Person 1:
I became a professional actor … the first Black Deaf actor.
I was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
I went to a school,
the Southern State School for Deaf Negroes.
The teachers would round us up
and make us speak during performances.
The National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD) came into town.
We sat in the theater.
All of the actors were white.
There was no one that was Black.
It felt strange to approach them.
But, I introduced myself.
They took a look at me.
I told them I could dance and use
my body in a variety of ways.
I was also a funny storyteller.
I accepted a position at the company.
I joined them on their tour,
beginning in 1971.
We went to different places across the world.
Other countries, like India.
Because of the red dot, we sign India like this.
It was a great group of actors.
We were like a family.
We brought our bags with us everywhere we went.
We traveled by bus.
My heart is truly in the theater.
Much later, I began to see that other Black Deaf people
were succeeding in the industry.
Mom was saying …
You were first, then later others joined NTD, like CJ.
Chuck Jones –
and Jimmy Turner.
We were The Three Musketeers.
And we were Black.
We went to Australia.
We flew out there,
and I fell in love with my wife, Carol.
We’ve been married for 42 years.
We have two children.
The first is Kathleen.
My daughter, the second one,
sitting across from me,
her name is Monique.
I recall my wife and I were observing her.
There she was, in front of the mirror,
thinking no one was looking at her, signing to herself.
I said, “This is good! You’ll get better.”
That …
And here she is, a talented signer.
She’s been interpreting for 13 years.
From practicing in the mirror!
My wife and I, we’re so proud.
Hi! This is Sorenson VRS.
I’ll go ahead and connect you.
I’m proud of you, too! I’m proud of you.
Always have been.
