Podcast Summary: SER Historia – Cronovisor | Helen Keller, ejemplo de resiliencia

Date: June 9, 2024
Host: Nacho
Expert Guest: Jesús Callejo
Main Theme:
A dynamic exploration of Helen Keller’s life, focusing on her extraordinary journey from a deafblind child to a global symbol of resilience, intellect, and social activism, and the pivotal role that her teacher Anne Sullivan played in her transformation.

Episode Overview

In this episode of "SER Historia," Nacho and Jesús Callejo use their "cronovisor" (time machine) format to travel through significant moments in Helen Keller’s life. They highlight her early struggles, her breakthrough with Anne Sullivan, and Keller’s impact as a writer, activist, and inspirational figure for people with disabilities and beyond.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Helen Keller’s Early Life and Disability

• Born in 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama.
• At 19 months old, Keller contracted an illness (possibly meningitis or scarlet fever) that left her both deaf and blind ([01:16]).

“A los 19 meses… pierde desde ese momento el sentido del oído y de la vista… ¿Qué haces? ¿Qué es lo que ocurre en tu vida, en ese mundo interior donde no ves y donde no oyes nada?”
— Jesús Callejo [01:16]

• The immense challenge faced by Keller and her family due to her isolation and inability to communicate.
• Her family’s determination led them to seek help, despite limited means and societal expectations ([06:45]).

2. The Arrival of Anne Sullivan – The Turning Point

• Anne Sullivan’s own visual impairment and tough upbringing made her uniquely empathetic and resilient ([06:45]).
• On March 3, 1887, Sullivan arrived at the Keller home, a date Helen would always consider the most important of her life ([06:45]).

“Ese día es el más importante de toda mi vida.”
— Paraphrased from Keller's autobiography, as discussed by Jesús Callejo [06:45]

• Pre-Sullivan, Keller used about 60 basic signs with her parents but lacked conceptual understanding of language and emotion ([09:44]).

3. The Breakthrough: The Water Pump Moment

• Sullivan invented a tactile sign language using hand signals and pressure points in Helen’s palm.
• The pivotal moment at the water pump when Keller linked the tactile letters to the concept of "water," sparking her desire to name and understand the world ([16:55]):

“Con una de estas bombas de agua... empieza a notar tacto del agua… y dice la primera palabra, agua. Y a partir de ahí… en un solo día aprende más de 30 palabras.”
— Jesús Callejo [16:55]

• The hand-in-hand relationship between Anne and Helen lasted 49 years, and was crucial to all of Keller’s personal and intellectual development ([17:35]).

4. Overcoming Communication Barriers

• With time, Keller learned to read and write Braille, and eventually to speak, recognizing words through feeling vibrations in the throat and movements of the lips ([16:55], [21:11]).
• Videos show Keller placing her hand on Anne’s mouth and throat to interpret speech.

“Ella entendía perfectamente todo lo que le estaban diciendo… No está al alcance de cualquiera. Era una niña privilegiada... tenía una inteligencia que la permitía superar este tipo de obstáculos.”
— Jesús Callejo [16:55]

5. Keller’s Academic Triumphs and Activism

• With the support of Mark Twain and others, Keller became the first deafblind person to graduate from college (Radcliffe, Harvard) ([21:11], [22:32]).
• She mastered several languages, including Latin, French, and German ([22:32]).
• Notable for her activism:
  • Women's suffrage
  • Rights of the disabled and workers
  • Anti-racism and anti-war (WWI, WWII)
  • Membership in the Socialist Party despite considerable criticism in the U.S. context ([01:16], [29:18])

“Fue una activista en causas como el voto de la mujer, derechos de trabajadores… antirracista… estuvo implicada en muchísimas causas sociales.”
— Jesús Callejo [01:16]

• Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964; June 27th is designated Helen Keller Day in the U.S. ([29:18]).

6. The Emotional and Human Side

• The patience of Anne Sullivan and the commitment of Keller’s family are emphasized ([27:44]).
• Without Sullivan’s persistence, Keller’s story would likely have been very different ([29:18]).

“Fue un binomio perfecto. Es como que tienes un diamante en bruto… hacía falta alguien que puliera esas caras.”
— Jesús Callejo [29:18]

• After Sullivan’s death, Keller suffered a significant depression but continued her advocacy.

7. Quotes and Reflections

Most Memorable Keller Quote from the Episode:

“Entre no ver y no oír, sin ninguna duda es mucho peor no oír, pues no ver te incomunica con los objetos, pero no oír te incomunica con las personas y eso te convierte en un objeto.”
— Helen Keller, cited by Jesús Callejo [33:34]

On her global impact:

“Helen Keller es todo un referente de la historia del siglo XX. Si hubiera podido ver, si hubiera podido oír con normalidad, a lo mejor no hubiera llegado tan lejos, pero ella se aferró a estos problemas para tener más fuerza y seguir hacia adelante.”
— Nacho [32:39]

Notable Moments & Timestamps

• [01:16]—Context on Helen Keller's early disability and family’s reactions
• [06:45]—The decisive meeting with Anne Sullivan
• [09:44]—Helen’s inner world before language
• [16:55]—Water pump breakthrough & rapid learning of language
• [21:11]—Keller’s pursuit of higher education
• [22:32]—Mark Twain’s mentorship and the comparison to Joan of Arc
• [27:44]—Importance of patience and family support
• [29:18]—Keller’s enduring activism and legacy
• [33:34]—Final reflection and Keller’s profound quote on communication

Tone and Language

• The hosts maintain an engaging, passionate, and dynamic tone throughout, blending empathy with rigor.
• Nacho expresses personal emotion, linking the topic to social perceptions on disability and the progress in their acceptance ([27:44]).
• Callejo brings depth, little-known facts, and contagious admiration for Keller’s and Sullivan’s achievements.
• The conversation is sprinkled with literary references, anecdotes, and recommendations (like the film “El milagro de Ana Sullivan”).

Conclusion

This episode offers an inspiring, in-depth journey into the life and legacy of Helen Keller—her resilience, her transformative relationship with Anne Sullivan, and her pioneering role as a woman and disabled activist in the 20th century. It underscores the unique combination of personal determination, inventive pedagogy, and social commitment that turned Keller into a universal model of overcoming adversity.

Memorable Ending:

“Entre no ver y no oír, sin ninguna duda es mucho peor no oír, pues no ver te incomunica con los objetos, pero no oír te incomunica con las personas y eso te convierte en un objeto.”
— Helen Keller (via Jesús Callejo) [33:34]