Yes, of course, that's what legal blindness is all about. But that isn't what
NFB did to people. They insisted that people who had useable vision, deny its
existence and not use it, and that's what my friend wanted me to do when he
insisted that I not use the screen magnification program on my computer. I was
losing sight over the years. When I lost a lot of sight at one time, I was
aware of it. But I was less aware that I was continuously losing tiny amounts
of vision gradually for years. A friend of mine noticed and referred to the
fact at one point, and I took note of what she'd casually said. And each time I
visited the eye specialist, he'd ask if I was still able to read my closed
circuit TV magnifier which allowed me to read mail and all the adoption reports
I wrote and all kinds of other stuff. I knew he had a reason for asking, but I
didn't acknowledge that his expectation or observation was that I was
continuously losing vision. I just kept adjusting to the new normal. I may have
mentioned the summer program that I attended twice at the South Dakota State
University in the Black Hills. We went on an outing to Mount Rushmore. In the
evening, there was a program and then a very visual presentation with lighting
up of the carved out heads. Several of us in the group had some residual
vision, but the very kind people who ran the program and the volunteers who
accompanied us on that day, never recognized that some of us had sight and
could appreciate the visual presentation if we were located closer to it. When
I tried to explain our needs to them and request that we walk closer, they
basically ignored what I said. Different people have different kinds of partial
vision and they use it differently. Sighted people discount it altogether. Now
that I can't see where I'm going, my younger daughter doesn't remember how much
I used to see. On the other hand, the NFB people want to define blindness and
use it for their own organizational purposes.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Roger Loran Bailey
(Redacted sender "rogerbailey81" for DMARC)
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2020 9:32 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jacob Blake's Father Says His Son Is Paralyzed
Below Waist After Being Shot From Behind by Kenosha Police
I went from fully sighted to where I am now, a little bit of vision but not
enough to be useful, and on the way I spent a little bit of time in each level
of legal blindness. If I had just had time to get used to some of those levels
I might have functioned a lot better in them, but being just barely legally
blind is still difficult to deal with. I remember telling someone when my
eyesight was declining that you do run into walls. That was because I actually
did run into a wall. After that I learned to slow down a bit and pay better
attention. So, does one have the right to call oneself blind if one is just
barely legally blind? If not then there just about has to be some kind of
acknowledgement of the condition. At least one should call oneself visually
impaired. And as I was typing I remembered a certain incident from the time my
eyesight was declining. My eyesight worked better in some levels of light than
in others. Bright sunlight was a problem for me, but so was certain stages of
dusk. I was walking on the outskirts of a certain plaza just as evening was
coming on. I thought I could see where I was going perfectly well. The plaza
appeared to be empty. Suddenly I ran - splat - into a lamppost. My arms flew
out and I literally bounced off it. I was so surprised that I just stood there
a moment looking at the lamp post.
Then I realized that the plaza was not as empty as I thought. Across the plaza
I heard someone breaking up in laughter.
___
Carl Sagan
“Every aspect of Nature reveals a deep mystery and touches our sense of wonder
and awe. Those afraid of the universe as it really is, those who pretend to
nonexistent knowledge and envision a Cosmos centered on human beings will
prefer the fleeting comforts of superstition. They avoid rather than confront
the world. But those with the courage to explore the weave and structure of the
Cosmos, even where it differs profoundly from their wishes and prejudices, will
penetrate its deepest mysteries.”
― Carl Sagan, Cosmos
On 8/27/2020 1:34 PM, Miriam Vieni wrote:
I do remember NFB's insistence that one is blind, even if one is legally
blind but can see enough to move comfortably without a cane and can read
print with some magnification. Didn't people have to be blindfolded during
rehabilitation in NFB facilities? I had a friend who became totally blind,
but originally had partial vision. His parents were blind. I don't think that
he was a member of either NFB or ACB. He was a ham radio operator with a
talent for computers. He and his sighted friend, also a ham radio operator,
bought my first computer for me in 1993, a dos computer, and his friend set
it up and taught me how to use it. It had the forerunner to Window Eyes,
whatever that program for dos was called and Zoomtext as the print
enlargement program. Although I'd lost a lot of vision by then, I could use
Zoomtext at 16X. My blind friend wanted me not to use it at all. He wanted me
to depend solely on the screen reader because, he was sure, I'd eventually
lose my useable eyesight and I'd have to relearn everything. To me, that was
an insane position to take. I had some eyesight and I wanted to use it while
I had it. He was wrong. It wasn't until 2018 or 2019 that I stopped using
magnification as backup help to Jaws on my computer. And using my sight
didn't prevent me from using the computer when my sight was no longer
available.
But you were talking about people taking advantage of these inclusion quotas.
That's what Elizabeth Warren did, claiming her Indian heritage for admittance
to something or other. I can't remember what.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2020 11:42 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jacob Blake's Father Says His Son Is
Paralyzed Below Waist After Being Shot From Behind by Kenosha Police
Miriam,
Seems like Black is the dominant color in the crayon box. I interviewed a
fellow many years ago, who told me he was considered to be Black. Turned out
he could justify about an eighth African American. I can trace about the
same percentage, only my minority is Native American Indian. That doesn't
count. Yet we both were brought up in the same culture, in the same city and
attended the same university.
My last Secretary(administrative assistant)was on the register as a Hispanic.
When Cathy met her, she was surprised to find herself looking at a fair
haired, light complexioned woman. She turned out to be a terrific assistant,
but she had no connection with the Spanish community, other than that her
grandmother was half Mexican.
Labels, labels, labels. Gotta have our quotas.
When I signed up for several mid management courses, I noticed that among the
forty or so participants, there were only two women in one group and three in
the second group. One Black man in one group and none in the other. I was
the only disabled person in both groups, although one participant edged up to
me and whispered, "I've got a hidden disability". Turned out he had a fairly
severe hearing loss.
The state was busy training up its future managers from a nearly all white,
all male collection. And back in the late 1980's no one raised so much as an
eyebrow.
Even among the blind in the NFB it was important to wear the proper label.
Since Jacobus tenBroek was totally blind, and so was Kenneth Jernigan, even
the high partials faked vision loss. We were all, "Blind Guys", men and
women, partials and totals alike.
Belonging seems to trump honesty...hmm...Trump trumps honesty, too.
But I've strayed, so I'll go have some more coffee.
Carl Jarvis
On 8/26/20, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Carl,
Maybe Jacobus tenBroek was black, sort of like Obama is, only less so.
Who was it who was the head of the NAACP who looked and sounded white?
I guess that new book called, Caste, is right. Being black is more a
question of caste than race. In this country, you can look and sound
white, and you're still black.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2020 8:15 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jacob Blake's Father Says His Son Is
Paralyzed Below Waist After Being Shot From Behind by Kenosha Police
Miriam,
I never met Jacobus tenBroek, but it was his speeches in "The Man and
the Movement" that drew me into the NFB. Cathy tells me that in his
pictures he looks White, although many folks who are considered to be
Black look quite Caucasian. Still, listening to his speeches, I dream up an
image of FDR.
But speaking of Black Blind Leaders, back in the 70's John McCaw was
president of the Maryland NFB, and was on the NFB Board of Directors.
John had a voice that was not only loud but very deep. John was
working for the state of Maryland in a social service agency, in an
administrative position.
John was a very likable man, but his blind nephew was a stuck up,
self centered snob. I forget his name, but he married a friend of
mine, and moved to Washington State. Both he and his wife Jackie,
had their PhD's, but I don't think he ever did work. Jackie, also
totally blind, worked for the State Social and Health Services. Her
family disowned her for marrying a Black man. I lost track of him
after Jackie was killed by a hit and run driver. When John died,
Kenneth Jernigan wrote an eulogy which he read to the convention and
published it in the Braille Monitor. In it he attempted to show
John's real humble spirit by telling how John would take Jernigan's
shoes out and polish them. I'd need to find it in order to get the feel of
it again, but I remembered feeling insulted for John.
Carl Jarvis
On 8/26/20, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
That's tragic, especially because, neither are NFB or ACB interested
in this particular issue. Aside from Tenbrook, who started NFB, and
I never knew that he was black until I read it somewhere recently, I
don't think that there have been any black people in leadership
positions in the national organizations. I don't think there are
any African American people on the blindness email lists that I'm on.
Miriam .
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2020 3:39 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jacob Blake's Father Says His Son Is
Paralyzed Below Waist After Being Shot From Behind by Kenosha Police
Absolutely true. White, even as a blind man, has its privileges. A
number of Black people attended the Training Center over the years I
worked there.
Most of the ones who did go on to work, ended up at the Seattle
Light House for the Blind.
I can't think of a single Black client who came close to holding
down a job that paid as much as mine paid. One man ended up
operating a snack bar in the Public Assistance building. He had
been a nurse when he could see. His wife was director of the Head
Start Program in King County, but her connections didn't help her
husband. A very bright and talented fellow played the electric
organ in a high end bar in Seattle's Greenwood area. He did make a
bit of a name for himself, but not until he left the Northwest and settled
in Los Angeles.
Another young man ended up operating a machine at the Light House,
when he would probably have been self employed is a contractor if he
were White, or if he could see. One young woman was standing on the
street corner with a group of friends, when she was shot in the head
by a senseless drive by scumbag. She never worked again. We did a
great amount of training students in how to deal with the
disadvantages of applying for work while blind, but we were not
equipped to deal with the problems that arose for the students who
were both blind and Black.
Carl Jarvis
On 8/25/20, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Yes, and being a white protestant man allowed you to know people
who were in positions that allowed them to be of help.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2020 8:23 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jacob Blake's Father Says His Son Is
Paralyzed Below Waist After Being Shot From Behind by Kenosha
Police
Jacob Blake is the same age I was when I became totally blind. I
hope he has the same support network that enabled me to return to
college.
And I hope he has a network of friends in administrative positions
who can assist him in securing a decent living.
Having a friend who became director of our Services for the Blind
agency sure gave me a leg up. Oh yes, one other thing. The color
of my skin gave me a decided advantage. And even so, it took me 10
years before I was earning the same income as I'd earned when I was
sighted.
Carl Jarvis
On 8/25/20, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Published on
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
byCommon Dreams
Jacob Blake's Father Says His Son Is Paralyzed Below Waist After
Being Shot From Behind by Kenosha Police Marches and
demonstrations have been held nationwide demanding justice for the
29-year-old father of six, who is Black.
byJessica Corbett, staff writer
A boy sits on his father's shoulders while holding a sign on
August 24,
2020
in Kenosha, Wisconsin. (Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images) A boy
sits on his father's shoulders while holding a sign on August 24,
2020
in Kenosha, Wisconsin. (Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man whom police shot in the back
multiple times in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Sunday, is now paralyzed
from the waist down and doctors do not yet know if the injury is
permanent, his father told the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday.
"Those police officers that shot my son like a dog in the street
are responsible for everything that has happened in the city of Kenosha."
-Jacob Blake's father
The younger Blake, a father of six, was reportedly trying to break
up a fight before officers followed him to his vehicle and fired
several shots at point-blank range as Blake opened the driver-side
door.
Blake's partner, Laquisha Booker, told a local television station
that the couple's three children were in the back seat "screaming"
when police shot him.
A video of the police shooting began circulating on social media
Sunday, sparking protests in the Wisconsin city and other
communities across the country. The incident came nearly three
months after footage of Minneapolis police killing George Floyd
led to nationwide demonstrations.
The Sun-Times reported that Blake's father is driving from
Charlotte, North Carolina to be with his hospitalized son, who now
has "eight holes" in his body. The 29-year-old grew up in
Winston-Salem, North Carolina before moving to Evanston, Illinois
during middle school. He has been living in Kenosha for about
three years.
"I want to put my hand on my son's cheek and kiss him on his
forehead, and then I'll be OK," said the elder Jacob Blake. "I'll
kiss him with my mask.
The first thing I want to do is touch my son."
Blake's father also addressed the protests and unrest in Kenosha,
where vehicles and dozens of buildings were set on fire overnight,
according to Newsweek.
"Those police officers that shot my son like a dog in the street
are responsible for everything that has happened in the city of Kenosha,"
his father said. "My son is not responsible for it. My son didn't
have a weapon.
He didn't have a gun."
As ABC News reported:
The man who said he made the cellphone video, 22-year-old Raysean
White, said he saw Blake scuffling with three officers and heard
them yell, "Drop the knife! Drop the knife!" before the gunfire
erupted.
He said he didn't see a knife in Blake's hands.
The governor said he had seen no information to suggest Blake had
a knife or other weapon, but that the case is still being
investigated by the state Justice Department.
The officers were placed on administrative leave, which is
standard practice in a shooting by police. Authorities released no
details about the officers and did not immediately respond to
requests for their service records.
Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers activated 125 members of the
National Guard for the Monday night demonstrations in Kenosha,
where county officials imposed an 8:00 pm curfew.
Newsweek reported that "hundreds of people remained outside the
Kenosha County Courthouse in the city after the curfew took
effect, prompting police to fire the first of several rounds of
tear gas at around 8:30 pm in a bid to disperse them."
Evers also said after the shooting that although all the details
aren't yet known, "what we know for certain is that he is not the
first Black man or person to have been shot or injured or
mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement
in our state or our country."
Blake's family is being represented by civil rights and personal
injury attorney Ben Crump, the lawyer confirmed in a statement Monday.
Crump is also representing the families of Floyd and Breonna
Taylor, who was killed by Louisville police in March.
"We all watched the horrific video of Jacob Blake being shot in
the back several times by Kenosha police. Even worse, his three
sons witnessed their father collapse after being riddled with bullets,"
Crump said. "Their irresponsible, reckless, and inhumane actions
nearly cost the life of a man who was simply trying to do the
right thing by intervening in a domestic incident. It's a miracle
he's still alive."
"We will seek justice for Jacob Blake and for his family as we
demand answers from the Kenosha Police Department," the attorney
vowed. "How many more of these tragic 'while Black' tragedies will
it take until the racial profiling and undervaluing of Black lives
by the police finally stops?"
Crump, co-counsels Patrick Salvi and B'Ivory LaMarr, and Blake's
family will hold a news conference Tuesday at 3:00 pm local time
at the Kenosha County Courthouse. According to the attorneys, "The
family will address Jacob's current condition and their plans
moving forward following the latest occurrence of excessive police
force against the young Black man."