00:00Oftentimes, when people hear deaf performer, they're confused.
00:04Many people do not understand the concept that deaf people can enjoy and appreciate music.
00:10Deaf people love loud vibrations and sounds to dance to.
00:16We can do everything. We just ask for appropriate access and accommodations.
00:21Hello, I am Raven Sutton.
00:24This is my sign name.
00:26I am a deaf community advocate slash deaf performer.
00:29Slash deaf actress for a living.
00:41Flo is actually the interpreter today who was voicing for me.
00:45One of my commercial jobs, she interpreted for me.
00:48And then after that, we've been best friends ever since.
00:51What I do for a living is a lot of things.
00:56When I wake up in the morning, I always make sure that I do a little bit of like a
01:01meditation and I start work at 9 a.m. usually.
01:05I work full time in an agency called Disability Rights California.
01:09DRC is a non-profit law firm that provides lawyer representation, advice and resources for anyone that has a disability.
01:19And then after my 9 to 5, I head straight out to acting school and my acting class is around
01:25two and a half hours.
01:27But if I do get booked to interpret a job, then, you know, if it's a festival, it's typically all
01:34day work.
01:34But if it's a concert, it's usually at night.
01:37And so I would go work from my 9 to 5, go to school and then head out to interpret
01:41for a concert.
01:42As a deaf performer, a small tour, like a concert for a day would probably range around $600 to $800.
01:51For festivals, that could be around $1,000 all the way up to $4,000.
01:57With my social media platforms, I earn money through different brands that I work with or places will invite me
02:04or fly me out to speak at their events.
02:06So that's another way that I also earn income through those platforms.
02:11Navigating the world every day that's full of hearing people could be a challenge as a deaf person.
02:17Sometimes I will, you know, voice for myself, I will read lips, but often I will have my phone.
02:22I will use the Notes app to text back and forth, like if I'm going to get coffee or going
02:27to go order food.
02:28I would review the menu beforehand and then I will text that in my Notes app to show them.
02:34It makes it easier and faster for them to understand me.
02:37But the world would be perfect if everyone just knew how to use sign language.
02:43I was born deaf. I am four-generation deaf on my father's side.
02:48But I wasn't raised or met my father until later in life because my dad did pass away two months
02:55before I was born.
02:56I finally was able to meet my, you know, deaf side of the family and that's where I found an
03:02immediate bond and connection.
03:03My grandma knew black American sign language and actually went to a deaf school that was segregated.
03:11There's a lot of rich history there with the deaf identity.
03:14The public school system didn't really care about my education.
03:19They seen that I was deaf and they just put me in a special education class.
03:23My mother saw that and really fought with the school for my access,
03:28but just ended up deciding to transfer me to Alabama School of the Deaf.
03:31When I came in, I finally felt like I was a part of something.
03:35I wasn't the weird girl.
03:37I wasn't the special ed girl in that environment.
03:40And I exhaled.
03:41I was in cheerleading.
03:43I was in clubs.
03:44I graduated top of my class as a Ballet Victorian.
03:47And I felt like when I was in mainstream, that would never happen.
03:52I grew up as a dancer first, but when I went into college,
03:56I would interpret for my friends in terms of the music.
03:59And that's how it started.
04:00When we go out to clubs or bars, the WAP song by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion.
04:06That song went viral.
04:08And I seen everyone talking about the song and how this song is sexual liberation for women.
04:18So many people had dialogue about this one song,
04:20but deaf people weren't involved in that conversation because there was no access.
04:25So I signed the song.
04:26I didn't like the video at first, actually.
04:28But when I showed my best friend, she literally stopped me and said,
04:32you better post that right now.
04:34I woke up the next day to my phone vibrating, looked at my phone,
04:38and I already seen on TikTok that my video already had 1.3 million views.
04:44And that's how I got here today.
04:46And so I was able to interpret for Megan Thee Stallion at Coachella in April.
04:51So that's a full circle moment for me.
04:53I was just a small account on social media just interpreting songs.
04:57I'm a huge fan of Megan.
04:58And then now to actually interpret her on a big stage, a big platform,
05:02at the big festival, which is really inspiring.
05:05ASL is a visual language.
05:08You can see it.
05:09So your hands is not the only part of this language.
05:13Your facial expressions, your body movement, whatever you are feeling inside,
05:19you can see it outside of yourself.
05:23ASL is like poetry.
05:25As an interpreter, I am taking the eyes off the artist for people to look at me for access.
05:31And so with that being said, I have to show the same energy that the artist has.
05:36I have to match that character, if you will.
05:39As a deaf performer in terms of when I'm interpreting music, it's kind of the same thing as acting.
05:43Because music is the artist's lyrics, their emotions, their feeling.
05:48And I'm bringing that to life.
05:50And so that really piqued my interest into becoming an actress.
05:53I never seen black deaf actors or actresses before.
05:58So I did not know that I could do that.
06:01When I was on camera, that started when I joined The Circle on Netflix, season five.
06:07That is where there was a bunch of cameras and I experienced being on TV.
06:11And I really like that type of environment.
06:14The Circle was an amazing opportunity for me.
06:17One thing I really enjoyed is that the producers of that show really made sure to put my needs first.
06:26They were very open-minded.
06:28I didn't have to worry about my access on top of the game.
06:31I was able to just focus on the game itself and that's how I was able to play well.
06:38So when I'm interpreting for an artist, I will first put all the music in a playlist.
06:45And so I will go ahead, use those songs, use those lyrics in a document, practice, read the lyrics over
06:52and over again.
06:53And I would then, you know, talk with my team interpreter.
06:56We would pick different songs to divide so we can go back and forth.
06:59And then when we arrive, we'll meet with the tech person, the backstage person, make sure that we have everything
07:05that we need.
07:06We know that our placement and we feel ready to go for the show.
07:09Even though I might have memorized the songs, I still need support from a hearing interpreter.
07:14And that is what is called feeding.
07:17So they'll be signing it or feeding it to me.
07:20I will take what I've seen and I will make the translation more American sign language or more visual for
07:25the overall audience.
07:28The only negative experience at shows is the security.
07:34A lot of the times they are not aware about access.
07:39And so sometimes deaf people are missing the show because the security guard won't let them in or the security
07:45guard won't even let the interpreter in.
07:48The challenge I faced and still do, people just don't understand about deafness or deaf people.
07:55Like they will provide accommodation, but at the bare minimum.
07:59At concerts or festivals, they should be in front where the speakers are to feel the vibration and also where
08:05the interpreter is in the front.
08:07They need a platform to be propped up so the person can see the interpreter and also can see the
08:13artist on stage at the same time.
08:15But the other challenge is that many places wait for deaf people to buy the ticket and then to request
08:22for interpreters.
08:23So if I show up last minute, I can't get access.
08:25But however, if it's a public event, there should already be access provided.
08:30Many people feel like, oh, it's so expensive to, you know, get interpreters.
08:36But they just fully don't understand having the access to communicate is very important part of our identity as humans.
08:49I laugh at the negative comments.
08:51I can't please everyone.
08:53I can't speak for everyone.
08:55Some people won't agree with me.
08:57They won't agree with my message or my post.
08:59And that's okay.
09:00The only thing that I make sure that I focus and work on is to make sure that my content
09:05is accessible.
09:06I want to make sure that I'm not purposely offending anyone and I'm being very open minded and very open
09:11hearted to correct anything I need to do.
09:15But outside of all that, I really don't care about those negative comments and what people say.
09:19But I do know that it could impact mental health.
09:23And so if I need to shut it down, if I need to take a break from the internet, I
09:27always put my phone away if I need some.
09:32What keeps me going during the hard days is really turn up the music and just start twerking.
09:38That's what I do.
09:39That's how I get through.
09:40I just want to dance.
09:41I let it out.
09:42You know, some people scream.
09:44I twerk.
09:44I have to keep reminding myself that the hard moments does not equal a hard life.
09:50I feel, I let it go, and I keep going.
09:53And I twerk.
09:56I hope that people walk away with that Deaf and disabled people are human.
10:03We deserve to show up unapologetically ourselves without anyone making us feel like a burden or less than.
10:12Please, put in the effort to get to know us all.
10:16To get to know each other.
10:17Get to know disabled and Deaf people.
10:19Learn American Sign Language.
10:20Come be a part of this world.
10:23Because we are all a part of this same world.
10:25The advice that I would give to Deaf and hard of hearing creatives is just be you.
10:31Do not let anyone influence you on what you can or what you cannot do.
10:36Or do not listen to that.
10:38No dream is too big.
10:39You put in the work and you will get what you want.
10:42And you'll be closer to catch your dreams.
10:44It's your life.
10:45Go enjoy it.
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