Helen Keller – Author, Political Activist, and Lecturer

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart” Helen Keller. Helen Keller did not let her blindness and deafness limit her. She was the first blind-deaf person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. She helped many other people achieve the same goals. She was an inspiration to the people of her generation, and she still inspires and amazes the people of today. Keller was noticed from the age of 8 until her death in 1968. She will always be remembered because she was an amazing American author, political activist, and lecturer.

Helen Adams Keller was born on June 27, 1880 in uscumbia, Alabama. Helen Keller’s parents were Kate Adams Keller and Colonel Arthur Keller. Her siblings were Mildred Keller, a sister, Phillips Keller, a brother, and William and James Keller, half brothers. She was in good healthy condition and until she was 19 months old, and she was stricken by an illness which some think was scarlet fever. This sickness left blind and deaf. As a result of this, education became very troubling, until a girl named Anne Sullivan came in her life. She taught her how to learn and say words, her first word was water. Anne would teach her this by putting her hand under a faucet. In 1980 she started speech classes at Horace Mann School for the Deaf in Boston. From 1894 to 1896, she attended the Wright-Humason School for the Deaf in New York City. 1896, she attended the Cambridge School for Young Ladies. She wrote her life story in many books. The Story of My Life (1903), Optimism (1903), The World I Live In (1908), My Religion (1927), Helen Keller’s Journal (1938), and The Open Door (1957), were all books she did. Helen Keller did not have an easy childhood and did not have much say in things, so as she got older and learned more, she started to speak her mind.

When Helen Keller learned more and started speaking more, she started to join a bunch of groups, and started to become a political activist. The first group she joined was the Socialist Party. She first joined the group in 1909, and did many things for them. She stayed with this party until 1921. Many of her speeches were about women's rights to vote and war impact. Helen also supported the eugenics especially people that involved mental disabilities. Eugenics traces its roots back to the late 19th century when Charles Darwin's cousin Sir Francis Galton coined the term. The theory is that human characteristics and afflictions could be bred out of the human race. Helen Keller’s really good friend, Alexander Graham Bell, also supported the eugenics with her. In Helen’s case, it involved people with mental disabilities. Helen was also a part of the Industrial Workers of the World. The IWW was also known as the Wobblies. They said that the parliamentary socialism was 'sinking in the political bog'. In 1912 she joined this group. She also wrote for this group from the time of 1916 to 1918. In one of her books called Why I Became an IWW, she explained that her motivation for activism came in part from her concern about blindness and other disabilities. She believed in many things for women and loved everyone who helped her, to spread her word more, and she spoke great speeches.

Helen was also a significant lecturer. Many people were confused on how she would do this even with Anne there. She did this by having Anne Sullivan interpret what she said. Even though Helen could speak, it was not clear at all. For this reason, Anne would talk for her. This way was very draining for Anne. One of Helen’s first lectures was at the Mabel Tainter Memorial Building. She traveled to Menomonie, Wisconsin with Anne Sullivan. In this lecture she talked about the optimism of hope, good cheer, loving service, and happiness. Everything that she said in this lecture was reported by the Dunn County News on January 22, 1916. In most of her lectures, she talked about her happiness in life and how thankful she was for the things that she got to do and accomplish. Additionally, she loved helping others and there came much joy from it. In the beginning of each lecture Anne would start it off by telling the story of how she met Helen. She also talked about their challenges together and what they have done.

In conclusion, Helen Keller will always be remembered for being an astonishing author, an inspiring political activist, and a superb lecturer. She did shocking incredible things in life that no one that she could ever do. She always stood up for what she believes in and did not let her blindness and deafness get to her. Helen Keller lets boys and girl out there know that you can do anything, and to go past your limits. Many people still look up to her today, including me. I hope one day we all find peace and acceptance for extravagant people like Helen Keller.