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color:black">Krip "Times New Roman";color:black">-Hop "Times New Roman";color:black"> Nation (KHN "Times New Roman";color:black">) color:black"> Hello Joy, I was introduced to your work by a Black disabled poet, Lateef color:black"> McLeod "Times New Roman";color:black">. You live in Oakland and have been hitting the open mic color:black"> scene. Tell us about your experience as a Hard of Hearing Black woman doing open mic "Times New Roman";color:black">. mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">
"Times New Roman";color:black">Joy Elan "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black"> It has been a truly wonderful and rewarding experience! My first time doing open mic "Times New Roman";color:black"> was at the Oakland Black Cowboy Parade in 2011 and I asked my cousin, who was on the planning committee, if I could do a poem from my book. She suggested that I do the poem in American Sign Language ( color:black">ASL mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">) while I spoke it. I performed it and it was well received. I knew I had to keep doing things like that so I went to Mouth Off Wednesday at Air Lounge in downtown Oakland. Since my first time at Mouth Off, I felt received by the audience and the host, Hot Water Cornbread. Going there helped me challenge myself as a poet and spoken word artist. I had the chance to see many poets perform their material and it taught me to push myself and think outside the box. I’ color:black">ve mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> done color:black">ASL mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> with my poetry and I’ color:black">ve mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> sang and rapped. It’ color:black">s mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> fun to do things outside the box where people wouldn "Times New Roman";color:black">’t "Times New Roman";color:black"> think a Deaf/ Hard of Hearing person would be able to do. The rest is history.
color:black">KHN "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black"> I love the poem, SILENTLY OUTNUMBERED! Tell us about that poem
"Times New Roman";color:black">Joy Elan "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black"> The poem is based on an incident that happened to me at a job. I’ color:black">m mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> usually overqualified for many positions so in this case, a superior thought that I was some “dumb, Black disabled” person and I had to shut that idea down really quick. They thought they could intimidate me and I had to let them know that there is a better way to deliver their message. If you challenge me, I will defend myself. In this case, I got my union representation and I’ color:black">m mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> used to people trying to pick on me. I always start this poem off by saying, “To those that know me, you’re about to see another side of me. For those of you that don’ color:black">t mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> know me, I’ color:black">m mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> really a nice person. It’s color:black"> just that my kindness is mistaken as weakness when it’ color:black">s mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> actually my strength.” My message about this poem is never underestimate a person and their intelligence. I had to come off as a “mafia” to show that I am not to be messed with. This goes for everyone and I think it’s "Times New Roman";color:black"> very relatable, whether you’re disabled or not because we’ve color:black"> all been there where someone thought they could intimidate us. But how many know how to exercise our rights? I dedicated this poem to my union, SEIU color:black"> Local 1021.
color:black">KHN "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black"> Have you been deep into the Black Deaf Culture and if so what do Black Deaf people face in our society in the Black hearing world and the White Deaf and hearing world?
"Times New Roman";color:black">Joy Elan "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black"> I have three things against me: Black, female and hard of hearing and I list them in this order because these are what people see immediately. I am hard of hearing because I can hear without my hearing aids; I just cannot hear high frequency sounds. I was born hard of hearing at birth due to an umbilical cord wrapped around my neck. Fortunately, the doctors were able to detect my hearing loss at six months and I got my first hearing aids at fifteen months. My hearing aids are like glasses, they amplifies the sounds that I cannot hear. I’m "Times New Roman";color:black"> not deep into the Black Deaf Culture but I do interact with Deaf people. I grew up not signing at home so my first language is English. I did not learn ASL "Times New Roman";color:black"> until I was four years old in a Deaf/ Hard of Hearing program at Oakland Unified School District. I moved to Berkeley Unified School District in fourth grade. I was mainstreamed with color:black">ASL mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> interpreters from elementary school through my graduate program at Stanford University. I believe in challenging myself and doing what I want to do. I cannot completely compare my experience with another Black Deaf person’s experiences mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> because everyone has different ways of communicating and growing up. I am not ashamed to say I wear hearing aids and that I may need accommodations or for someone to repeat what they said. My hearing aids are red because I am proud of who I am. The reason is because my family has always been supportive of me. They never treated me different and at an early age, they told me about the obstacles that I was going to face. I remember my grandfather telling me to forget about people teasing me about my hearing aids and the way I spoke because he came from a time where Black people were called niggers "Times New Roman";color:black"> publicly and nothing could be done. He told me that unless I have been called a nigger "Times New Roman";color:black"> then I have nothing to cry about. My family are educators and they graduated from Grambling "Times New Roman";color:black"> and Southern University in Louisiana. At an early age, I wanted to go to UC "Times New Roman";color:black"> Berkeley because I wanted to do something for me. I am the first in my family to graduate from UC "Times New Roman";color:black"> Berkeley and Stanford University. This is because my family instilled in me that I can do whatever I put my mind to.
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">In the Black hearing world, there need to be more awareness about ASL "Times New Roman";color:black"> and not mistaking it for gang signs. I cannot really comment on the issues of the White Deaf and hearing world because I have not encountered those issues. All of my friends are different color:black">ethnicities mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">, religion, and disabled, non-disabled so I cannot tell you some of the issues I have had. It is amazing how far we have come in this lifetime about acceptance and inclusion. Also, I think Berkeley is the reason why I have not had those experiences because Berkeley is so diverse and open. When I attended elementary school in color:black">Berkeley mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> that was the first time that I saw the whole school signing with the Deaf/ hard of hearing students. And it was not just my school; the whole district had the color:black">ASL mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> alphabet chart in the classrooms. Students who are wheelchair users or with special needs were not mistreated or teased. I think that is why I do not see race or disability but I do see a person for who they are in the inside. I am still friends with my former hearing classmates in Berkeley and they still try to show me what they remembered in ASL "Times New Roman";color:black">. I am glad that they see me as Joy, the girl that loves to smile and laugh and not as someone different.
color:black">KHN "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black"> I heard you on Blogtalk "Times New Roman";color:black"> Radio talking about your new book, color:black">Signs of Life
Past, Present and Future color:black">. I’m so happy to see Black Deaf/Disabled writers get publish. Tell us
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Not only about your book but how other Black Hard of Hearing/Deaf/Disabled can learn from you about getting publish?
"Times New Roman";color:black">Joy Elan "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black"> My book is based on poems that I wrote as a journal. A friend of mine suggested that I publish a book since I love to write. I composed the book and edited it in about seven months. About a year later after the manuscript was completed, one morning I saw an email about publishing a book and I submitted the information. The publishing company, color:black">Xlibris mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> contacted me within twelve hours and I was published two weeks later on July 14, 2011. They put it on www.amazon.com "Times New Roman";color:black"> and color:blue">www.barnesandnoble.com color:black">. They are a self-publishing company so you have to edit it yourself. Since it was poetry, I had to edit my book regardless because poetry is my interpretation. But for my new novel, I may hire another publishing company because I will need an editor since a novel is more intense.
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Anyone can publish a book. I did not need any fancy publishing company to publish and I enjoy it because it is my baby. I learned how to promote myself by getting a PR agent, doing spoken word, advertising on Facebook "Times New Roman";color:black"> and at events. It has been a crazy year because the hard part was done and I had the proof to show that it was done. I am proud of what I accomplished and myself. I truly appreciate what musicians and people who are self-employed do because it is not easy to get yourself out there. However! Each step you take is very rewarding and you grow as you learn the business. You never know what you are capable of doing until you are forced to get involved and think outside the box. That is why I post Think and Grow Rich quotes daily on Facebook "Times New Roman";color:black"> and Twitter because that book inspired me and I want to inspire other.
color:black">KHN "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black"> In your poetry do you sometimes teach about all the isms Black Hard of Hearing/Deaf people face and if so can you share a poem about that?
"Times New Roman";color:black">Joy Elan "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black"> I just write what comes to mind and what I am going through. I write more issues about being Black since African American Studies is my major and I want to teach history through my poetry. As I mentioned earlier, I have not had any deep issues about being Black and Deaf. In college and graduate school, I wrote two thesis about Black Deaf Education and how a variety of resources help students perform better academically. You can search it in UC color:black"> Berkeley's "Times New Roman";color:black"> African American Studies and Stanford University's color:black"> School of Education library. I have written a poem about raising a hearing daughter who is trying to understand why her mom is "different." My daughter is almost five years old and it is amazing how much she understands that I cannot hear well. She brings me my hearing aids and tells me the phone is ringing when I can see the phone light flashing or feel it vibrating. Funny story: one time my daughter asked me for what I thought was couscous since I made it earlier for dinner. I said no you can't color:black"> have couscous because it's "Times New Roman";color:black"> late and it's "Times New Roman";color:black"> time for bed. She said, "no" and stuck one finger in her nose and said, "tissue." I laughed so hard because I felt embarrassed that my daughter knew that I did not hear her right. For my daughter to be as young as she is she's "Times New Roman";color:black"> very smart and she loves to help me. She makes sure I look at her when she talks because she knows I color:black">lip-reads mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> and I am blessed to have such a loving daughter. She knows my Deaf friends and sees the different ways that I communicate (texting "Times New Roman";color:black">, talking on the phone, video phone, etc.).
color:black">KHN "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black"> I heard that you sing too. Am I right and if so what kinds of music do you sing?
"Times New Roman";color:black">Joy Elan "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black"> All kinds! I love music! If it sounds great, I love it. My favorite artist is Teena "Times New Roman";color:black"> Marie so I sing a lot of her material as well as contemporary artists. I love piano, saxophone and guitar. Oh forget it, I love all music instruments. That is why I believe I am blessed to be able to hear because I could not live without music. It is a part of my life and without it; I would not be able to draw my inspiration. I have a special rap for the host of Mouth Off, Hot Water Cornbread. It' color:black">s mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> a rap from color:black">Teena mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> Marie' color:black">s mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> Square Biz and I changed it to fit me but kept some of the actual lines. I usually close my performance doing this rap when I want to thank him. I say, "Hey yo what's color:black"> happenin "Times New Roman";color:black">', entre "Times New Roman";color:black"> vous "Times New Roman";color:black"> Lady J "Times New Roman";color:black">, I've "Times New Roman";color:black"> heard a boatload of other ladies' raps but they got nothing to say... I love to kick it, and write poetry, and (I turn to the host) a little Hot Water Cornbread, (I turn to the color:black">dj mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">) I love you too cat daddy but don't "Times New Roman";color:black"> let that go to your head."
color:black">KHN "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black"> There has been always a lack of Black Hard of Hearing/Deaf/Disabled people on TV, on the radio, in magazine etc. How can we change that?
"Times New Roman";color:black">Joy Elan "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black"> There's "Times New Roman";color:black"> a lack of Deaf and Disabled people in general in the media. Sometimes I see where Law and Order will do an episode talking about something that happened with a Deaf individual or with color:black">Marlee mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> color:black">Matlin mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">. We need to get out there. It is up to us to take that step forward and show the world that we are. I am doing my part but I can only represent myself. One person is not enough representation of a group. I am an author and spoken word artist in the Bay Area. I am trying to get out there and let people know about me. I have Deaf friends that dance professionally, produce films and music, design clothes in the fashion industry, just to name a few. We are paving the way for the younger generation. All it takes is just one individual to step up and do what they want to do. The only thing holding people back is their mind and their confidence.
color:black">KHN "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black"> What are your next projects/shows coming up?
"Times New Roman";color:black">Joy Elan "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black"> I am currently working on a new poetry book called Silence Is Not Always Golden and a novel, which should be completed by next year. I am at the Air Lounge every Wednesday but please check my website or my Facebook page, Joy Elan for updates because things may change. People have been asking to perform at their events and to collaborate with them. I am excited about this upcoming year because I am already getting booked for 2013 and 2012 is not over yet.
color:black">KHN "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black"> What is your best verse in all of your poems?
"Times New Roman";color:black">Joy Elan "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black"> Hmm, I can't "Times New Roman";color:black"> choose. I think the best one would be from Gold Digger.
"Times New Roman";color:#333333">I’m "Times New Roman";color:#333333"> a gold digger
"Times New Roman";color:#333333">I want the best and I go for the best
"Times New Roman";color:#333333">If I was alive in 1849, I would’ color:#333333">ve mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#333333"> been one of the ladies in the Gold Rush
"Times New Roman";color:#333333">Don’t "Times New Roman";color:#333333"> get it twisted
"Times New Roman";color:#333333">I’m "Times New Roman";color:#333333"> not talking about going after some rich man’ color:#333333">s mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#333333"> money
"Times New Roman";color:#333333">Because I’ color:#333333">m mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#333333"> going to make my own
"Times New Roman";color:#333333">If anything, I got to watch out for the guys that want me to take care of them...
color:black">KHN "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black"> Any advice to young Black Hard of Hearing/Deaf women who wants to write likes you?
"Times New Roman";color:black">Joy Elan "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black">My advice is that you can be your own best friend or your own worst enemy. Your mind is what makes you unique and it' color:black">s mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> up to you to work it. You can do whatever you put your mind to and the hardest part is the writing. The publishing is the easy part. It's "Times New Roman";color:black"> the same when you write an essay for class and the easy part is turning it in because you did the hard work. Make sure you give it your all. Don't "Times New Roman";color:black"> do anything if you're not ready for it. Take your time because you never know when that right idea might pop up. When I was editing my poems after leaving them alone for a few months, I was able to catch some things and create a better verse to make that poem stand out more. Don' color:black">t mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> be ashamed of who you are. Embrace all of you and share it with the world!
color:black">KHN "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black"> How can people reach u "Times New Roman";color:black"> and buy your book?
"Times New Roman";color:black">Joy Elan "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black">My website "Times New Roman";color:black"> color:blue">www.joyelan.webs.com color:black">. My twitter name is color:black">@JoyElan "Times New Roman";color:black">, and my Facebook "Times New Roman";color:black"> author page is Joy color:black">Elan mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">. My book is available in hard copy and e-readers. To order my book, you can go to color:black"> color:blue">www.xlibris.com color:black">, color:blue">www.amazon.com color:black"> (hard copy and Kindle), and color:blue">www.barnesandnoble.com color:black"> (hard copy and Nook).
color:black">KHN "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black">Any last words?
"Times New Roman";color:black">Joy Elan "Times New Roman";color:black">: color:black">I am truly honored to be where I am today. I never take my talent for granted and the things and I thank God everyday for the people that I’ve met I've color:black"> done on this new journey. I know it will take me far because I feel wonderful everyday and I am ready to see what step I will take that day. I am doing what I love and I love what I do. The sky isn' color:black">t mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> the limit because there's color:black"> a universe beyond the sky. If the universe doesn' color:black">t mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> have any limits, then why should I be limited?
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