An Open Conversation with/for Allies – a Summary

An Open Conversation with/for Allies – a Summary

ASL Version: https://youtu.be/hveagEmEWEs?si=9q2wQ7YbJx6auUAP

Wanya Jefferson (he/him)

Wanya Jefferson (he/him). Name sign is the letter “W” to my mouth as if to sign “smile” because I smile a lot! I’m a thirty year old, Black, Queer, King that originally hails from Salem County, New Jersey but now is based out of Rochester, NY.

I originally relocated to Rochester, NY after getting accepted into the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) for Software Engineering, but swifty realized that wasn’t the right path for me. After learning some American Sign Language (ASL) and learning more about the Interpreting Field, I switched my major and graduated from RIT in 2017. The rest, as they say, is history.

Nikki Cherry, M.Ed., NIC (they/them)

Nikki Cherry, M.Ed., NIC (they/them) currently resides in NW Arkansas, is a freelance interpreter who works primarily with Deaf Professionals in research and science fields, and owns an agency called Specialized Interpreting Services (SIS). The primary goals of SIS and Nikki are to recruit highly qualified BIPOC interpreters to work in any/all settings, and to provide access in settings that are historically overlooked or ignored. Nikki is on a continuous learning journey as they seek to mentor others and strive to help our field become more inclusive and accepting.

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We had the honor of leading an open conversation for allies, specifically giving space to Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) interpreters, at the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Conference in 2023. Thank you to each Black person, Indigenous person, and person of color that bravely stood and shared experiences, opinions, thoughts, and suggestions. Our very sincere apologies for not ensuring an even safer environment. We have learned from this experience and vow to do better in the future with our approach and workshop description, so everyone is aware of the format and goals of our time together. While we had the best of intentions in hosting this type of space, we – Nikki and Wanya – recognize fully that impact is more important and that we must do better in the future.

We promised to share a summary of what was discussed and are doing so here. This is in no particular order, as it is not the authors’ place to decide an order, and at the end we will share current research or discourse out and available regarding this topic so you can learn more from experts doing this vital work. We decided to keep this in a list format but expand on some items that have sub-themes and need more than one line for clarity.

Themes:

1. “Give us our identities. See us as a whole person.”

2. “We’re here all year, not only the month of February.”

3. Everyone brings trauma with them; it is impossible to be neutral.

4. Agencies need to stop acting clueless.

5. Pay disparities and not being “allowed” to talk about pay is a serious problem.

- Mentors don’t teach negotiation skills

- We need to talk about the money

6. Transparency is needed in all areas, and there is a severe lack of it everywhere.

7. “We are always questioned about certification and qualification. We must prove our worth in the Interpreter Training Program (ITP) and everywhere when out of the ITP. Don’t question my ABILITY to be here.”

8. Many do not put a picture on their profile to avoid discrimination.

9. There is a need for more BIPOC mentors and professors, and more support for those folks as well as for the mentees. Stop telling BIPOC interpreters they can’t or won’t make it for white supremacy reasons versus actual skill reasons.

10. “We want to be ourselves and ALL that includes, and have pride in that.”

11. White folks should not compliment to bring attention or act like they are ‘in the group’.

12. Be respectful. Let BIPOC folks have the chance to give input on all topics.

13. Need ITP at a Historically Black College/University (HBCU). Howard University named as preference. Hampton University has ASL classes, so could begin there as a partnership with Gallaudet or NTID or other ITP.

- Needs monetary support

- Needs Black professors

- Needs University buy-in

- Needs administrative support

- Needs NBDA, NTID, Gallaudet, RID, NAD, etc to come together and demand next ITP be housed at HBCU

- Additionally, could have a program at Gallaudet for BIPOC Deaf Interpreters

14. There is a need to start exposing BIPOC students in high school, or before, letting them know interpreting is a career option.

- Need ASL classes in HS

- Create and send pamphlet of interpreting information to HSs and HBCUs

15. National Interpreter Certification (NIC) exam needs to have BIPOC representation in every part of the test, including CDI test:

- in the raters

- in the development team

- in the rater trainers

16. Severe need for a community of BIPOC interpreters. NAOBI-DC is growing again – where are the others?

17. Increased opportunities to work with people who are safe and supportive. There needs to be a good network to find those people. Invite people to events and help them network. Don’t make them ‘sink or swim’!

18. Money is a barrier.

- Bachelor’s degree now required for certification; many BIPOC interpreters cannot afford that level of education

- The cost of the NIC is prohibitive

19. Positive intentions REQUIRE ACTION.

20. REFER THE JOBS. Who people/agencies recruit and hire is important and matters.

21. RID needs a written goal for increasing BIPOC representation and opportunities, and dismantling barriers.

- Create a working group?

22. Policies on professionalism need to be changed for better inclusivity. Involve those from BIPOC communities to assist with those changes.

23. Stop info gatekeeping.

24. Stop with the TOKENISM.

25. Don’t make assumptions based on a name or a look.

26. BIPOC interpreters do not NEED white interpreters to succeed. White interpreters might be helpful from time to time, but get out of the way and let BIPOC folks have the stage. Or - at minimum - share it equally.

27. Pay BIPOC interpreters what they are worth. Pay them for - their time

- their energy

- their expertise

- their patience with you who is non-BIPOC

28. Work daily to change the systems we operate within in big and small ways, but ALL ways.

29. Understand that ‘fitting in’ is different than ‘belonging.’

30. Keep making opportunities to have these conversations, while doing the work on your own to strengthen your inner fragility.

Please see (not an exhaustive list; a place to begin):

Myers and Lawyer: https://myersandlawyer.com ~ “Black, Indigenous, People of Color: The BIPOC Interpreter Experience with Tokenism and Weaponization.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACERGp15h8M ~ “From Marginalized to Empowered: Black Male Sign Language Interpreters.” https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=3YiYRPVggyU

Dr. Joseph C Hill, “BIPOC Interpreting Resources.” https://www.josephchill.com/bipoc-interpret ing-resources

Roman, Jonathan, “The Origin of Knowledge and Interest in Interpreting: Mapping Out White and BIPOC Interpreters Experiences in Rochester, NY” (2022). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from https://repository.rit.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=12426&context=theses

Call to Action:

If you are interested in being an active part of finding solutions, email BIPOCsuccessefforts@gmail.com with the subject line “I Want In!” and we will get you connected.

BIPOC folks interested in being a NIC rater, apply here: https://www.casli.org/rater_application/