Franklin D. Jeffries II

 

American Sign Language

 

Dr. Davis Class

 

Activity number 1

 

Amazing By Grace

 

            I found myself at a Basketball game sitting in the bleacher’s, wondering if I am the only hearing person.  The Tennessee School for the Deaf (TSD) is a place that would even amaze “The Newcomer’s Club”, if the newcomer was new to an event like this. Deaf basketball games are not all that different, except some player can’t hear, and refs use more hand signals to get the players attention.

            I looked around the bleachers to see who is deaf or not out of curiosity. Indeed, fitting in was a charm because all the nice people around me I talked to. Asking questions about what is the difference in deaf basketball and hearing. One person Named Bill Damon who is deaf from Alabama School for the Deaf said, “Some player’s can hear the whistle, and some cannot.” I also asked him how the deaf know when to stop, because they can’t hear the whistle. Bill pointed out to me a ref stopping a player and told me, “Deaf people have to watch the signals.”  Meeting new people at the TDS game gave me new incite on amazement when I looked around the bleachers.

            However, finding hearing people started at the gate with the security guard and then on to the ticket table. In a far distance I heard noises from, deaf yelling to deaf and hearing talking all around, but a basketball game full of hearing people would be much louder with the same amount of people. Something more amazing happed in the game off the court for me: My Deaf Uncle Gene Reynolds appeared.

            My Uncle sat in the bleacher’s watching TDS play against Mississippi School for the Deaf on January 28, 2005 at 730pm.  A tournament that ended for TDS by MSD winning 45 to 33, leaving MSD to play Louisiana or Alabama in the finals. I told my Uncle about my heart problem and he told me to go home and get rest. I’m sure he will go home and tell his wife my Aunt Minnie Reynolds I am sick and have a pace maker on. However, Uncle Gene and Minnie is my loving family that inspired me to learn ASL. Growing up I did not take the time to learn because Uncle Gene could talk and other family members could translate for me. Anyhow, I have felt bad for not learning. And see the importance now to learn.

            On the contrary, I was a newcomer in a large deaf crowed, but not new to the deaf community. I have learned from these activity questions. The one question I wonder for myself is way have I not been involved in the Deaf community in a large crowed before. I guess my family can only help me with that question: I have gone to Church with my Aunt and Uncle. I’m just Amazed by Grace at this Basketball event in all it’s wonderful communications and nice people that surrounded me.

            The question about deaf people and hearing people has been answered for me. Communities come together and unite as one and do differ. I have learned that picking up the TTY (A way to communicate with the deaf) phone and calling someone can get you into the game with the community. Making an effort in helping someone in a basketball game leaves me to believe the deaf is working harder to bring the hearing and deaf together. My Uncle being there did not surprise me as much as I may have come across, but meeting him and being able to sign (communicate) makes grace a peace with the forgiven (The Author wrote Amazing Grace for a forgiveness of his slave trade).