Imagine Being Born Deaf. And, feeling lucky.
Imagine Being Born Deaf. And, feeling lucky.
What stories are being missed between victimhood and heroism?
In the social media scene, discussions about African-Americans and other historically marginalized groups often fall into a stark binary: portrayals are either tragic or heroic, simplifying the complexity of human experiences into overly broad categories. This reductionism fails to capture the nuanced realities of individuals who may belong to these communities, overlooking their lives' ordinary yet defining moments.
This binary portrayal is especially prevalent on platforms like LinkedIn, where I spend considerable time and energy. It is less so, for now, on platforms like Substack, which consistently challenges the conventional boundaries of platforms in or adjacent to the social media sphere.
Most narratives in the social sphere miss the subtleties and modest ebbs and flow of life—those stories that are not necessarily heroic nor tragic but are fundamentally human. For example, the daily experiences of someone who might be awkward or simply different from their peers in pre-defined communities some unremarkable yet defining way.
Reflecting on this, various posts come to mind that reinforce incomplete notions of how people see differences and similarities. Recently, a colleague of mine shared an article by or about a sociologist commenting on the notion of colorblindness while promoting her book.
The article offered typical insights that one would hear from a racialized sociologist whose research was about race and discrimination. That is, they conclude that the concept of colorblindness suggests that by ignoring race, we can somehow erase its consequences from our society. This perspective is flawed and, in a way, intellectually lazy.
Racism and Race
Here is their prototypical argument ignoring the potentially helpful aspects of colorblindness: “The decision to be a colorblind organization may, on the face of it, seem like an approach that we want, but if we prematurely move into that space, we ignore the fact that we aren’t a colorblind society,” the researchers said. “One of the things that we know from research is that attempts to be colorblind ultimately serve to reinforce racial inequalities that are already present.”
First, where have there been longitudinal studies on the notion of colorblindness and its impact on racial inequality?
Diminishing the dynamics of racialization might be the key to achieving a more just world—a less racist world than we have now. However, the conversation doesn't go deep enough. Suggesting that being colorblind means ignoring the ills of the past oversimplifies the issue. The ills of the past will remain unless we consciously decide to make them part of our present. The latter of which often happens.
This doesn’t help diminish racism in any meaningful way. Understanding history is absolutely essential. Allowing history to usurp our power of choice in how we shape the future is absurd and disempowering.
I don’t have a pony in the race regarding colorblindness. It is not a concept I adamantly support or oppose. I find the nuance interesting, and if I were forced to choose, I would say that it is a more sound construct than the tired focus on race, racialization, and victimization narrative that has come to define DEI, for too many people, in the United States.
This has led me to think about the stories sparsely told—the stories about the everyday lives of people who've been historically racialized—stories that are interesting and speak to universal experiences, showing that we're more similar than we are different.
The human experience is much more connected and similar than predominant (yet, decreasing) approaches to DEI purport. We would see this clearer if we were in more contact with each other, beyond the stereotypes and segregation that racialized approaches too often perpetuate.
The result is a disproportionately low number of stories that choose not to focus on the fact that someone is racialized. Consider the example of catching a taxi in New York City. A black man tries to hail a cab and gets passed by several cabs. These incidents aren’t universal; they vary by location. But rarely do you see a story contrary to the narrative that emerged to prominence in 1999 when actor Danny Glover filed a discrimination complaint to the NYC City Taxi and Limousine Commission. For many, that is the story into perpetuity, even if they’ve never hailed a cab in NYC. Hanging on to these incomplete notions (even if they hold kernels of truth) does not advance racial equity.
When I spent time in Dallas or Salt Lake City or Vancouver (well, maybe not Canada, everyone is nice there, but still) I never got passed up by a cab. The same in Shanghai. The same in Charlotte (way more likely than Vancouver, but still).
So, what’s the point here? It’s simple. We need to hear more about people doing interesting things that aren’t always tied to historical achievements (e.g., like firsts to do XY or Z; making loads of money, etc.) or overcoming racist barriers. Unfortunately, many such stories about racialized people are not widely shared. Even when a story could be about uniqueness, if one is of a darker hue, the story is tinted as such.
Yet, there are many intriguing stories out there that are the connective tissue of humanity. Like any story that discusses the human condition and how we navigate it. These stories are occasionally heroic, but most of the time, they are tellings of circumstantial dynamics one encounters and moves through, transcending the circumstance with agency and an antifragile constitution.
The Free Press published one such compelling story. This is one of many I have had a chance to read via the publication. And, it particularly stood out as it relates to what I shared above.
Critics might label The Free Press as divisive. Even “anti-DEI.” Still, its clear stance and occasional bias offer a perspective that is often more heterodox and balanced than many other platforms with similar reach. I don’t always agree with what is shared via The Free Press, but I respect the depth and nuance in their reporting.
This particular read led to a decision to become a paid subscriber because of the story of filmmaker Eli Steele, who has been deaf since he was a year old, a fact I never knew despite his public discussions about his work.
His experience growing up deaf shaped his understanding that life is inherently unfair. While many hold this belief, his stance is clear: unfairness should not prevent us from achieving what we want in life.
His familial connections further enrich Eli Steele's story. His father, Shelby Steele, is a well-known conservative academic writer and public intellectual. His uncle, Claude Steele, wrote the influential book Whistling Vivaldi, which is frequently cited in discussions on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Eli's sister, Loni Steele Sosthand, is also a creative force, working as a writer and producer in the entertainment industry. Loni has made notable contributions to popular culture, including writing an award-winning episode of The Simpsons that explores identity and personal discovery in a nuanced and engaging way. One that I highly recommend that you watch. I particularly liked it because my maternal lineage hails from Okmulgee, Oklahoma, and still participates in rodeo.
The article “I Was Born Deaf. I Feel Lucky”. by Mr. Steele is highly recommended for its touching narrative, particularly for those in inclusion or DEI roles. It beautifully lays out a narrative that enlightens and inspires.
It takes us from heroic highs and dismal lows, because of our differences, to a place where we recognize that we have created—or can create—our agency. Not because we're inherently great or have extraordinary capabilities but because we have a community we've cultivated and engaged with. We've worked diligently and had others help us in that work.
Our stories about our identities, especially when one or more of our many, have been historically occluded, don’t need to be confined to narratives we don’t want. We don’t have to see ascribed racialization as associated with victimization. If we do, rather than move toward a fairer society for all, the past we didn’t choose will weigh us down as we intentionally or unintentionally use it as a broad, fickle brush to paint the future.
It is a part of our history, and what we choose to do with it, despite its unfairness, is up to us (please don’t make the deviation). One doesn’t have to live defined by past injustices; instead, we can own our agency, engage with our community (in its broadest sense), and create things that affirm who we are and our contributions to the world.
I hope this was helpful. . . Make it a great day! ✌🏿
In this episode of the ‘Reconstructing Inclusion’ podcast, I am joined by esteemed Philosophers, Dr. Subrena Smith and Dr. David Livingstone Smith, who offer profound insights into the complex dynamics of race and its impact on society. They highlighted that racialization is deeply ingrained in the ideological foundations of race, perpetuating systemic oppression and exploitation.