Living Vicariously
To put it simply, Wonder would make up for the shortcomings of his blindness by living through others. He would be keenly interested in what others were doing. He also had a “vivid imagination” as he put it. He also wasn’t afraid to share how others had treated him in the past. He said, “And growing up, I was around people who weren’t afraid to say, ‘Man, why are you lookin’ over there? What’s wrong with you? I’m over here. You need to keep your head still.’”
Living Vicariously
Stereotyped
The discussion then shifted to Wonder’s treatment by others in his community as a child. Wonder could not hold back a chuckle as he recalled how people did not appreciate his musical talents. Rather, they saw him as the blind kid that could not keep quiet! To be fair, Wonder was constantly banging on things, hammering on boxes, and whacking his bongos day in and day out. He was also glued to the piano. The people around him were desperate for silence!
Stereotyped
