Some of you might have seen one of us walking around with a friend or a few, laughing, talking just like a normal person would. The only difference is when we talk, our mouths don't move, but our hands are flying fast and furiously. We are silent talkers, using one of the most beautiful languages: American Sign Language. Many of us have been oppressed and discrimminated against because we are "mute." We have had people mock us, made fun of us, and told us we couldn't do anything, all because we are "mute." We have had people blatantly point us out in a setting and single us out as dumb, just because we were signing. We have had people come up to us and give us their pity. I speak on behalf of the whole Deaf community in America and the world as I say this: "We are not dumb, we are not mute. We don't want your pity, we want your awareness and recognition. Learn to know us first before judging us as dumb from seeing us sign." I have been told I couldn't do this and that, but it's not only about me. We, the Deaf people, can and will. We are not mute, we are Deaf and pretty PROUD.