STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Seventh-graders at Bernstein Intermediate School got a first-hand lesson on how, sometimes, silence can speak volumes, when they were paid a visit by nationally-known musician and deaf rapper Sean Forbes.
Forbes is the founder of D-Pan, the Deaf Professional Arts Network. He is currently on a school-based musical tour throughout the United States, and earlier this month made a stop at Bernstein to perform his latest songs and promote deaf-awareness among students.
He selected the school because Bernstein is the only intermediate school in the city that has a full-functional American Sign Language (ASL) program. It is offered to all seventh-graders. The ASL class fulfills a portion of their curriculum's graduation requirements to learn a "language other than English."
Forbes performed his songs in ASL and "talked" about his challenges and his mind-set in music and life. Not only did students have an opportunity to experience Forbes' performance, but they took part in a question and answer session where they used sign language to pose questions.
Forbes explained that he grew up in Detroit, where his parents, both musicians, filled their home with Motown music. Despite losing his hearing as a baby, he soaked up the beats and the vibrations, not unlike the fictional son from "Mr. Holland's Opus." He taught himself to play keyboard and drums, inspired by what he calls his "Three B's" – the Beatles, Bob Dylan and the Beastie Boys. He started making music videos in his basement and today is producing professional music videos with a focus on the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Since 2008, he's performed in more than 40 cities around the country.
"The world is run by those who show up," he said, "And I'm showing up."
Bernstein ASL teacher Gaspare Randazzo said Forbes is impressive.
"Sean Forbes is the perfect example of what a positive role model should be – hard working, inspirational, and uplifting," he said. Randazzo said he tries to expose the seventh-graders not only to ASL but to deaf culture, to expand their awareness of disabilities. He has his students demonstrate their ASL skills by performing a song in sign language at the annual holiday concert in December. Students also participated in a sign language book reading at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in New Springville earlier this year.
"It is wonderful to see students in the hallway and throughout the building communicate fluently in sign language," said Vincent Verdiglione, assistant principal in charge of seventh-grade.
