The Robbie D. Cheatham Memorial Fund

In 1952, Robbie Cheatham was the only girl among the first five deaf Black children granted the right to equal education in Washington, DC. Two years before Brown v. Board of Education struck down the doctrine of “separate but equal”, the case of Miller v. DC Board of Education established the right of deaf Black children in Washington, DC to be educated at the same school as deaf White children. Until that time, deaf White children in DC went to a school for the deaf that is part of Gallaudet University, while deaf Black children were bussed two hours away to an inferior school for the deaf in Maryland.

Robbie’s mother, also named Robbie, and Louise Miller, the Black mother of four deaf children facing the impossible and inferior bussing program, sued the DC Board of Education for the rights of their children to be educated within the district. Although the district court stopped short of striking down “separate but equal” as unconstitutional, it acknowledged that the educational opportunities being offered Black children were unequal to those being offered to White children in the same district.

Two years before images of the brave children who claimed the rights recognized by Brown v. Board were shared around the world, Robbie and four deaf Black boys were the first Black students at the Kendall School for the Deaf, where they were educated in ‘Division II’, separate from white students.

With the courage, strength, and support of her mother, Robbie graduated from the Kendall School, passed the civil service test, and began a 38-year career with the IRS as a tax examiner. She lived a full life, raised and educated her daughter, and was beloved by her five grandchildren. The rights that her mother and Louise Miller fought to secure for their children helped improve not only Robbie’s and Kenneth Miller’s life, but those of generations of children whose rights to equal opportunity were clarified through that process.

Help ensure that Robbie’s legacy carries on.

Every deaf Black child deserves access to an education that will help them live a rich, independent life. In 2022, only 77% of deaf Black students graduated high school in DC, compared to 99% of deaf White students. Black families can face financial challenges in accessing education that is otherwise theoretically “open to all,” resulting in disparities that perpetuate historical inequalities. The Robbie Cheatham Memorial Fund will honor Robbie and her mother’s life work by paying that work forward to help more deaf Black girls graduate from high school and have an equal opportunity at life.

Please give what you can to help us ensure that deaf Black girls have resources they need to access an equal education. Even small donations can make a big difference in a child’s life, as the costs of transportation, books, and other needs can prevent a child from finishing school. Supporting a deaf Black child brings a better life not only for that child, but for their family and loved ones, just as Robbie’s education ultimately uplifted her daughter, grandchildren, and community.

Thank you for your support.