Description about the painting:

This painting is about Blanche Wilkins. She was born in 1876.  She was an African American teacher and disability advocate specializing in educating the deaf through intersectionality of self.

From Lacrosse, Wisconsin, she was the daughter of Charles Wilkins and Estelle Griffin Wilkins who were both from North Carolina.  Wilkins was the first Deaf black woman to graduate from the Minnesota School for the Deaf (Class of 1893).  She attended MSD for 10 years and was a top student in her class.  She was very intelligent and confident, but unfortunately, due to racism, she was not accepted into Gallaudet College because she was black.

She went on to teach in schools for “colored” Deaf children until schools began replacing Deaf teachers with hearing teachers (based on the misconception that hearing teachers would be best able to teach language to Deaf children).  From 1895-1898, she taught at North Carolina School for Colored Deaf becoming their First Deaf Black Woman teacher.  Also, when the North Carolina (Raleigh) Institution established a department of technical sewing, dressmaking, fancy work, etc., Wilkins was the first black teacher there.

In 1899, Wilkins became the first Black Deaf person to be placed on an NAD Executive Committee.  Records indicate that she may have also worked at the Texas School for Colored Deaf in Austin, Texas.  

After the death of her husband, Wilkins moved to Chicago, Illinois and lived there for most of her life, working and teaching young Deaf black children and working in factories (beadwork, lampshade work, power machine sewing). 

She was also involved in missionary work along with her second husband.  The book “Unspeakable: The Story of Junius Wilson”, stated that Wilkins was a passionate Christian missionary and an outspoken advocate for her race and her deaf peers.  Some considered her “the most accomplished Deaf lady of her race in America”.

She was involved in many advocacy and Deaf leadership activities throughout her life and supported others in their endeavors for a better life.  Blanche Wilkins died on March 24, 1936 in Illinois and is buried in Lincoln Cemetery. 

In 2018, a new dormitory at Minnesota State Academy, Fairbault, MN. Wilkins Hall was named in her honor.

In courtesy of African American Registry.