The Full Story of Helen Keller | The History You Didn't Learn | TIME

TIME

28 Jan 202109:43

Summary

TLDRThis video script explores the multifaceted life of Helen Keller, challenging the simplified narrative often taught in schools. It delves into her activism for disability rights, women's rights, racial justice, and workers' rights, as well as her early but later disavowed support for eugenics. The script also highlights the importance of understanding her full story to appreciate the broader contributions of disabled Americans to history.

Takeaways

📖 Helen Keller is known for her image on the Alabama State quarter, symbolizing the 'spirit of courage' through her depiction reading a braille book.
👧 The common narrative of Helen Keller often focuses on her early life and her overcoming of disabilities, which can overshadow her later achievements and activism.
🗣️ Haben Girma, a disability rights lawyer who is also deaf-blind, emphasizes that Helen Keller's story is often told by others, not by Keller herself, which can lead to a skewed perspective.
💪 Helen Keller was an advocate for various social causes, including women's rights, racial equality, and workers' rights, showing her as an agent of change rather than just an overcomer of personal adversity.
🏭 Keller was particularly passionate about workers' rights, recognizing the exploitation and dangers faced by workers during the period of rapid industrialization.
📚 She was well-read in socialist literature, corresponded with notable socialists of her time, and was involved with organizations like the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).
🆘 Helen Keller was a co-founder of the ACLU, demonstrating her commitment to civil liberties, which is a part of her legacy often not highlighted in common narratives.
👁️‍🗨️ Despite her significant contributions to disability rights, Keller had a complex relationship with the disability community, as she was sometimes asked to stop discussing other social issues and focus solely on blindness.
🚫 There is a critique of Helen Keller's early support for eugenics, a stance she later moved away from, showing that perspectives and beliefs can evolve over time.
🌟 The script calls for a more comprehensive understanding of Helen Keller's life and work, acknowledging her as more than just an inspirational figure for overcoming personal disability.

Q & A

What is the significance of Helen Keller's image on the Alabama State quarter?
-Helen Keller's image on the Alabama State quarter represents her as a symbol of courage and determination, as she is depicted reading a braille book.
How does the script challenge the common narrative about Helen Keller?
-The script challenges the common narrative by highlighting that Helen Keller was more than just a child who overcame her disabilities; she was a lifelong activist who advocated for women, people of color, workers' rights, and disability rights.
What role did Haben Girma play in the script, and why is her perspective important?
-Haben Girma, a disability rights lawyer who is also deaf-blind, provides a personal perspective on Helen Keller's story, emphasizing the importance of understanding Keller's life from her own words and actions, rather than just the simplified version often taught.
What is the critique of how Helen Keller's story is commonly presented?
-The critique is that Helen Keller's story is often reduced to her early life and her overcoming of disabilities, ignoring her later life as an activist for various social causes, which leads to a misunderstanding of her full contributions to society.
How did Helen Keller's advocacy extend beyond disability rights?
-Helen Keller was an advocate for women's rights, racial justice, and workers' rights. She was involved with organizations like the Industrial Workers of the World and co-founded the ACLU, showing her commitment to a broader range of social issues.
What is the significance of the quote by Helen Keller from 1912 mentioned in the script?
-The quote 'I do not like the world as it is; so I am trying to make it a little more as I want it.' from 1912 signifies Helen Keller's proactive stance as an agent of change, rather than just a passive figure overcoming personal adversity.
What is the connection between Helen Keller's advocacy and her involvement with the American Foundation for the Blind?
-Helen Keller was a spokesperson and fundraiser for the American Foundation for the Blind, an organization focused on advocacy and education for the blind, from 1925 until her death in 1968.
How does the script address the criticism that Helen Keller was once a supporter of eugenics?
-The script acknowledges that Helen Keller did support eugenics early in her life, but it also points out that she later moved away from this position and would have been heartbroken to think her views were used to devalue any life.
What is the significance of the ADAPT protest and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mentioned in the script?
-The ADAPT protest, where activists crawled up the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building, was a pivotal moment leading to the passing of the ADA, which improved accessibility and civil rights for people with disabilities, reflecting the ongoing struggle and achievements in disability rights.
How does the script suggest we should view Helen Keller's legacy?
-The script suggests that we should view Helen Keller's legacy as one of a complex individual who was not only a symbol of overcoming personal disability but also a significant advocate for social justice and equality across multiple fronts.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Helen Keller: Beyond the Braille Book

The script introduces Helen Keller as an icon often depicted reading a braille book, symbolizing courage on the Alabama State quarter. It acknowledges her as a courageous figure but points out that her representation is often simplified and devoid of controversy. The narrative challenges the one-dimensional portrayal by highlighting Keller's activism throughout her life, including her advocacy for women's rights, people of color, and disability rights. Despite being depicted as passive in her early life, her own words reveal her as an agent of change. The script also touches on the societal tendency to infantilize disabled adults, which affects their opportunities and respect in society. It emphasizes the need to look beyond Keller's childhood story to appreciate her extensive work as an activist, including her involvement with the Industrial Workers of the World, her correspondence with socialists, and her co-founding of the ACLU. Her dedication to the American Foundation for the Blind and her early stance against racism are also highlighted, showing her commitment to social justice beyond disability rights.

05:01

🔍 The Complex Legacy of Helen Keller

This section of the script delves into the complexities of Helen Keller's legacy, including her initial support for eugenics, a stance she later abandoned. It presents perspectives that acknowledge her growth and learning over time, suggesting that her early views were a product of her era. The script also addresses criticisms that focus on Keller's prominence as a narrative largely told by wealthy white people, neglecting the stories of more marginalized individuals with disabilities. It introduces Anita Cameron, a Black disabled lesbian activist, who challenges单一的以Keller为代表的残障人士叙事，并强调残障社群内部的多样性和交叉性。Cameron's activism, including her role in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), is highlighted as a pivotal moment in disability rights. The script concludes by emphasizing the ongoing struggle for disability rights and the importance of recognizing the contributions of a diverse range of disabled Americans to shared history.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Helen Keller

Helen Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She is best known for her courage in overcoming the adversity of being both deaf and blind. In the video, her image represents courage and is used to discuss the broader narrative of her life beyond the common portrayal as a symbol of overcoming disability. The script challenges the simplified view by highlighting her activism and contributions to various social causes.

💡Disability Rights

Disability rights refer to the social, civil, and legal rights of people with disabilities. The video emphasizes Helen Keller's advocacy for disability rights, which is often overshadowed by her early life story. Her involvement with organizations like the American Foundation for the Blind and her work to raise awareness and funds for the cause are highlighted as key aspects of her adult life and activism.

💡Eugenics

Eugenics is a discredited social movement that aimed to improve the genetic quality of the human population by encouraging selective breeding. The video acknowledges Helen Keller's early support for eugenics, which was a part of the prevailing thought at the time, but also notes her later departure from this stance. This keyword is used to discuss the complexities of historical figures and the evolution of their beliefs.

💡Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)

The Industrial Workers of the World is a labor union that aims to advance the interests of workers. In the video, Helen Keller's involvement with the IWW is mentioned as part of her broader social activism. She is shown to be concerned with the rights of workers and the dangers they faced during the period of rapid industrialization.

💡American Foundation for the Blind

The American Foundation for the Blind is an advocacy and education organization focused on issues affecting the blind. Helen Keller is noted as a founder and lifelong advocate for the organization, working as a spokesperson and fundraiser from 1925 onwards. This keyword is used to illustrate her dedication to improving conditions for the blind and disabled.

💡NAACP

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is a civil rights organization in the United States. Helen Keller's early membership in the NAACP and her stance against racism are discussed in the video, showcasing her commitment to racial justice as part of her broader social activism.

💡ACLU

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is an organization that defends individual rights and liberties. The video mentions Helen Keller's role in co-founding the ACLU, emphasizing her belief in collective good and civil liberties, which extended beyond disability rights to include freedom of speech and other fundamental rights.

💡The Miracle Worker

The Miracle Worker is a play and film that dramatizes the early life of Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan. The video critiques the portrayal of Keller in The Miracle Worker, suggesting that it perpetuates a passive image of her that does not reflect her later activism and contributions to various social causes.

💡Deaf-blind

Deaf-blindness is a disability that combines significant hearing and vision loss. Haben Girma, a disability rights lawyer who is also deaf-blind, discusses the importance of accurately representing Helen Keller's story and the impact of societal perceptions on deaf-blind individuals. This keyword is used to highlight the personal connection and unique perspective that Girma brings to the discussion of Keller's life.

💡Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. The video recounts the activism that led to the passing of the ADA, including the demonstration by ADAPT, where activists, including Anita Cameron, demanded better accessibility. The ADA is presented as a milestone in disability rights, influenced by the legacy of activists like Helen Keller.

💡Intersectionality

Intersectionality is the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender, as they apply to a specific individual. Anita Cameron, a Black disabled Lesbian, discusses intersectionality in the context of disability rights, emphasizing that not all disabled individuals have the same experiences and that some stories, like hers, are often overlooked. This keyword is used to highlight the diversity within the disability community and the need for inclusive activism.

Highlights

Helen Keller's image on the Alabama State quarter represents her reading a braille book, symbolizing the 'spirit of courage'.

The common portrayal of Helen Keller as a courageous woman reading a book is a safe, non-controversial message.

Helen Keller's story, as told by sighted and hearing people, often omits her later life of activism and her complex personality.

Haben Girma, a disability rights lawyer who is also deaf-blind, emphasizes the importance of getting Helen Keller's story right from her own perspective.

Helen Keller is often seen as passive in her early life, but her own words reveal her as an agent of change.

Helen Keller advocated for women, people of color, and disability rights, which is not the focus of the dominant narrative about her.

Society's tendency to infantilize disabled adults, based on the portrayal of Keller as a child, can impact their opportunities and respect.

Helen Keller's long life of activism is often overlooked, with a focus on her early years.

Keller was passionate about workers' rights and was involved with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).

She corresponded with socialists like Eugene Debs and helped co-found the ACLU, showing her commitment to collective good.

Helen Keller founded the American Foundation for the Blind, advocating for blindness education and advocacy.

As an early member of the NAACP, Keller condemned racism and lynching, showing her stance against racial injustice.

Critics point out Keller's past support for eugenics, but she later moved away from this position.

Anita Cameron, a Black disabled Lesbian activist, argues that Helen Keller's story is not representative of all disabled people, especially those with multiple intersections of marginalization.

The fight for disability rights, including the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), is a milestone that Helen Keller's activism contributed to.

Helen Keller's work and activism should be more fully understood to appreciate the contributions of other disabled Americans to history.

Helen Keller's life and the causes she supported are important for understanding disability rights and should not be forgotten.

Helen Keller's complex legacy includes both her advocacy and the societal pressures that turned her into a symbol to never complain.