1. Introduction: 

•        You are unable to fight for equality without advocating for the advancement of inclusion of people with disabilities. Normalizing the establishment of wide-spread basic knowledge of American Sign Language is one giant leap in the right direction. It would allow the hearing-impaired to participate in society in a way they are currently unable to and allow society to treat them as normal in a way they are unable to without means of communication. Although, not only would it improve the relationship between the hearing and hearing-impaired, but it would also provide the hearing-efficient with a secondary perspective of the world. 

Thesis: 

•        The hearing-impaired have been forced to be more intune with aspects of the world the hearing-efficient tend to overlook. By bridging the gap between the disabled and more-abled, we are provided with a broader and deeper understanding of the world around us. A great way to exemplify this is by analyzing a recently viral video of the sign interpreter at a Waka Flocka concert who was so enthusiastic about her craft that Waka Flocka himself mistook her for a passionate fan.

1. Body:

• Waka Flocka’s sign interpreter, Holly Maniatty, is one of the most famous and in-demand (self-employed) interpreters.
  • She interprets musical performances for Deaf concert patrons in such a way that awes the Deaf community, hearing-efficient, other interpreters at the event, and even the performer.
    • The performers of the show have jumped off the stage to join her on multiple occasions. In Waka Flocka’s case, he even mistook her for an incredibly passionate fan.
  • The viral video efficiently portrayed to the world that being disabled is nothing less or more than normal. And, that the disabled can enjoy the world in different, but just as fun, ways as everyone else. 

• Deaf people and the hearing-impaired still enjoy concerts by putting the emphasis of their experience on feeling the vibrations of the songs through their sound waves.
  • The same way we can feel the sound coming from a loud speaker or see liquid move with sound

• They rely on other senses due to their lack of hearing.
  • Their senses other than hearing are likely even more proficient than a hearing person.
  • By learning more about the way the deaf experience the world, we can not only begin to bridge the communication gap between us, but also gain a broader perspective of our surroundings. 

1. Conclusion:

• A key aspect in our fight for equality involves shifting our perspective of the disabled from “them” to “us”. Just because they are different does not mean they are separate. We are all different. Instead of avoiding people who are unalike ourselves or avoiding discussing what makes them unalike, we should embrace the awkward. You grow and learn the most by working through the uncomfortable parts of life. Holly Maniatty’s interpretive performance at Waka Flocka’s concert shows us that there are alternative ways to experience the world and that sometimes they can be even better than “normal”.

Sources:

1. 10155286045691648

• The video of Waka Flocka mistaking his sign interpreter for a dancing fan.

1. https://longreads.com/2017/06/27/faster-than-the-speed-of-sound-an-interview-with-holly-maniatty/

• Interview of Holly Maniatty (Waka Flocka’s sign interpreter).

1. https://www.washington.edu/news/2001/11/27/brains-of-deaf-people-rewire-to-hear-music/

•   Article describing how the Deaf experience music.

1. https://www.cpr.org/2019/07/23/sign-language-interpreter-concerts-red-rocks-colorado/

• Describing a sign interpreter’s role and importance at musical concerts.