possibilities from happening, unless for some reason the figure was my mother, who is supposed to be 2,000 miles away in a different state. I was just readying my fist to strike should it prove hostile when I felt hands clamp over my throat and something bite my arm from behind. I fell into unconsciousness immediately, almost believing I was safe at home and about to go into a deep sleep.

I awoke to find an aged man tapping my nose. I was lying on a bed of leaves on the ground. He noticed me open my eyes and stopped. We stared at each other for a moment, until the man exclaimed,

“Oh, excuse me! I’m sorry, where are my manners? Welcome to the zombie graveyard, where the undead live,” as he helped me up. It took a moment to compre-

hend what he had said.

“Wait, what? I must’ve misheard you,” I said, confused.

“My father’s words are true, that we are zombies and are stuck here. We’re here to help you. We haven’t had a new member since, yesterday I guess,” a female voice said as the man started pulling me somewhere. I located the voice, and beheld a teenage girl who smiled at me.

“I’m Cortana,” she informed.

“And I’m Marcus. Pleased to meet you…?” Marcus added.

“Oh, my name is Will,” I replied.

“I know this is a lot to take in, but we’re going to show you the undead life.” Cortana told me. I smiled politely, but my brain was whirling around a mile a minute. How is undead different than living? I still felt the same so far. If everybody really were zombies, what exactly was going on? My question was soon answered by Marcus.

“The gist of our situation is that we are all zombies. We function like regular humans, except we don’t feel pain, nor drink or eat along with having our own language that sounds to the living like gibberish. We’re basically quarantined to the graveyard and the forest. The only animals found here are harbored by Bigfoot the potions master. You still with me, Will?” I nodded, and then Cortana spoke.

“Our goal is to decipher a jumble of letters to solve a secret message that should help us with our zombiehood. Every zombie spends 20 hours a day trying to figure it out.

Nobody has solved it, and occasionally we send out strike forces to infect the living. We are only allowed to leave the area by that means. Plan on anything else and you are fried on the spot as soon as you come into contact with the barrier. We have placed obvious markers where the wall is, so you should be just fine. We understand you are one of the best at word jumbles, so we would like you to get started right away. Ok?”

“Ok,” I answered, and Marcus thrust a pencil and a scrap of paper with some letters on it at me.

“Do it,” he ordered. I complied, studying the letters. They were as followed: I,I,T,S,V,F, O,T,B,I,O,G,O,R,F,E,T,H,E,R,C,U. It took me seven minutes to unscramble it.

“I got it!” I shouted. Marcus and Cortana immediately gathered around me. “The phrase is ‘visit Bigfoot for the cure.’ It must be the solution for zombiehood!”

“Or it could be something much worse,” Marcus darkly added.

“Come on, father. Must you be so grim? This is obviously our salvation. You are the best thing that ever happened to us, Will!” Cortana exclaimed.

“If we’re going to do it, now is as good a time as any,” Marcus said. When Cortana and I bobbed our heads in consent Marcus said curtly, “This way fellas. It would be a good idea to arrive before dark. Lots of grisly monsters patrol the grounds after sundown.

“Come on now. You know those stories are just made up,” Cortana chastised, though to me she sounded a tad nervous. Or maybe that was myself. At this rate, I was going to be the fastest human ever to become a zombie and get reverted back to a living state.

After walking for a while, we arrived at a shack that looked pretty nice. The wood appeared smooth, and the scaffolding was good. There was a simple door in the front. From our vantage point we could discern no windows.

“Now what?” Cortana asked as we stopped.

“We knock,” Marcus said.

“We should form a plan before we just barge in,” I proposed.

“We’re going to knock, then do whatever,” Marcus replied as he strode up to the door.

Standing face to face with the entrance, he hesitated. Then he rapped three times on the door. Anyone within now knew we were outside. After ten seconds Cortana said,

“Maybe nobody’s home.” Marcus raised his fist to knock again, but at that moment the door swung open inward.

“Nothing that I can see did this,” Marcus mused.

“Just go in,” Cortana insisted. Marcus reluctantly stepped forward. When nothing happened he took another tentative step. And then disaster struck. The floor under Marcus collapsed when he placed his weight on it. He fell down deep, screaming all the way. Eventually his screams quieted, and then we heard the nasty thud and crack of several bones breaking.

Cortana let out a little sob of grief before she clamped her hand over her mouth. Me? I just stood there like a statue, eyes wide, mouth gaping open in shock. I couldn’t believe it. Just like that, Marcus’ life was over.

“Enter,” a reassuring voice came out of nowhere. “I am sorry for what just happened, but I need you to trust me. Jump over the hole, and then you will be… taken care of.” After what had just happened, I wasn’t trusting anybody, but when Cortana followed suit to the orders, I decided to go along with it.

Once across, we went down a hallway, until we were seized roughly and dragged into a room. As we were strapped to separate tables, a figure in a white lab coat turned to face us.

It was a man, whose hairs were white from age. He had kindly eyes, and he told us to relax while he whipped up the serum to cure us. I seriously hoped it would work because I was helpless when bound like this. I’m sure Cortana felt the same way, but all we could do for now was hope.

As the man mixed some intangibles, he chatted away,

“You should know me as Bigfoot. Though I do have some large feet I prefer to be called Steve. I’m preparing some of the potion that I call anti-zombie, which I will inject into your systems. All ready now?” he said as he faced us.

“Who’s first? How about the lady?” he didn’t waste a second as he strode over and poked the needle through the arm of Cortana. Soon after he connected a new needle and came over to me. I never had a problem with needles, but something made me nervous now.

I didn’t have any time to ponder over it, and Steve was done quickly. Suddenly I felt sleepy, and fought the sensation for a little bit, but soon succumbed and slumbered.

Honorable Mentions: Leslie Nguyen, 7th grade Solvay Middle School Emma Keats, 7th grade Burnaby South Secondary School Zarek Nathanson, 7th grade Texas School for the Deaf

WRITING: High School Essay Winner & Writing Grand Prize Winner: Nehemiah Danjuma, 11th grade Rocky Mountain Deaf School

I Have A Dream

I have a dream that I strongly believe in and share with the deaf community.

What is a dream? Why are dreams important, why do we dream anyway? Is a dream a supernatural unaccounted for episode? Are dreams part of the psychological theory of human being? Do dreams manifest events in real life? How do dreams affect us? I know God is the universal architect of all dreams, the human brain and mind; However these questions need answers. I can’t drag God into this boat of rhetorical questions as it is well established that individual human beings have the ability of independent thinking and a conscience as well. No one else control what goes in their head and comes out. Well, human beings simply have not yet come close to answering the question: “why do we dream?”

Dreams are stories and images or imagination of things via our sensory, feelings, emotions and experience that our minds create while we sleep. It is like a show put on by one’s own mind. They can be entertaining, fun, romantic, disturbing, frightening and sometimes bizarre. According to online information, we had up 3-5 dreams per night and each dream lasted for 5-20 minutes and about 95% of what happened in the dream are forgotten when the person woke up, 45% of people that feature in the dream are recognized and most likely to be friends, family or people you have known fairly well . In my opinion, dreams are connected to places you have been to, past experience and what you make of the world around you. It is an undisputable fact that we can’t control dream as much as we will have wanted. So the question one tends to ask is: Do we really have dreams? Dream is not possessive as the verb ‘have’ suggest. No one can carry dream or claim ownership but since we HAVE dreams, we can’t let go ever though dreams comes by itself and goes by itself without warning. So we haven’t have a dream. Have we? Probably, it is right there in pocket, inside the house, at the backyard or where could it be?

“I HAVE A DREAM….”

Whenever this phrase is bought up, you had probably be thinking about Dr Martin Luther King Jr “I have a dream” speech. A dream rooted in the ‘American dream’ which is now taking its full course on the soil of America. Justice and equality is paving its way because the world realized Dr king’s dream can be achieved. A dream that cannot be shattered on the altar of politics, race, sex, religion and color. A dream that directly targeted a globally debating issue and raise questions on racial diversity. Bias has many definitions and is seeing in many ways by different people based on their common sense of judgement. Regardless of what people define it, it’s a hindrance to societal progress. There is strength in diversity.

To make a difference in our lives, we need different people. If color of one’s skin could be the causes of discrimination against them then color isn’t worth it! Imagine we all look the same, the world would be a bored place. It is the different colors that makes the rainbow beautiful not the rainbow itself. Again, how bored will the rainbow be without different colors? Thank God, the world is not a bored place that you turn North, you see people the same as you, go to South, you meet people with the same language, visit West and there are just the type of people you have been seeing all your life or you hit North and you just get to see and experience old stuff. Dr King have a dream, So do I.

I have a dream in the right sense is more to say I’m seeing things from my own perspective- Imagining things the way I want them to be in the future regardless of the obstacles or impossibility. I can’t be sleeping while I imagined things the way I want them be because humans have no control over what they are dreaming while sleeping. The psycho of the mind however does.

Derek is sitting on the couch behind the window staring at the beautiful rays made by the reflection of the sun on the glass window. Right there, he’s imagining the sun rays as the perfect epitome of a bright future, his future! He had wanted to be a gentleman of the robe, a legal professional guru, an amiable Lawyer and hottest Barrister in town. However, Derek is deaf.

He had believed his deafness is not barrier but he equally knew his life was never going to be the same. Forget the word “same” he thought. It’s alright to be different but he wondering what he would be able to achieve with all the difference. Again he captured the image of himself reflecting on the beautiful rays of the sun outside. Then on this perspective reasoning that if the sun shines so bright in the morning and throughout the day and gradually fades as it gets dark, It was evidently visible for every soul on the earth to see and it also mean that there is another bright side of it. There is another tomorrow when it will shine ever brighter than the yesterday. Yes, he Thought, his deafness is not a barrier rather it is his identity. He needed to do nothing to prove it. All he needed to do is to be himself and the other bright side of being deaf will be visible for the world to see. Derek concluded that he is going to be the shining star tomorrow. Yes, the ‘Hottest Barrister’ in town!

This was the dream Derek imagined while sitting right there on the couch. Was he right? He was probably right if he believed himself.

Derek had a personally designed dream! A personal set dream and goals in one pic-

ture. I’m talking about the other. That is collective dream.In collective dream, you aren’t the only one who shares the dream. You as a whole body see the dream as a collective responsibility which you must work together as a team to achieve.

The important thing is that something affected all of you, if nothing brings people together then there probably is nothing they aim to achieve by working together. There must be something else that bound you together for one cause. This one thing could be your race, sex, disability, profession, nationality or beliefs. Either way, the thing must be important to your survival and to further your independence both academically, economically and socially as a human. If you’re ever denied those three things, it should be your biggest dream to set the track right! To break loose from the bad elements in the society who discriminate against you, to bring the government to their senses so they accede your demands and do something to create the right environment where your human rights are not trampled upon, where you walk with your ego and chin up, where information is unrestricted, accessible and accommodate. That is a laudable task for the deaf community.

That is my ‘DREAM’.

I have a dream that one day, the deafs will be walking with full pride in their identity. That one day, right on Aso Rock, there will be a banner reading out loud enough for the world to hear what the deaf, the blind and the cripple can do. On the very gate of the presidential villa Abuja, I dream that deaf people would be able to walk in without been dictated as beggars. That one day, the government will be able to give us the platform to voice our long overdue grievances.

I have a dream that the era of discrimination against people with disability will be a thing of the past!

One day, Nigeria will raise to believe that deaf people can contribute meaningfully to the growth of the society, country and the world at large if they are helped to bring the best in them.

I have a dream that deaf people wouldn’t be judged based on their disability but by the principle of ‘ability in disability’

I have a dream that one day I woke up to the news that the Disability Bill long ago dumped in the Senate chamber in Abuja had been passed into law. A strong law!

This generation would appreciate the advance of science and technology to provide a stable workplace, conducive and bilingual learning environment to foster better development of the deaf child. I hope that parents of deaf children would stop beating around the bush and learn sign language which is the best gift they can ever give themselves and their children.

I share this dream with the deaf community and together we can make a difference in the World.

I have a dream today and always.

Honorable Mentions: Christian Jacobs, 12th grade California School for the Deaf, Riverside Denali Thorn, 9th grade Indiana School for the Deaf

WRITING: Middle School Essay Winner:

Gifty Graybill, 6th grade Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf I Have A Dream...

I have a dream... to feel connected to my family. My mom, dad, and brothers are white and I am black. We are like Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream in real life! The most important thing in the world to me is to have my family by my side. I think if I did not have my family by side, I would be lost in this world. Even though it can be hard in life sometimes, I still want them is my life as I grow older. Life is all about learning to become an adult together. It may be hard, but no one can say God made the world a “hard-free zone.” Life is about taking the good with the bad. I cannot imagine life without my family.

I was born in Africa, but sadly my birth mom could not take care of me and my sister, so the neighbor next door came to help. They saw that I was very sick because I did not have the right medicine, so they took us to an orphanage to live. Two years later, my sister and I found out that our mom had died from being sick. A few days after my mom died, I moved to a different orphanage than my sister to be with kids like me who were sick. When that happened, I never saw my sister ever again.

I went to the new orphanage with some other orphans, and we were all very weak and did not want to play. The other kids were enjoying themselves but we were so weak. Later, one of the kids that came with me ended up dying. Me and my friends thought she was an angel up in Heaven. At the orphanage, they had a trampoline, a dog, a sand playground, and of course other kids. Me and my best friend played together, laughed together, ate together, and watched TV together. We did everything together! But my best friend got adopted before me. I loved my best friend like a twin sister to me. I never saw my “twin” sister again either but I wish I could.

Five years later, a family was interested in adopting me, but they could not adopt me without getting to know me first. They stayed in Africa for few months. After that, they had to go back and wait for about two months before they could come back to get me. When they were in America waiting, they signed the adoption papers and then my mom flew back to Ghana to adopt me! It was the best day of my life! I could

not have been more grateful than I was on that day.

After my mom got me, I did not understand that we were going to fly to America. I thought we were going to drive there! My mom explained we would drive after we got there. I said, “Okay!” At first when I left I was sad for the other kids, but then I realized that some day, someone will adopt the other kids like my mom and dad adopted me. There must be a mom and a dad waiting to adopt them.

When we arrived in Minnesota, my dad and one of my brothers were waiting for us.

I was so excited to meet my new family!! In fact, I was so happy I almost cried! When I finally got to my new house, I went straight to my bedroom and it was so beautiful. Then I went to my backyard and my new brother and I played until dinner was ready. That is when my other brothers arrived, too. A few days went by and I got to meet my grandma.

I was so excited to meet my extended family and by that time it was also my birthday.

My first birthday in America! On my birthday I had my whole family come to my party. I played with my cousin and my brothers, we ate, and I opened my gifts. We played some more until bedtime. It was the best birthday ever. Also, my first time seeing snow I remember it was so cold but I went outside anyway and a snowflake fell on my tongue! I thought it was ice cream. America had so many new experiences for me.

I have been given a second chance to live a life with a family. I have been blessed. However, my experience has not always been easy to get used to a new life and a new family.

Sometimes I don’t feel connected with my family. At times I feel that way because I look different than they do and I act differently and I feel like they are not accepting of who I am. Sometimes I feel like my mom likes my brothers more than me and I wonder if she really even wanted a girl to begin with. If I felt connected to my family, my life would be like a dream come true. I would think my parents would be proud of me. Maybe they would do special things with me if I won something. If I was really connected to my family, I would feel love.

To feel connected my family, I would want for my parents to treat me fairly. I would want my brothers to be nice to me and for my parents not to be mad at me for things.

On my birthday when I blow out my candles, I wish that my mom would understand me and I could talk to her about anything and she would not get angry. In my wishes, she would keep an open mind to understand that I need someone to talk to. Sometimes my mom says she is there for me and sometimes she is, but other times actions speak louder than words. All I want from my mom is that she will be there for me when need a shoulder to cry on. I do not want just any mom, I want my mom. I want her to understand my perspectives about who I am and I would love to be able to understand my mom better, too. Even when I feel confused or frustrated, I know I do love my family and I will always love them, even if it sometimes does not look that way.

My history is rough. I lose people I care about. Thankfully though, I have another chance.

My family is important to me because I lost my first family and I don’t want to lose my second family that God has given me. That is my dream; to be connected with people I love deeply.

ASL: High School Storytelling Winner:

Cesar Aranda, 10th grade Phoenix Day School for the Deaf

Honorable Mentions: Abraham Rivera, 10th grade Phoenix Day School for the Deaf Zander Symansky, 9th grade Kansas School for the Deaf Dylan Duarte, 9th grade California School for the Deaf, Riverside

ASL: Middle School Storytelling

Winner & ASL Grand Prize Winner: Gisella Visco California School for the Deaf, Riverside

Honorable Mentions: Enza Visco, 6th grade California School for the Deaf, Riverside Clark Barret, 7th grade California School for the Deaf, Riverside Avant Gorman, 6th grade Indiana School for the Deaf Jessica Diaz, 6th grade Kansas School for the Deaf

ASL: Elementary School Storytelling Winner:

Jade Zarembka, 5th grade California School for the Deaf, Riverside

Honorable Mentions: Gianna Wheeler, 4th grade Indiana School for the Deaf Angelica Baldonado, 5th grade New Mexico School for the Deaf Levi Wood, 4th grade Indiana School for the Deaf Tiana Starayev, 3rd grade Indiana School for the Deaf

ASL: High School Presentation Winner:

Kali Lacy, 11th grade Indiana School for the Deaf

Honorable Mentions: Lance Wood, 11th grade Indiana School for the Deaf Isabella Paulone, 11th grade Indiana School for the Deaf

ASL: Middle School Presentation Winner: Rayzele Booth, 6th grade California School for the Deaf, Riverside

Honorable Mention: Daniel Soudakoff, 6th grade California School for the Deaf, Riverside

ASL: Elementary School Presentation Winners: Winter Sluyter-Obidos, 5th grade California School for the Deaf, Riverside

Winners: Gianna Visco, 4th grade California School for the Deaf, Riverside

Honorable Mention: Olivia Hencker, 2nd grade California School for the Deaf, Riverside

ASL: High School Poetry Winner:

Aryzona Marsh Kansas School for the Deaf

Honorable Mentions: Dante Paulone Indiana School for the Deaf Aylah Cadwell Kansas School for the Deaf

ASL: Middle School Poetry Winner:

Anya Roberts, 6th grade California School for the Deaf, Riverside

Honorable Mentions: Enza Visco, 6th grade California School for the Deaf, Riverside Gisella Visco, 6th grade California School for the Deaf, Riverside

ASL: Elementary School Poetry Winner:

Sevan Ikeda, 3rd grade California School for the Deaf, Fremont

Honorable Mentions: Gabriella Bibb, 3rd grade California School for the Deaf, Fremont Pax Holocomb, 3rd grade California School for the Deaf, Fremont Tyler Callum, 3rd grade Kansas School for the Deaf

ASL: Special Needs Poetry Winner: Justyn Servantez, 5th grade California School for the Deaf, Fremont

Honorable Mention: Jessica Moore, 3rd grade California School for the Deaf, Fremont

Congratulations to all of our winners!

See you again next year!