Illusions of Equality: Deaf Americans in School and Factory,1850-1950 [Hardcover]

Robert Buchanan (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 228 pages
• Publisher: Gallaudet University Press (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156368084X
• ISBN-13: 978-1563680847
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,237,591 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and engrossing, February 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Illusions of Equality: Deaf Americans in School and Factory,1850-1950 (Hardcover)

I found this book to be helpful as it provided much new information in areas that have not been fully explored in recent works. Buchanan showed that Deaf adults actively defended American Sign Language during the very decades (1900-1950) when "Oralism" was the official policy in most schools. He also shows that this tradition of self-activity extended into employment where Deaf adults worked individually and collectively to challenge discriminatory employers many decades before the Americans with Disabilities Act. Finally, Illusions is helpful as it provides an honest and empathic portrait of the Deaf Community that considers frailties and divisions as well as its extraordinary history of determined self-activity.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Filling the Gaps, December 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Illusions of Equality: Deaf Americans in School and Factory,1850-1950 (Hardcover)

Robert Buchanan's book 'Illusions of Equality' fills a gap long overlooked in activist literature. Meticulously researched and well written, Buchanan's book details the plight of deaf Americans in trying to find equal opportunity in employment during the heyday of American industrialization. With this book, Buchanan becomes one of the premier voices amongst activist/historians.