On White Privilege and Disability:
I'm turning 27 next month (and I feel it), and I've been doing this whole disability advocacy thing for about a decade now (and I feel it). The problem is, when I first started advocating, it was from a very narrow-minded perspective of a white disabled teenager who had grown up in a conservative household/town, knew virtually no perspectives outside my immediate family, and was used to being the only disabled voice in the room. I say this, not as an excuse, but to provide context. I didn't know terms, let alone concepts, like 'white privilege, 'intersectionality', 'microaggression', etc. In my ignorance and immaturity, I said things that I obviously now regret. Moreover, I know that there are other white disabled people who were, or are, in the same position. I have spent years trying to unlearn my biases through an amalgamation of sources (while recognizing that it is a lengthy process that will never fully be complete and recognizing that my privilege extends beyond attitudinal shifts). So, I figured I would share some of the sources for anyone who may need them.
First of all, watch this TED talk by Kimberlé Crenshaw, who coined the term "intersectionality" and explains its urgency:
Next, check out Dr. Eddie Moore Jr.'s 21 Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge (which can/should extend beyond 21 days):
I personally recommend starting with these two articles:
Article 1 & Article 2
on how white privilege exists even when white people have had hard lives due to the other intersecting oppressions that they experience.
Then, check out Sins Invalid's Principles of Disability Justice:
https://www.sinsinvalid.org/blog/disability-justice-a-working-draft-by-patty-berne
Now, go through THIS article (linked) of influential black disabled people who you can follow.
Other notable nonwhite disabled people include:
1.) Alice Wong of Disability Visibility | 2.) Sonya Renee Taylor (video warning), of The Body Is Not An Apology | 3.) Vilissa Thompson, founder of Ramp Your Voice (who coined the hashtag #DisabilityTooWhite) | 4.) Lisa J. Ellwood (+ Website) | 5.) Mike Jung of We Need Diverse Books | 6.) Morénike Giwa Onaiwu (+ Website) | 7.) Imani Barbarin of Crutches & Spice.
Imani's latest article hits hard:
As Madison Cawthorn, a wheelchair user, was riling up insurrection outside of the capitol building at Trump’s “Stop The Steal” rally, Senato
Now, take a moment to watch this video on white guilt:
and recognize that ONLY feeling bad about your privilege or the things you said/did because of your internalized biases isn't helpful. Learn and recognize these concepts but don't just wallow in guilt. Do something. Donate/boost these different organizations/charities:
Native American Disability Law Center | Latin American Disabled People's Project | Black Disability Collective | Autistic People of Color Fund | Emergency Release Fund | Here's a list.
And, of course, Black Lives Matter.
Finally, for the love of god, watch Crip Camp!
Learn. Reflect. Grow. Change. LISTEN. Know when to speak and when to pass the microphone. Be better. Keep moving forward.
- marauders4evr
