freeSpeech: LaToya Plummer

(CBS)  My mother, who can hear, inspired me to challenge the world. When I was young she told me that I had three strikes against me: I am black, deaf, and female. I could either count myself out of the game of life, or I could change the rules.

So I changed the rules. I'm very competitive. I love sports. I used played basketball at Gallaudet University.

Maybe you heard about my university and that we are protesting, but maybe you don't understand why this is happening. Some people think we are saying that the new President isn't deaf enough. That's not true at all. It's that our deaf leadership is being deaf to our concerns.

There are diverse groups within the campus community are not being heard. This is important and worth fighting for.

You would think that the obstacles of being a black, deaf person would
make my life full of frustration and misery. It's really like this: My life is richer. I know it might be hard for people who can hear to understand that.

I have many goals I want to achieve, and one is to become an attorney. Another is to have children and pass my values onto them. One day those things will happen. But first of all, I must lay the groundwork for the future.

---

LaToya Plummer is a student at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.
(c)MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

[borntwice-2009]

There is absolutely no scientific proof for the theory of evolution. It is just that, a theoty. We were created.

[deafmickey]

LaToya!

Thank you so much! I am deaf but not a Gallaudet student. I was nervous how the world perceive of Gallaudet because of the Deaf Culture which I value it with all my life. I tried to tell several hearing people that the "hearing loss" was the main issue. It was all about LEADERSHIP. I think you have shook the world. Your professional appearance, statement, and determination had change their percieve of Gallaudet! Thank you for your beautiful free of speech!

(I spread the word a day before the clip of you being aired.) :-)

Mel

[kaewansj]

KristiBM:

Dialogue was tried. The administration kept on ignoring the protesters. They went to the media and called them terrorists, dissenters, and anarchists. Distortion, disinformation, and lies are the primary components of the Propaganda Machine set forth by the administration.

Here's how I see it: you're the administration here and I'm the protesters here. I'm trying to have dialogue with you and you're simply brushing me away using the same lies, distortion, and disinformation by the Propaganda Machine. I guess it's just your way or the highway. Me, I'll take the highway because you do not GET it.

[captjpk]

To: Kristibm
Bravo!!!!!

[kristibm]

djb625,

#1- I have already been on campus, seen enough.
#2- Oh, so it *was* indeed about her, thank you for clarifying it for us. You've made my point that this was all about her, not about the protest itself.
#3-It hurts you to see personal attacks on her? Calling the kettle black here, aren't we? Who has been personally attacked since May? Jordan and Ferenades. So spare me the moral indiginity, and take the beam out of your own eye.
#4 - The protestors are not interested in dialogue. They are not interested in mediation. They are not interested in flexibility. They are not interested in anything else but to see Ferenades resign. To me, dialogue will always fail in that kind of all-or-nothing mentality.

Have a good day!

[captjpk]

A previous blog from DJB625 expresses his disheartenment because of some personal attacks addresssed at Ms. Plummer relating to some comments directed toward her.
Let me figure this out. The protesters have been personally attacking JKF, her family, IKJ, the BoT, and anyone else who opposes the protest with BLATANT disregard and somehow you think these comments made by some people are offensive. Please, gag me with a pitchfork!
The administration is trying to run a university and the only thing the protesters are doing is being part of an unruly mob.

[bethcav1]

I absolutely loved hearing the feedback from people who are supporting JKF. I do not want to see these "bullies" have any sort of power on campus. It was heartening to see some positive support for JKF. The board should stand by their decision. Thank you for letting me finally see some positive hope for the future of Gallaudet with JKF at the helm.

[djb625]

It pains me to see personal attacks on a future graduate of Gallaudet.The personal attacks is unnecessary and uncalled for. We need to TRY to remember that diversity doesn't just mean black/white issues. It means the following at Gallaudet and elsewhere : white, hard of hearing, oral, Cochlear Implant Users, Black, Haitians, Puerto Ricans, Latinos, Deaf, deaf, individuals with additional disabilities, Children of Deaf Adults, and need I say more.That is what this protest is all about.The protest is about changing that thinking. It is about accepting one with differences and still can respect one another. We have to remember that people who are in the majority mainstream, for instance the white community. People who are in the white community and raised from that perspective will never understand a person who is different from them such as a person who is latino and hard of hearing. Both experiences will be different and how do we explain that? Dialogue with a fail safe environment and to be honest in that dialogue.You will be surprised how much people learn from an 1 hour to 5 hour dialogue about this. It is important that we listen to both sides.It is important that we end the dialogue with respect and new understanding.I have heard from individuals involved in the dialogue that they have learned more from this than they have about "life".

[djb625]

KristiBM-

You are missing something. This is about Latoya's story and why she is protesting. She only had 90 seconds to get the point across and I believe she did. Please come to one of the events on campus to understand fully what is happening. The attacks on Latoya needs to stop. It is BESIDES the point.

[dijon77]

At last... there is a black, deaf woman who spoke up for the cause on the CBS TV news. She means about JFK for not being a good leadership of the 9th President of Gallaudet University, NOT ENOUGH DEAF, WRRRRRRONNG!!!. Also, Loyota looks for social justice that the most whitey adminstrators do not care about faculty, staff, students, and alumni. That's not right. It's a big, big, big oppression for all of us who don't advocate JFK, IJK,and PK. They are too mean to us. Please read the website, www.news.gufssa.com. We, the protesters, want for the best deaf community. JFK can walk out with a good salary easily, why does she so stubborn continually???

To Black Deaf people and students: Don't be afraid to speak out. Don't complain and don't sit back and don't let Layota working hard for nothing. Unity Gallaudet!!!!!