Black deaf students who attended a segregated school on the grounds of Gallaudet University in the 1950s will finally receive their high school diplomas, 70 years after their enrollment. This momentous occasion will be marked by a graduation ceremony hosted by Gallaudet University, a liberal arts institution for the deaf and hard of hearing.
The 24 Black deaf students and their descendants will be honored during the ceremony. These students, who were in grades K-12 at the Kendall School on the Gallaudet campus in the early 1950s, were initially prohibited from attending due to segregation. Instead, they were forced to attend schools in Pennsylvania and Maryland. However, after a successful legal battle against segregation, a division for Black deaf students was established at Kendall School.
This landmark case in 1952 was instrumental in setting the precedent for the Supreme Court’s significant ruling on Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, which declared school segregation unconstitutional. Despite attending the school division for Black deaf students, the education provided to these students primarily focused on vocational studies rather than academics, leaving them unprepared for college.
Furthermore, even after the classrooms at Kendall School became integrated, Black deaf students were still treated differently and denied their high school diplomas. However, thanks to the efforts of Gallaudet University and the desire to acknowledge and rectify past racial and educational injustices, these students will finally receive the recognition they deserve.
One of the surviving students, 82-year-old Kenneth Miller, whose mother led the class action suit, will participate in the ceremony. It is a moment of excitement and fulfillment for these individuals, who will finally have the opportunity to walk across the stage and accept their high school diplomas.
This event not only symbolizes the long-overdue recognition of these Black deaf students but also highlights the rich history of the Black deaf community. With a desire to share their stories and make the world aware of their experiences, the community hopes that events like these will shed light on the challenges they have faced and overcome.
In conclusion, Gallaudet University’s commitment to acknowledging and addressing past racial and educational injustices is exemplified through the graduation ceremony honoring the Black deaf students who attended Kendall School in the 1950s. This commemorative event serves as a reminder of the progress made in fighting against segregation and discrimination, while also underscoring the importance of inclusivity and equal opportunities for all students.
