NBDA serves as the national advocate for deaf and hard of hearing African-Americans. Membership includes not only African-American adults who are deaf and hard of hearing but also deaf and hard-of-hearing people of all races, parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing; professionals who work with the deaf and hard of hearing youth and adults; sign language interpreters; and affiliated individuals and organizations.^[4]

The executive board serves on a voluntary basis and consists mainly of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Its officers (president, vice-president, treasurer, and secretary) are elected during the national conventions and elected board representatives represent each region (Eastern, Southern, Southwestern, Midwestern, and Western).^[5] The NBDA has several programs and scholarships:

Scholarships edit

The NBDA provides educational scholarships to undergraduate and graduate black deaf students.^[6]

Workshops edit

The NBDA has established two programs for youth and young adults: the Collegiate Black Deaf Student Leadership Institute and the Youth Empowerment Summit.^[7][8][9]

Pageant edit

The Miss Black Deaf America beauty pageant is a competition for young Black Deaf women. Since its inception in 1983, during the second National Black Deaf Advocates Conference in Philadelphia, the pageant has crowned more than 20 Miss Black Deaf America winners. Miss Black Deaf America winners receive college scholarships towards supporting their educational goals.^[10]

News edit

The NBDA Connections is the official publication of NBDA exclusively for NBDA members. It is published in every season.^[11]

At the 100th anniversary of the National Association of the Deaf in July 1980, a Black deaf caucus was held. Led by Charles "Chuck" V. Williams of Ohio, Sandi LaRue and Linwood Smith of Washington, DC, they presented issues of the NAD's lack of attentiveness to the concerns of Black Deaf Americans as well as the lack of representation of Black Deaf individuals as convention delegates. Sandi LaRue issued a statement to the convention attendees: "NAD must take action to communicate better with the Black deaf community, encourage the involvement of minorities" within the national and state organizations, and recruit more Black Deaf children in the Junior NAD and youth leadership camp. The July 6, 1980 The Cincinnati Enquirer published an article on the needs of Black Deaf people at the NAD convention in which LaRue stated to the newspaper, "We would like to get on the cover and front pages."^{[citation needed]}

A local Black Deaf committee in DC began the work on planning a mini-conference by, for, and about the Black Deaf experience. The first Black Deaf Conference, "Black Deaf Experience," was held on June 25–26, 1981, at Howard University in the city.

Charles "Chuck" V. Williams proposed hosting a national conference in Ohio the following year. On August 13–15, 1982, in Cleveland, Black Deaf people from all over the United States met again to address cultural and racial issues impacting the Black Deaf community. The conference theme "Black Deaf Strength through Awareness" drew more than 300 conference attendees. A debate was held as to whether a national organization should be formed. The idea was accepted.

A new organization, National Black Deaf Advocates, was officially formed. The six founding members were Lottie Crook, Ernest Hairston, Willard Shorter, Linwood Smith, Charles "Chuck" V. Williams, and Elizabeth "Ann" Wilson.^[12] In 1983 Sheryl Emery was elected as the founding president of NBDA and established the organization's by-laws and developed the administrative guidelines. Celeste Owens served as vice president.

• Albert Couthen, Executive Secretary, 1982–1983
• Sheryl D. Emery, Executive Director, 1983–1987
• Celeste Owens-Samuels, Acting Executive Director, 1987–1988
• Lottie Crook, President, 1988–1990
• Carl Moore, President, 1990–1993
• Pamela Lloyd-Ogoke, President, 1993–1995 and 1995–1997
• Albert Couthen, President, 1997–2000
• Gwendolyn Powell, President, 2000–2001
• Steven Younger, Acting President, 2001–2002
• Dr. Reginald Redding, President, 2002–2005
• Thomas Samuels, President, 2005–2007
• Fred M. Beam, President, 2007–2009
• Ernest E. Garrett III, President, 2009–2011
• Benro Ogunyipe, President, 2011–2013
• Patrick Robinson, President, 2013–2015
• Tim Albert, President, 2015–2017
• Evon Black, President, 2017–2019
• Isidore Niyongabo, President, 2019-Current