Remembering the d/Deaf holocaust in Contemporary Fiction by d/Deaf Artists and d/Deaf-community Allies
Remembering the d/Deaf holocaust in Contemporary Fiction by d/Deaf Artists and d/Deaf-community Allies

Summary/Abstract: The article briefly presents the history of the d/Deaf holocaust and reflects on contemporary examples of historical and historically allusive works of fiction made by artists who identify as d/Deaf or as d/Deaf community allies. The analyses shed light on how d/Deaf communities in English-speaking countries and Poland have striven to reclaim their history by rewriting it from their own perspectives, presenting it to signing and non-signing audiences, and often accentuating d/Deaf gain, cultural contribution, and resistance. They also show that while these works often highlight the d/Deaf characters’ ties with other oppressed cultural minorities, they tend to avoid identifying them with/as disabled victims. Set against this background, my reading of fragments of Kaite O’Reilly’s play peeling that address the d/Deaf holocaust and the limited reproductive autonomy of contemporary d/Deaf women and women with disabilities, aims to open up space for reflection on fostering alliances and solidarity between d/Deaf and dis ability communities.

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