Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.