Photo credit to Pete Souza
This year, in recognition of Black History Month, we are highlighting four Black disability activists. These women are working in four different fields but their missions are aligned; to advocate for Black disabled communities.
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First, we featured Keri Gray, the Founder and CEO of the Keri Gray Group, and a founder of the National Alliance of Multicultural Disabled Advocates. Keri focuses on race, gender, and disability and how they intersect with one another, especially in the workplace
In her collection Melanin + Curves + Scars, Keri encourages critical thought and engagement with societal and workplace expectations around body image, performance, and mental health in order to empower Black culture, leadership, and wellness.
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Imani Barbarin is a writer who shares her perspective as a Black woman with Cerebral Palsy. She specializes in blogging, science fiction and memoir. She is unapologetically Black and disabled.
Imani uses her platform to advocate for Black people with disabilities, and she creates a space for dialogue about disability representation/rights.
Read more about Imani Barbarin and link to her social channels here.
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Haben Girma’s story is one of fearlessness and resiliency. She’s a Black self-made lawyer with a disability, the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School.
Haben is a fierce advocate for disabled communities as a human rights lawyer advancing disability justice. She believes disability is an opportunity for innovation.
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Finally, Stephanie Thomas uses fashion as an advocacy tool and draws us in with her charisma, passion, and creativity. As a fashion stylist for people with disabilities, Stephanie brings people with disabilities into the light. She uses styling and content creation to change negative perceptions of how people view disability.
Listen to Stephanie’s 16 minute TedTalk and learn how she does this and why it’s so important.
Follow us on social and share links to Black disability activists in your community.
