Signing for Obama
BU ASL interpreter at opening of new African American national museum
Christopher Robinson, coordinator of outreach and training for the office of disability services, interprets the words of President Barack Obama at the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture on Sept. 24. Photo courtesy of Katherine Kennedy.
While most of the thousands of people who listened to President Barack Obama’s speech at the dedication of the National Museum of African American History and Culture last Saturday had their eyes on the president, many others were watching Christopher Robinson, an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter who as coordinator of outreach and training for BU’s Disability Services is usually found on the Charles River campus.
Robinson, one of a dozen African American ASL interpreters hired to work at the museum’s dedication and accompanying ceremonies, was recommended for the event’s interpreting team by ASL interpreter Krystin Balzarini (SED’08), who was helping to coordinate staffing for the event and is keenly aware that African American interpreters are seriously underrepresented in the ASL interpreting profession. Robinson points out that, according to the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, less than 5 percent of registered members are African American.
“I’ve been privileged to receive a language (American Sign Language) from an intersection of deaf, African American/black and other facets of the deaf identity, that has endured many of the joys and tragedies that are represented in the museum,” says Robinson. “It is a blessing and a burden of honor that I embrace.”
Robinson and Balzarini first met at BU 10 years ago, when Balzarini, then a sophomore at the School of Education, was looking for a mentor to help her become an ASL interpreter. Robinson offered, and Balzarini never looked back. After earning a master’s degree in interpretation at Gallaudet University, the world’s only university designed to be barrier-free for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, she found work with an ASL/English interpreting agency based in Washington, D.C., that is often tapped for official events.
Balzarini thought Robinson was perfect for the museum dedication job. She knew of his years of interpreting, not only at BU, but for Boston’s Museum of African American History, and she knew that he had appeared onstage and on television as characters referenced in new national museum’s exhibitions. Robinson played abolitionist David Walker in the PBS series Slavery and the Making of America
“Christopher is not only one of the most talented ASL/English interpreters I know,” says Balzarini, “but his overall knowledge about African American history, his experience working in various capacities and roles regarding African American historical subject matter, and his musical interpreting ability made him an obvious choice for this event in my eyes.”
Robinson says he was deeply moved by the opportunity and by the experience of interpreting the first African American president at the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
“So many words and songs get lost in translation without a context to frame them,” he says. “But on the day of the museum’s opening we all understood, in a visceral way, Dr. King’s words, ‘Let Freedom ring…’ and the words from the so-called Black National Anthem, ‘Lift every voice and sing, Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty.’ The weather was perfect, the people were optimistic. There was no mention of politics or tragedy. Warmth and pride filled the air, in a much-needed bit of fresh air, considering the national dialogue on race.”
Author, Art Jahnke can be reached at jahnke@bu.edu.