Journalist – Historian – Speaker
The Paralympics are well underway now in Rio. I wrote a piece in Rolling Stone about sports, disability, visibility, and activism. Please read it! As I did the research for the piece, it became quickly clear that I needed to talk not just about the spectacle and scandal, but about sports. I spent a long time …
Two disabled men were killed by law enforcement over the last few days. Details are still emerging. Both seem to be relatively young white men. Daniel Harris, in Charlotte NC, was Deaf and communicated via sign language. Joseph Weber, in Hays KA, has not been identified by diagnosis, but a local source tells me he …
Vilissa Thompson, one of the most important writers on race, gender, and disability, has written a powerful and moving piece on Korryn Gaines, the black disabled woman killed in Baltimore County recently. Thompson writes: To be Black, disabled, and female means that you always have eyes on you. You must be “on” at all times; …
Yesterday, The Atlantic published my essay on “Grace,” the new anti-Trump ad put out by Priorities USA, a pro-left Super PAC. On another Sunday, I would have spent a lot of the day publicizing it, but given the massacre in Orlando, it felt inappropriate. Still, I think there are important themes here. “Grace” uses the moment …
Vilissa Thompson, over at Ramp Your Voice, has put together a “Black Disabled Woman Syllabus.” It’s a massive collection of links from various intersectional angles, a living document always ready to be expanded, and a fantastic resource. Thompson writes: Over the past few weeks, I have been approached by individuals who wanted to understand the …