Kendall 24 Day First Anniversary

On Monday, July 22, 2024 the Center for Black Deaf Studies (CBDS) with the support of the Louise B. Miller (LBM) Memorial Project Steering Committee held a small gathering to celebrate the first anniversary of the historic graduation ceremony where the 24 Black Deaf students from Kendall School Division II were given the high school diplomas that had been denied to them more than 70 years ago due to discrimination. During the ceremony, the Gallaudet Board of Trustees also proclaimed July 22 as Kendall 24 Day and issued an official proclamation acknowledging and apologizing for its role in the grave injustice committed against the 24 students.

Evon Black and Dr. Jeremy L. Brunson, LBM Memorial Project co-chairs, welcomed 62 guests to the Kellogg Conference Center Hotel for a time to gather, remember, and reflect in community on Kendall 24 Day. All four of the Miller siblings - Kenneth, Gerald, Justin, and Carol - attended with other members of their family. Twelve Black alumni from Kendall Demonstration Elementary School and Model Secondary School for the Deaf were there, including LaToya Plummer, who shared a reflection of the importance of the Kendall 24 in her own life. Dr. Stephen Farias, superintendent of Clerc Center, was also in attendance. Past LBM Project Co-chairs Dr. Elizabeth Moore and Dr. Carolyn McCaskill were also present.

Participants had the opportunity to look at a mini-exhibition of renderings of the forthcoming Louise B. Miller Pathways and Gardens: A Legacy to Black Deaf Children, which will be the world's largest monument to the Black Deaf community as well as an outdoor learning space. The exhibit explained the history of the project and about the Necessity of Now fundraising campaign that will support the Pathways and Gardens. The Pathways and Gardens will be located between the hotel and the Peikoff Alumni House ("Ole Jim") at the former site of Kendall School Division II.