NBC, Apologize for Hiding Miss Deaf America at the Super Bowl!
While national attention was on Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert singing the national anthem before the Super Bowl, somebody else was signing her heart out. Miss Deaf America Rachel Mazique gave an eloquent rendition of the "Stars and Stripes" in sign language. But nobody in the television-watching world saw it--because the cameras never alit on Miss Mazique, not even for a meaningful moment.
Mazique, along with many others in the deaf community, feel her performance was snubbed. And she has a point. Chicago's "Daily Herald" notes that even an obscene gesture from a rap singer was deemed worthy of television. Yet the same medium that brought us every sordid moment of Janet Jackson's torn shirt somehow didn't cast a glance at someone who was, in effect, performing the national anthem on behalf of an entire community of people who don't hear.
Tell NBC to apologize on behalf of Rachel Mazique and the Deaf community.
Maybe the name "Rachel Mazique" doesn't have a lot of household value for you, but we assure you that, in the deaf community, this beauty queen who is also a university teacher and a Ph.D. candidate is quite the celebrity. As such, your failure to televise even one moment of her performance--signing the national anthem--was an insult to the entire community of those who do not hear. Please apologize to Miss Mazique and ensure that this kind of discrimination does not happen again in your super bowl broadcasts.
