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Sounds Like Home: Growing Up Black and Deaf in the South
New edition Sounds Like Growing Up Black and Deaf in the South, 20th Anniversary Edition, ISBN 978-1-944838-58-4
Features a new introduction by scholars Joseph Hill and Carolyn McCaskill
Mary Herring Wright’s memoir adds an important dimension to the current literature in that it is a story by and about an African American deaf child. The author recounts her experiences growing up as a deaf person in Iron Mine, North Carolina, from the 1920s through the 1940s. Her story is unique and historically significant because it provides valuable descriptive information about the faculty and staff of the North Carolina school for Black deaf and blind students from the perspective of a student as well as a student teacher. In addition, this engrossing narrative contains details about the curriculum, which included a week-long Black History celebration where students learned about important Blacks such as Madame Walker, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and George Washington Carver. It also describes the physical facilities as well as the changes in those facilities over the years. In addition, Sounds Like Home occurs over a period of time that covers two major events in American history, the Depression and World War II.
Wright’s account is one of enduring faith, perseverance, and optimism. Her keen observations will serve as a source of inspiration for others who are challenged in their own ways by life’s obstacles.
Features a new introduction by scholars Joseph Hill and Carolyn McCaskill
Mary Herring Wright’s memoir adds an important dimension to the current literature in that it is a story by and about an African American deaf child. The author recounts her experiences growing up as a deaf person in Iron Mine, North Carolina, from the 1920s through the 1940s. Her story is unique and historically significant because it provides valuable descriptive information about the faculty and staff of the North Carolina school for Black deaf and blind students from the perspective of a student as well as a student teacher. In addition, this engrossing narrative contains details about the curriculum, which included a week-long Black History celebration where students learned about important Blacks such as Madame Walker, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and George Washington Carver. It also describes the physical facilities as well as the changes in those facilities over the years. In addition, Sounds Like Home occurs over a period of time that covers two major events in American history, the Depression and World War II.
Wright’s account is one of enduring faith, perseverance, and optimism. Her keen observations will serve as a source of inspiration for others who are challenged in their own ways by life’s obstacles.
296 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 3, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. Wright's experience as a child in a special boarding school for deaf/blind Black children is so well written it kept me turning pages, as she evokes her thoughts and feelings and reactions to events at each age in a way that puts us in the scene and made me remember what it was like to be seven, or ten, or fourteen. I wondered what the illness was that caused her hearing loss...at first it seemed to be an eye infection, given that she had to wear dark glasses for several months...but what eye infection could cause deafness? We don't find out, perhaps Herring herself was never told.
Wright loved her family and home life, so going off to live among strangers for nine months of the year was traumatic--hardly surprising as she was first sent away at the age of seven! She repeatedly admits to being a bit of a crybaby--understandable at age 7, but she still cries at the drop of a hat in her teens, earning the disapproval of her older siblings. Herring compares the school she attended to "prison", with its tin plates and cups, poor food, students working as waitresses and cleaners, and dormitories without curtains. The sexes are kept severely apart; they aren't expected to even speak, let alone socialise. I have to say, I was surprised that some of the deaf girls were placed in classes with blind students! I can imagine not realising a blind child was also partially deaf, but surely the ability to see is hard to miss, or to confuse with deafness?? This lack of preparation on the part of the faculty may explain the surprisingly quick turnover of staff from one year (and indeed one semester) to the next.
Throughout the book, Herring is bemused by her classmates' desire to grow up quickly and have boyfriends, wear silk stockings and heels, etc. On the other hand, her school girlfriends don't share her interest in reading, learning to type, etc. As far as they're concerned, they "study enough already." Obviously their expectations of life were shaped around domestic service, marriage and family--hardly surprising for young girls in the 1930s, as their world view didn't contemplate having a career beyond perhaps nursing or teaching or missionary work. In contrast to her schoomates, Herring herself just wants to play, enjoy her childhood and go home. With no interest in makeup, boys or silk stockings, she dreams of building a little house on her parents' property to fill with dogs and cats, and create a large vegetable garden to feed herself and them. Later on, of course, she does grow up and mature; unfortunately, the last and most important years of her school life are glossed over. She does finish highschool and work for a year as a "pupil-teacher", but decides not to return. Instead, she finds war work. Several photographs of important people in her life (relatives, friends and teachers) are included.
This memoir is a bit rambling, but so is life. It just keeps going, day after day. Real life is of course not a novel with "unifying themes" or "symbolism" or even any plot. Many reviewers here don't seem to realise that a memoir is a person's memories of their life (obviously), and not fiction (again, obviously). Herring has no issues to air, no anger to vent, no axe (racial or otherwise) to grind. It was an excellent read that left me wanting more.
Wright loved her family and home life, so going off to live among strangers for nine months of the year was traumatic--hardly surprising as she was first sent away at the age of seven! She repeatedly admits to being a bit of a crybaby--understandable at age 7, but she still cries at the drop of a hat in her teens, earning the disapproval of her older siblings. Herring compares the school she attended to "prison", with its tin plates and cups, poor food, students working as waitresses and cleaners, and dormitories without curtains. The sexes are kept severely apart; they aren't expected to even speak, let alone socialise. I have to say, I was surprised that some of the deaf girls were placed in classes with blind students! I can imagine not realising a blind child was also partially deaf, but surely the ability to see is hard to miss, or to confuse with deafness?? This lack of preparation on the part of the faculty may explain the surprisingly quick turnover of staff from one year (and indeed one semester) to the next.
Throughout the book, Herring is bemused by her classmates' desire to grow up quickly and have boyfriends, wear silk stockings and heels, etc. On the other hand, her school girlfriends don't share her interest in reading, learning to type, etc. As far as they're concerned, they "study enough already." Obviously their expectations of life were shaped around domestic service, marriage and family--hardly surprising for young girls in the 1930s, as their world view didn't contemplate having a career beyond perhaps nursing or teaching or missionary work. In contrast to her schoomates, Herring herself just wants to play, enjoy her childhood and go home. With no interest in makeup, boys or silk stockings, she dreams of building a little house on her parents' property to fill with dogs and cats, and create a large vegetable garden to feed herself and them. Later on, of course, she does grow up and mature; unfortunately, the last and most important years of her school life are glossed over. She does finish highschool and work for a year as a "pupil-teacher", but decides not to return. Instead, she finds war work. Several photographs of important people in her life (relatives, friends and teachers) are included.
This memoir is a bit rambling, but so is life. It just keeps going, day after day. Real life is of course not a novel with "unifying themes" or "symbolism" or even any plot. Many reviewers here don't seem to realise that a memoir is a person's memories of their life (obviously), and not fiction (again, obviously). Herring has no issues to air, no anger to vent, no axe (racial or otherwise) to grind. It was an excellent read that left me wanting more.
September 22, 2011
Mary is a sweet little girl who grows up in North Carolina around the time of the Great Depression. She was born hearing and loved life. The first 5 chapters of the book give all kinds of anecdotes about what life was like back then.
Around the age of 10, Mary loses all hearing. Because it’s post-lingual deafness (after the acquisition of spoken language), she has it “easier” than those born deaf or deaf by the age of two. However, in many ways it is more difficult. She relies on her memory of what music sounded like. The adjustment to a world suddenly silent is rough, and there were many a tear shed.
For a year, she tried to go to the local school with her siblings, but she struggled. What once was a joyous experience for her has now become dreaded. Her parents learn about the North Carolina School for the Deaf (which, at the time, was an all Black school) in Raleigh, which is an 88 mile trip on the current interstate; an all day train ride in Mary’s time. This was also a frightful time, leaving her parents and everything she knew to live in a dorm with other deaf girls. She picked up the language quickly, even though she still spoke most of the time when communicating with hearing people.
It’s a great story of her own educational ups and downs. Additionally, it’s full of historical facts about the way life was back then (when a Coke and a candy bar totaled 10c!). I love historical books, and I’ve always enjoyed studying the African American community (particularly Civil War and Reconstruction eras). So, if those are things you enjoy learning about as well, this is a great book.
Around the age of 10, Mary loses all hearing. Because it’s post-lingual deafness (after the acquisition of spoken language), she has it “easier” than those born deaf or deaf by the age of two. However, in many ways it is more difficult. She relies on her memory of what music sounded like. The adjustment to a world suddenly silent is rough, and there were many a tear shed.
For a year, she tried to go to the local school with her siblings, but she struggled. What once was a joyous experience for her has now become dreaded. Her parents learn about the North Carolina School for the Deaf (which, at the time, was an all Black school) in Raleigh, which is an 88 mile trip on the current interstate; an all day train ride in Mary’s time. This was also a frightful time, leaving her parents and everything she knew to live in a dorm with other deaf girls. She picked up the language quickly, even though she still spoke most of the time when communicating with hearing people.
It’s a great story of her own educational ups and downs. Additionally, it’s full of historical facts about the way life was back then (when a Coke and a candy bar totaled 10c!). I love historical books, and I’ve always enjoyed studying the African American community (particularly Civil War and Reconstruction eras). So, if those are things you enjoy learning about as well, this is a great book.
September 12, 2020
Currently, it's quite popular for people to discuss "intersectionality," The combination of things like race, gender, disability, or religion and the way this combination affects individuals uniquely or populations who share several characteristics as a group. This short memoir is interesting for people who think about the subject, as it describes the life of a young black deaf woman. Mary attends a segregated school for the blind and deaf where conditions are harsh, the food in edible, and the accommodations spartan. She also feels lost and frustrated when dealing with hearing people, although she is able to speechread and speak clearly. Nevertheless, she maintains a positive view of her life, excepting things she cannot change. Modern disabled readers may feel more frustrated at the way she was treated then she herself did at the time. This book was written mainly as a family memoir for the authors children, so it does not have the polish that readers may be used to, but it is still an interesting and pleasant read.
November 16, 2023
Racism, Memoir, Disability, Life Changing
“Sounds Like Home: Growing Up Black and Deaf in the South'' is about a young Mary Herring Wright and her life growing up. She wasn't born deaf, but she was born a minority. She tells her story about how she grew up and eased her way into the story of becoming deaf. She tells her experience going to a deaf and blind school. This book is so inspiring and educational.
This book is a great book to use in a reading lesson. If I used this book in a reading lesson, I would use it for a middle school group. I would use TEKs ELA.8.6.C- Use text evidence to support an appropriate response. TEK ELA.8.6.E Interact with sources meaningfully, such as note-taking, annotating, freewriting, or illustrating. I would use those TEKS because at the end of the book I would want my students to write about a time they felt the way she felt. I would want them to use evidence from the text to tie the character's feelings to theirs. It would also be considered a free write since there is no limit on their feelings. I think this book can open up my students' minds and hearts.
“Sounds Like Home: Growing Up Black and Deaf in the South'' is about a young Mary Herring Wright and her life growing up. She wasn't born deaf, but she was born a minority. She tells her story about how she grew up and eased her way into the story of becoming deaf. She tells her experience going to a deaf and blind school. This book is so inspiring and educational.
This book is a great book to use in a reading lesson. If I used this book in a reading lesson, I would use it for a middle school group. I would use TEKs ELA.8.6.C- Use text evidence to support an appropriate response. TEK ELA.8.6.E Interact with sources meaningfully, such as note-taking, annotating, freewriting, or illustrating. I would use those TEKS because at the end of the book I would want my students to write about a time they felt the way she felt. I would want them to use evidence from the text to tie the character's feelings to theirs. It would also be considered a free write since there is no limit on their feelings. I think this book can open up my students' minds and hearts.
July 8, 2020
One of the joys while becoming an ASL interpreter is learning about the members of the Deaf community, and their culture. Another joy is the visual storytelling (both fictional and non-fictional) that occurs when everyone reunites again.
Mary Herring Wright's "Sounds Like Home: Growing Up Black and Deaf in the South" takes the beauty of the physical, visual storytelling and adds that vibrancy to the words on the page.
While learning about Mary, her family and friends, her faith, her school, and her home she not only shared the memories (good and difficult), her storytelling transported us to the fields, the soft dirt roads, the crisp brick classrooms, and the consistent but reassured unknown future (at the time) for her with such clarity. Several times throughout the book I had to stop and rest in these locations she lovingly painted for us, and kick off my own shoes to feel it between my toes.
What we do with our individual histories is up to us, and how Ms. Mary chose to share her own was stunning. In less than 300 pages you walk alongside her and her environment, and admire her journey in the Deaf and the hearing world. If she were still alive today (1923-2018), I would love to meet her and share a hymn or recipe with her!
A memoir that feels like fiction, and moments that feel fictional but were all too real, I could not recommend this book highly enough: whether you are involved with the Deaf community or have yet to join.
Mary Herring Wright's "Sounds Like Home: Growing Up Black and Deaf in the South" takes the beauty of the physical, visual storytelling and adds that vibrancy to the words on the page.
While learning about Mary, her family and friends, her faith, her school, and her home she not only shared the memories (good and difficult), her storytelling transported us to the fields, the soft dirt roads, the crisp brick classrooms, and the consistent but reassured unknown future (at the time) for her with such clarity. Several times throughout the book I had to stop and rest in these locations she lovingly painted for us, and kick off my own shoes to feel it between my toes.
What we do with our individual histories is up to us, and how Ms. Mary chose to share her own was stunning. In less than 300 pages you walk alongside her and her environment, and admire her journey in the Deaf and the hearing world. If she were still alive today (1923-2018), I would love to meet her and share a hymn or recipe with her!
A memoir that feels like fiction, and moments that feel fictional but were all too real, I could not recommend this book highly enough: whether you are involved with the Deaf community or have yet to join.
April 7, 2023
This was a fascinating and surprisingly wholesome coming of age memoir. I was not expecting such detail but appreciated how she described her rural upbringing, experience at a school for Black Deaf and blind youth, and her personal growth over the years. It was also funny, especially a memorable anecdote where an elderly woman tumbles through a cabbage patch. I wonder to what degree the story is informed by nostalgia because even though the blind students at her school were campaigning and organizing to draw attention to inferior conditions at the school, Herring mostly describes it with fondness. Regardless, it's an important record.
April 9, 2018
This was a wonderful personal history of one woman's experience growing up deaf in North Carolina when we still had segregated schools for the deaf. Mary Herring Wright writes with incredible detail and a positive attitude that is refreshing. Life was not easy for her but she still is able to see the blessings.
February 27, 2022
SO GOOD.
Read
March 11, 2024read this book for a school paper and loved how much detail the author provides. unlike any book i’ve ever read!
July 28, 2024
Absolutely Lovely book. Super interesting history. I was Entertain to the whole Time
February 11, 2020
Ms Wright says right away that it's a memoir for her children, and read as that only, it's probably a treasure for the family to have. It's very detailed in her memories and her stories of growing up, and I can see how a family who would have heard these stories before, and heard of all the people in the memories, can actually have a written word of all of them now. That's nice.
As a book for anyone else, eeehhhh, it gets kind of lost in translation. I love culture shock, I love descriptions, and more than anything I love old photographs. This has a little bit of all three, but it could have gone deeper for me, if that was possible for her.
As a book for anyone else, eeehhhh, it gets kind of lost in translation. I love culture shock, I love descriptions, and more than anything I love old photographs. This has a little bit of all three, but it could have gone deeper for me, if that was possible for her.
July 1, 2007
I read this book for one of my graduate courses also. I really enjoyed this book knowing it happened in North Carolina. It's about a black girl growing up in the black section part of town, becoming sick and lost her hearing to attending residential school for the deaf colored in Raliegh. So many familiar names and places in NC makes it sound like home for me also. :-)
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews