Latest videos

Home
Articles

WOMEN OF AFRICA: Deafblind lawyer Haben Girma on breaking barriers BBC News Africa 10 Views • 4 years ago

Haben Girma was the first deafblind student to graduate from Harvard Law School. Today the Eritrean-American fights for better education for deafblind people worldwide.

FULL TRANSCRIPT (AND TEXT DESCRIPTION)

[Video opens with photos of African women and lively music. Music ends with the words: ‘Women of Africa: Africa’s Unsung Heroes’ under the BBC logo]

[Screen now shows Haben sitting in a chair in her office]

Haben says: “My mother grew up during the 30 years of war in Eritrea, where Eritreans struggled to gain independence from Ethiopia. And when she was 16, she took the very dangerous journey, walking three weeks through the deserts of Eritrea. And then a reparatory organisation helped her come to the United States.”

[Screen now shows text on black background, reading:]

Haben Girma

Lawyer

Haben, 27, was born in the US after her mother fled Eritrea as a refugee in the early 1980s.
She was the first deafblind student to graduate from Harvard Law School.

Haben is now a lawyer with the non-profit group Disability Rights Advocates in California.

[Screen now shows Haben with her dog, walking down the street then walking past the reception desk at her workplace, Disability Rights Advocates. Then we see a photo of Haben with an older woman and man, wearing her graduation gown and holding a certificate. Followed by a photo of Haben being awarded her graduation certificate].

Haben says: “I am an attorney here and I grew up facing access barriers as a deafblind person, and that inspired me to become a lawyer.

And when I first started at Harvard Law School, there were very few deafblind attorneys. I couldn't turn to older deafblind individuals and ask. I had to figure it out a lot on my own.

So graduating from Harvard Law School says a lot about what can be done when people have the right attitude.”

[Screen now shows text on black background, reading:]

One of Haben’s priorities is to help deafblind people communicate through better access to technology.

[Screen now shows Haben, pictured with her assistant who is typing while she uses her digital braille display.]

Haben says: “There are so many forms of communicating information. And if we’re creative and open-minded, we’ll find those forums.

I use a digital braille display and QWERTY keyboard for communication. The braille display shows in digital braille, mechanical dots pop up to form braille letters. And, as I am reading, my assistant Chris types on a QWERTY keyboard when there are conversations going on.”

[Screen now shows video clip of President Obama walking onto stage to applause.]

[Screen now shows text on black background, reading:]
Haben met President Obama at the White House to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

[Screen now shows Haben sitting in her office. Then photos of Haben Girma with President Obama, who is typing her a message on a keyboard while she uses her digital braille display.]

Haben says: “At the White House celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, President Obama met with me and he used alternative technologies to communicate with me.”

[Screen now shows video clip of President Obama giving Haben a hug and then typing “I couldn’t type a hug” to which she says “I prefer real hugs to types hugs!” Both laugh.]

Haben says: “That sends a very empowering message - it reminds the rest of the United States and the world that having an inclusive attitude ensures that people with disabilities can contribute their talents to society.”

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE USE OF RELAXERS IN NIGERIA Duane Harris 137 Views • 4 years ago

from ⁣seunokimi

What's actually happening on the African continent. The truth about the use of relaxers in Nigeria. Let's talk about it
My instagram: @seunokimi

In the documentary, I explore the truth about the use of relaxers in Nigeria. With all the talk about Natural hair going on now among the diaspora, a lot of people don’t know that the use of relaxers in African countries is actually very prominent and that similar natural hair “movements” have started taking root I African countries as well, but for reasons many Americans may not expect. In telling the the history of black hair in Africa and story of relaxers in Nigeria, my goal is to also tell a story of Nigerian women as a whole, bringing light to Nigerian culture and ways. Africa has a lot of under-told stories, and the story of hair, and especially as it relates to the natural hair movement happening in America right now is one of them. I talk about African hair culture and the natural vs. relaxed hair debate that is happening in Nigeria. By going through African hair history through the stories of my grandmother and others in the video, the documentary walks you through things like traditional Nigerian hairstyles, some history of braids in Africa, ancient African hair care, African hair styles, and traditional African braids, down to modern day practices of how hair is currently done in Nigeria. The video goes through the history of black hair in Africa, African cosmetology history, and how it relates to African American hair history, facts, the history of black hair discrimination, and black hair and cultural identity. It also goes through things such as an examination of what is "good" hair in the black community from the African perspective, the importance of hair in different cultures such as the Nigerian culture, black hair story, black hair salon culture and braiding culture in Nigeria, and some of the politics or lack of politics surrounding black women's hair in Nigeria. By showing the history of relaxers, the evolution of black hair in Nigeria, and African hair culture, this documentary explores the truth about what is actually happening with hair in African countries such as Nigeria and why.

My instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seunokimi/
Email: info@seunokimi.com
**serious business inquiries only**

Showing 91 out of 92

Please note that if you are under 18, you won't be able to access this site.

Latest videos

Language