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Running Head: Oppression Paper

Oppression Paper

Christopher Bialas

INTR 201
Oppression Paper

“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the

oppressed.”

-Martin Luther King Jr.

The quote by Mr. King has shown an insight to those being oppressed that people are not

always kind. Oppression surrounds people, communities, and cultures everyday because that

group may not fit into a general norm. People have then socially and emotionally attacked that

group of individuals in making them feel as if they are not correct or sometimes that they are not

enough. In a specific point, Deaf people have been oppressed on whether they are disabled or

not, their language, and all of the rest of their abilities. Through an identity discussion with Mark

Blackburn, discussions on privilege, and a presentational discussion on the Deaf community

being oppressed by Larry P., one can view how oppression can have lasting effects of self doubt

on individuals within minority groups, specifically Deaf people. Also, one can view how

minorities dealing with oppression may affect the people that are providing services, such as

interpreters.

Blackburn’s presentation, as stated before, was repetitive, but that does not mean that it is

never beneficial and still informational. I enjoy viewing everyones’ different perspectives on life

and what they may view important to describing themselves compared to another peer or myself.

I also enjoy learning about the aspect of intersectionality and how all of these qualities about us

make us up as the person we are today. It is important to remember that you can not just look at

one aspect of a person’s life because that is not the only thing that describes them. With an

example of myself being bisexual, it is important not to characterize one on their sexual

orientation or presentation because that may not even be the most important aspect that they

finding interesting about themselves. Being an interpreter is important to not discriminate nor put
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Running Head: Oppression Paper

your own aspect or opinion into the matter or situation at hand. It is important to view everyone

equally and provide the service of interpreting equally to all communities.

The conversation about privilege, I will admit, frequently makes myself uncomfortable

but in a good knowledge based way of needing to except everyone’s personal statements and let

the environment be a brave space for all. The reason for being uncomfortable is because there

can be some groups and individuals who will always view me as privileged because I am a white

male who was born in America. All of those qualities are true about me and it absolutely is true

that it may put me in a different light than others. Unfortunately, people will not view the other

aspects that I do have to go through with my life of being in the LGBTQ+2S Community, my

family aspect and issues of not having a socially normal family, and my socioeconomic status. I

will have to live and accept the fact that as of right now my skin color and gender still do grant

me a privilege; but, I hope to one day live in a world where I will not be viewed by others on that

privilege.

Larry’s presentation ties all of these previous aspects together into applying it to my

future job as a sign language interpreter. The Deaf community has been oppressed for not being

able to hear and many people putting a label on it calling it a disability. The Deaf community has

fought back with the expression of empowerment that they can do anything. Many years have

passed and many viewpoints have changed towards the Deaf community and its culture. As an

interpreter working with individuals and the community, it is important to remember that Deaf

people still can and might get the feeling of oppression again as other informed people put a

label on them. Being courteous, I do hold a responsibility to advocate for Deaf individuals but

never to speak for them as a whole. It is important to include and not exclude these individuals as
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Running Head: Oppression Paper

well as to inform others who do not know about the Deaf community and help them understand

before they make an assumption.

An interpreter has an important role of being non discriminatory, accepting, and an

advocate for the people they work with and work for because it is important to have an open

mind. With the Deaf community still being oppressed by uninformed oppressors, an interpreter

must inform those willing to understand and who are also accepting of people because there

should be no tier of who has more advantages than others. All people, Deaf or hearing; black or

white; and male or female need to have the same advantages.