Poetry by Michael Manjeet Singh

Eyes That Hear
By Michael Singh

History ignores the unheard voice. Case in point: On an international stage, a man faked being a sign language interpreter (SLI) in Africa, while signing for U.S. President Barack Obama. There was no pre-speech verification of the man’s credentials, the self-purported SLI’s translation – for all intents and purposes – was visual gibberish. The intended audience of the SLI were the only ones who could – in real time – see that it was not a translation of anything for the deaf or hard-of-hearing. More was made of the imposter having made it onto an elevator, than perhaps the biggest mockery of sign language ever.

Based on the reading, I whole heartedly agree with a broadening in audism defined as “an attitude based on pathological thinking which results in a negative stigma toward anyone who does not hear; like racism or sexism, audism judges, labels and limits individuals on the basis of whether a person hears or speaks.” Janice Humphrey and Bob J. Alcorn, So you want to be an interpreter? : an introduction to sign language interpreting (Amarillo, TX : H & H Publishers, 1995), p.85. Audism defined serves as a great prelude to “5 Examples to Learn and Avoid” in the class packet. For example, “1. Not making the effort to communicate” manifested itself to me when a prison guard refused to engage in “written notes”, when my hearing aid batteries were dead, because it consumes “too much time.” Behind prison walls, the largest form of discrimination experienced by the deaf and hard-of-hearing is communication discrimination, when staff don’t exercise due diligence, because no one can make them.

I further agree with the expansion of the definition by Harlan Lane and others to, “include institutional and group attitudes, practices, and oppression of deaf persons.” It goes right to the hears of “2. Assuming deaf people can’t do things” and “3. Approaching deafness as a tragedy”. Discrimination and oppression are born in the : we(re) vs them (with “we” being better than “them”). People will use a perceived flaw in others to elevate their own self-worth; they will also use it as a control mechanism. This principle in practice is well defined, “In short, audism is the hearing way of dominating, restructuring and exercising authority over the deaf community” Harlan Lane, The mask of benevolence : disabling the deaf community (New York : Knopt, 1992), p.43. Some people like to have power/control over others. Being deaf/hard-of-hearing is perceived by others as a vacuum/void to assert control i.e. like when Africans were deemed to be less than human (at 3/5 of a person) to “justify” the unjustifiable.

Don’t think less of me because you see me wearing hearing aids! Treat me normal! So what if I talk loud at times! It’s because I can’t hear how loud I am. Yes, some of my facial expressions may be kind of animated! It’s because I need you to understand me, the same way you want me to understand you when you say, “Can you hear me now?” I enjoy communication and human interaction. So please, don’t underestimate me. “4. Patronizing behavior” cause I’m deaf or hard-of-hearing. Being deaf or hard-of-hearing causes people to assume you can’t relate. Why don’t I always wear my hearing aids? They make my ears sweat, itch; when I’m being pushed (wheelchair) and the pusher yells – it hurts; cause prison is like high school and people say things; cause they amplify more of what I can’t hear properly enunciated; cause I can’t use the phone or ear buds with them, and more! So don’t ask, ever, again! “5. Employment discrimination”; by the way, just because I’m deaf/hard-of-hearing, does not mean I don’t have a work ethic or that I’m lazy. If anything, my double effort put forth tl level the playing field can be argued makes me/us stronger!

In fact, the more people learn to communicate with deaf or hard-of-hearing people, the better off society is. Due to my diminishing hearing, when watching football, it causes me to visually analyze the play more thoroughly. This causes me to rely less on the spoken word interpretation of the game announcer. The average person allows what they hear to dictate what they see; I don’t have that problem! You also never know when you may require the assistance of someone who is deaf or hard-of-hearing i.e. like on a rainy day when your car needs a “jump” you won’t care if the person with “jumper cables” is deaf or hard-of-hearing, will you?

Don’t Hate On (Elder) Me!
By Michael Manjeet Singh

Why are you bullying old, Asian women and men?
The Bay Area news footage repeats over and over again!
I wish more people who see a bully engaged in a hate crime,
Would actually hate the hate, call the police and drop a dime!
Aggressive individuals push and push: the old, very humble and silent,
Until we (the elders) can’t take no more; you tryin’ to turn me violent?
I ain’t no ‘killa’ (but to defend my life), please don’t push me,
‘Cause everybody feel (one elder hit his head and died), this can’t continue to be!
But each time I take a stroll down a Chinatown street,
I silently ponder, if another elder (me) is going to get severely beat?
It’s America, the weak and oppressed must help each other along the way,
“Land of the Free” doesn’t mean – rob me to make me pay!
I’m trying to live my old age in harmony and peace,
PLease, make the violence desist and cease!
On January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol: All U.S. minorities are under the same attack,
“Can’t we all just get along?” and make a solidarity pact?
Why must you be so quick to batter me and HATE?
Attacking me and a greater controversy you create!
Now, it’s way bigger than just the two of us,
People think, ‘Asian speak no English and talk crazy mess on the bus!’
Didn’t you see the movie, “Do the Right Thing” by Spike Lee?
The Asian store owner said, “‘I’m black, too!’, ‘cause WE fighting together to be ‘free’!”
We are both part (of the same side), same group of minority!
Don’t be a sinner and act as a menace to society!
I’m too old to walk around with a gun,
It weighs too much (both literally and proverbially) and ain’t no fun.
You use your hard times and make me a helpless victim,
At sentencing you’ll say, “Not because he’s Asian, I randomly picked him.”
The D.A. will say, “Another ‘brotha’ in prison! We’re on a roll!”
She’s white privilege and HATES Asians too, cancelling Chinatown patrol!
I just want to relax, live in peace and calm,
So when I get home, I can rub my feet with Tiger Balm.

Struggle and Justice
By Michael Manjeet Singh

This poem is supposed to be about purported American ideals like struggle and justice.

History repeats, as greedy elected leaders fail it, so justice?

DNA shows you cannot trust this!

Citizens struggles make them forget incarcerated loved ones, suffering of prejudice and pandemic, a devil’s dichotomy.

Pandora’s box is open! Universal COVID-19 and the racist police killing of Lady Breonna Taylor, in this year, 2020!

President Trump nefariously named it “King Flu” (next internment?) blaming all who is (me) Asian.

How does one educate the misinformed masses and convert it into a positive persuasion?

Video shows all! Eric Garner of carotid choke, then George Floyd, a knee asphyxiating his neck.

Their last breaths sputtered forth – “I can’t breathe!” as they are forcefully face pressed to the concrete deck.

Twin razors bleed the USA; one of the body (SARS-2), the other implicitly biased and bigoted brain.

Kaepernick (foretold it) with a knee to take a stand; wicked white cop knelt for 8:46 to take life, how insane!

From inside prison (Plato’s Cave), my T.V. window to the world I see people marching, chanting “No justice, no peace!”

Same scene next day, unarmed and non-white minorities, victims of crooked cops hollering “Defund the police!”

Code of silence ensure charges never stick (Kevlar badges) exit court, wild crowds smash windows, spray paint, “Justice or riot!”

Body cams show four pigs weighing him down, the white one, hand in pocket (like business as usual), “You can’t deny it!”

Petri dish prison life is just as bad! The callous contagion, ‘cancelled all visits until further notice’.

Not seeing my family, my mind is a mess without seeing them. It severely disables my head’s equilibrium and bliss.

My mama’s hugs and kiss (is the magical human touch, a love that means so much) drought of which induces tears to fall.

The real me exposed when with my loved ones – laughing and loving family of four. Only with them do I stand tall.

Difficult are daily prison encounters with demons’ dysfunctions disguised as a toll of emotional distress.

My internal conflicts constantly work hard to seek my justice denied, a never-ending mental duress.

Challenges come multiple as migraines exponentially worsen, so I push myself and go (hella!) hard in the paint.

Cause with trials and tribulations (truth does not prevail!) as prison is a place where it really cain’t.

Struggle: to overcome and realise a dream. As MLK Jr. said, “To be judged by the content of your character, not by the colour of your skin!”

Justice: to level playing fields, reparations and ethnic balance to void institutional racism, so we can all win!

Cesar Chavez said, “Si Se Puede!”, Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see!”

Only, if we all follow roads to this path, can we as humans sustain a collectively moral victory! All individuals, black and brown, are not spontaneously good, all white people are not automatically bad.

Sometimes we all fail to see that the worst is ‘your own kind’, evoking a hurt you never had!