The Deaf President Now! documentary directed by Nyle DiMarco and Davis Guggenheim was released on May 16 on Apple TV+.
Image courtesy of Apple TV+
BACKGROUND
Let me share some background first. Gallaudet University is the only university for the deaf and hard of hearing in the world. Founded on April 8, 1846 when President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill. Gallaudet is located in Washington D.C. In 1988, the board of trustees appointed a hearing president for Gallaudet University. Gallaudet had yet to see a deaf president. The students and faculty were very ready to see a deaf person representing them. There were three candidates who applied for the president position — one hearing woman and two deaf men. After the hearing woman was appointed, Gallaudet community started a week long protest to voice their disappointment.
Image courtesy of Gallaudet University website.
WHO IS NYLE DIMARCO?
I am thrilled to see more deaf stories in the media. Also particularly glad that it was co-directed by Nyle DiMarco, who is deaf. He is known from winning a season of America’s Next Top Model and Dancing with the Stars. He wrote a memoir and directed Deaf U for Netflix. The deaf stories often are in the best hands (no pun intended) when there is a true deaf representation.
MY REVIEW
Now, here’s my thoughts about the Deaf President Now! documentary. In one word… stimulating. My brain went in an overdrive after seeing the movie (twice). I liked how the documentary focused on the 4 deaf leaders behind Deaf President Now movement and one deaf president candidate, I. King Jordan. I do wish there were more perspectives included — from interpreters (especially Spilman’s interpreter), the other deaf president candidate (Harvey Corson), more students and faculty, especially from Spilman herself (but she passed away in 2015).
Another aspect of the movie that I enjoyed was the representation of sounds. Sometimes the sounds would cut out. It also showed the sounds (fire alarm flashing, the banging, light flashing, etc).
The nostalgia! The documentary included a lot of footage from 1988. Some of the clips had an interpreter on the screen in a black circle in the corner, that was how it was during 80’s and 90’s. These days, now when interpreters are on the screen, they have their own box/square. They also showed TTY — teletypewriter. An old device that deaf people used back in the early days of technology. We had to place phones on top of the device and type messages to the caller on the other end. The old hearing aids — where we had hearing aids in our ears that connected to a device we wore on our chest.
Again, it was stimulating because it was such a huge part of deaf history. It explained all the struggles deaf people faced from the past up to that moment in 1988. There was a mention about Alexander Graham Bell (yes, that guy who invented telephones) and how much his beliefs impacted deaf education. Why were the deaf people deserving of a deaf person to be the leader of Gallaudet University? This documentary showed why. The Deaf President Now movement also was a factor in The Americans with Disabilities Act to be established a couple years later.
IS IT WORTH TO WATCH IT? ***SPOILER ALERT***
I felt very inspired that these deaf students and faculty fought for a deaf president and in the end, it happened. Now Gallaudet University has had a deaf president ever since. All because they didn’t give up. They are able to sit here and tell us their stories through this documentary. They are a part of why deaf people are capable of doing more and to be where we are today. While we still have a lot of more work to do, this historic event gave that extra push for the deaf community! This documentary is definitely worth a watch!
Image courtesy of Apple TV+
Are you interested in more deaf-related blogs? Here are some suggestions:
Alexander Graham Bell and the Deaf community
How to learn American Sign Language
Find more blogs about my deaf experiences or deaf topics here.
All opinion in this blog are my own. It does not reflect the opinions of other deaf and hard of hearing people.