The Radical Lives of Helen Keller (The History of Disability, 1)

A political biography that reveals new sides to Helen KellerSeveral decades after her death in 1968, Helen Keller remains one of the most widely recognized women of the twentieth century. But the fascinating story of her vivid political life—particularly her interest in radicalism and anti-capitalist activism—has been largely overwhelmed by the sentimentalized story of her as a young deaf-blind girl. Keller had many lives indeed. Best known for her advocacy on behalf of the blind, she was also a member of the socialist party, an advocate of women's suffrage, a defender of the radical International Workers of the World, and a supporter of birth control—and she served as one of the nation's most effective but unofficial international ambassadors. In spite of all her political work, though, Keller rarely explored the political dimensions of disability, adopting beliefs that were often seen as conservative, patronizing, and occasionally repugnant. Under the wing of Alexander Graham Bell, a controversial figure in the deaf community who promoted lip-reading over sign language, Keller became a proponent of oralism, thereby alienating herself from others in the deaf community who believed that a rich deaf culture was possible through sign language. But only by distancing herself from the deaf community was she able to maintain a public image as a one-of-a-kind miracle.Using analytic tools and new sources, Kim E. Nielsen's political biography of Helen Keller has many lives, teasing out the motivations for and implications of her political and personal revolutions to reveal a more complex and intriguing woman than the Helen Keller we thought we knew.

several Decades After Her Death In 1968, Helen Keller Remains One Of The Most Widely Recognized Women Of The Twentieth Century. But The Fascinating Story Of Her Vivid Political Life—particularly Her Interest In Radicalism And Anti-capitalist Activism—has Been Largely Overwhelmed By The Sentimentalized Story Of Her As A Young Deaf-blind Girl.

keller Had Many Lives Indeed. Best Known For Her Advocacy On Behalf Of The Blind, She Was Also A Member Of The Socialist Party, An Advocate Of Women's Suffrage, A Defender Of The Radical International Workers Of The World, And A Supporter Of Birth Control—and She Served As One Of The Nation's Most Effective But Unofficial International Ambassadors. In Spite Of All Her Political Work, Though, Keller Rarely Explored The Political Dimensions Of Disability, Adopting Beliefs That Were Often Seen As Conservative, Patronizing, And Occasionally Repugnant. Under The Wing Of Alexander Graham Bell, A Controversial Figure In The Deaf Community Who Promoted Lip-reading Over Sign Language, Keller Became A Proponent Of Oralism, Thereby Alienating Herself From Others In The Deaf Community Who Believed That A Rich Deaf Culture Was Possible Through Sign Language. But Only By Distancing Herself From The Deaf Community Was She Able To Maintain A Public Image As A One-of-a-kind Miracle.

using Analytic Tools And New Sources, Kim E. Nielsen's Political Biography Of Helen Keller Has Many Lives, Teasing Out The Motivations For And Implications Of Her Political And Personal Revolutions To Reveal A More Complex And Intriguing Woman Than The Helen Keller We Thought We Knew.

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this Brief Biography By Nielsen (history, Univ. Of Wisconsin, Green Bay; Un-american Womanhood) Examines Helen Keller's Radical Politics And The Various Reasons Her Political Views Were So Often Neglected. As The Ultimate Symbol Of The Perpetual Overcomer, Keller Proved To Be The Perfect Emissary For The United States During The Cold War But Only Because, To Her Frustration, Everyone Ignored Her Own Relatively Radical Politics. On The Other Hand, Nielsen Points Out, Keller's Positions With Respect To Disability Were Conservative. She Advocated Trying To Make The Blind And Deaf Perform As If They Were Sighted And Hearing-hence Her Replacing Her Own Eyes With Glass Eyes And Her Support Of Finger-spelling Rather Than American Sign Language. Thus, She Did Nothing To Destigmatize Disability. Though She Offers A Different View Of Keller, Nielsen's Description Of Keller's Politics And Beliefs Is Sometimes Unclear. For Specialized Collections, Particularly In Disability Studies.-cynthia Harrison, George Washington Univ., Washington, Dc Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

A political biography that reveals new sides to Helen Keller Several decades after her death in 1968, Helen Keller remains one of the most widely recognized women of the twentieth century. But the fascinating story of her vivid political lifeparticularly her interest in radicalism and anti-capitalist activismhas been largely overwhelmed by the sentimentalized story of her as a young deaf-blind girl. Keller had many lives indeed. Best known for her advocacy on behalf of the blind, she was also a member of the socialist party, an advocate of women's suffrage, a defender of the radical International Workers of the World, and a supporter of birth controland she served as one of the nation's most effective but unofficial international ambassadors. In spite of all her political work, though, Keller rarely explored the political dimensions of disability, adopting beliefs that were often seen as conservative, patronizing, and occasionally repugnant. Under the wing of Alexander Graham Bell, a controversial figure in the deaf community who promoted lip-reading over sign language, Keller became a proponent of oralism, thereby alienating herself from others in the deaf community who believed that a rich deaf culture was possible through sign language. But only by distancing herself from the deaf community was she able to maintain a public image as a one-of-a-kind miracle. Using analytic tools and new sources, Kim E. Nielsen's political biography of Helen Keller has many lives, teasing out the motivations for and implications of her political and personal revolutions to reveal a more complex and intriguing woman than the Helen Keller we thought we knew. "Several decades after her death in 1968, Helen Keller remains one of the most widely recognized women of the twentieth century. But the fascinating story of her vivid political life - particularly her radicalism and anti-capitalist activism - has been largely overwhelmed by the sentimentalized story of her as a young deaf blind girl." "Keller had many lives indeed. Best known for her advocacy on behalf of the blind, she was also a member of the Socialist Party, an advocate of women's suffrage, a defender of the radical International Workers of the World, and a supporter of birth control - and she served as one of the nation's most effective but unofficial international ambassadors. In spite of all her political work, though, Keller rarely explored the political dimensions of disability, adopting beliefs that were often seen as conservative, patronizing, and occasionally repugnant. Under the wing of Alexander Graham Bell, a controversial figure in the deaf community who promoted lip-reading over sign language, Keller became a proponent of oralism, thereby alienating herself from others in the deaf community who believed that a rich deaf culture was possible through sign language. But only by distancing herself from the deaf community was she able to maintain a public image as a one-of-a-kind miracle."--Jacket. Helen Keller is a historical figure known around the globe, whose publicly celebrated story tends to begin and often ends with the moment in 1887, when Anne Sullivan pumped water onto the seven-year-old girl's hands and the manual alphabet became her main means of communication.